Slightly unrelated question, but why does it seem like GoKunming publishes so few articles and features now?
It used to be several per week now it's only maybe a couple per month.
I'm guessing maybe coronavirus restrictions making it harder to visit places to write about them?
Still seems like even with that we could read more about things and life going on around town in Kunming? Just curious about this change as it was a major draw to the website for me in the past.
I haven't been on it this year but several locals have all told me it is now quite passable.
Unfortunately don't have a more current number for Aluo, but he should be pretty easy to locate in Dimaluo and all local drivers know where his guest house is.
The road from Dimaluo in Gongshan to Deqin is open but still not paved and bad in wet weather.
Rather than spending your entire trip in cars, I would highly recommend considering trekking for three days from Dimaluo to Cizhong, also in Deqin.
Much better scenery this way.
Aluo who has a guest house in Dimaluo can arrange the trek and guides for you or guide you himself.
Also, definitely no need for a sleeper bus from Dali to Fugong.
Easily completed in one day and as others have said much prettier this way.
The Nujiang Valley is not to be missed.
Don't travel it by night.
A note as well that you wouldn't be flying from Deqin to Kunming.
You will need to hire a driver (3 hours) or take the bus (4 hours) from Deqin to Shangri-La which is where the closest airport is if you want to fly out that way.
Thai Airways also flies direct to Chiang Mai every Sunday and Thursday and they are far better than China Eastern.
For years this was the only service to Chiang Mai until it was discontinued in 2009 and China Eastern then introduced theirs.
Last year Thai brought back this twice weekly service (a stop-over on the daily Bangkok route) to compete a bit with China Eastern which is great because they are indeed far better.
United has already announced direct service from Chengdu to the US via San Francisco to begin this spring; it would be great to see Kunming added as a non-stop US destination soon as well!
I think you're right on joshwa. There are plenty of airports in the US with chronic heavy fog like SFO that can handle it because they have the equipment to do so. It will often cause many delays and some cancellations because the number of runways in use is decreased, but it will never lead to the cancellation of all flights at the airport. I even lived in Eugene Oregon for four years which get's really bad fog in the winter and when I first moved there flights would often get diverted to Portland if it was heavy, but during my time there they installed new equipment equivalent to that in Portland and Seattle and the diversions more or less never happen now. Typical of China to spend billions on their fourth biggest airport and then not even install the most up date technology.
Great article! Glad to hear you finally made it down to Chiang Mai Pat. I actually haven't been to this garden either but it looks amazing, will have to check it out next time for sure.
It's really quite interesting how much the issues she has been looking at in the south with rubber run parallel with the agricultural and economic changes in the northwest with grapes where I have been working.
Spoke with friends in Shangri-La/Zhongdian today and the town/city itself was not affected other than people there being able to feel the tremor, wich they reported was not that bad. Travel to Zhongdian itself should not be an issue though travel further north to Deqin might not be advised since this would take one right through the epicenter in Benzilan.
Yunnan air routes a hot commodity
Posted byUnited has already announced direct service from Chengdu to the US via San Francisco to begin this spring; it would be great to see Kunming added as a non-stop US destination soon as well!
Changshui once again closed by fog
Posted byI think you're right on joshwa. There are plenty of airports in the US with chronic heavy fog like SFO that can handle it because they have the equipment to do so. It will often cause many delays and some cancellations because the number of runways in use is decreased, but it will never lead to the cancellation of all flights at the airport. I even lived in Eugene Oregon for four years which get's really bad fog in the winter and when I first moved there flights would often get diverted to Portland if it was heavy, but during my time there they installed new equipment equivalent to that in Portland and Seattle and the diversions more or less never happen now. Typical of China to spend billions on their fourth biggest airport and then not even install the most up date technology.
Getting Away: Chiang Mai's Queen Sirikit Botanical Garden
Posted byGreat article! Glad to hear you finally made it down to Chiang Mai Pat. I actually haven't been to this garden either but it looks amazing, will have to check it out next time for sure.
Interview: Economic ecologist Yi Zhuangfang
Posted byGreat interview Patrick, thanks!
It's really quite interesting how much the issues she has been looking at in the south with rubber run parallel with the agricultural and economic changes in the northwest with grapes where I have been working.
Shangri-la hit by 5.9 earthquake
Posted bySpoke with friends in Shangri-La/Zhongdian today and the town/city itself was not affected other than people there being able to feel the tremor, wich they reported was not that bad. Travel to Zhongdian itself should not be an issue though travel further north to Deqin might not be advised since this would take one right through the epicenter in Benzilan.