Kunming

Twelve hours on a dust-prone and shocks-worn sleeper bus and we're in Kunming, the capital of China's Yunnan province.

Yunnan is a western province of China that borders Tibet. It is known for ruggedness: mountains, glaciers and ancient towns. It embraces more than 50% of known ethnic groups within the Middle Kingdom – a haven for diversity from the dogged Han. And yet, here in Kunming are skyscrapers taller and more advanced than anything the Atlantas or the Raleighs or the San Antonios of the world can muster. Neon shows light up the skyline post-dusk, rivaling the best of Las Vegas. Walkways, overpasses and billboards are armed with purples, pinks, and greens. The facades of buildings offer constant distractions from its light displays; on one memorable office tower, a Tetris game blinked across 50 stories.

Kunming reminds me of wearing one-size-too-big hand-me-downs as a kid. My belt was always notched to the last slot to make up for the difference between my brother's 10 years and my 6 years girth.  Kunming's traffic flowed orderly, the pedestrians had room to maneuver their rainbowed umbrellas, and the stores saw decent, if not brisk, business.

The authorities have planned otherwise. With China's population booming and the economy ramped passed industrialization, Kunming has prepared for the onslaught of people from Yunnan's countryside into its streets.  Its boulevards were gigantic, it's towers scraped the sky, and new offices and apartments infested the sprawl.

My one thought as I boarded the train to Dali? If all this growth is happening in one of its hinterland provinces, China is going to need a lot of energy.

JF! glad to see you're continually moving and livin' it. safe journey

Posted by: John Mai | June 15, 2006 at 01:23 AM

Thanks John!

Posted by: j.fisher | June 22, 2006 at 01:55 AM