Good Lives in a Few Paradises

3/12/2026

Kunming, the City of Eternal Spring

Green Lake in downtown Kunming- “The Eye of Kunming”

Kunming is most famous for its climate. It neither gets too hot nor too cold, thus it has the nickname “City of Eternal Spring”. If you don’t mind the altitude of 1,900 meters above the sea level, this is a very comfortable place to live. It was ranked one of the most livable cities in China in recent years. I definitely agree. It’s my hometown and I’m very familiar with the city and its slow-paced lifestyle.

“Zhuanxin Famers Market”, one of the most famous farmers markets in China

Besides its climate, tourists are attracted to the city by its fresh, delicious, and diverse food. There are many ethnic minorities living in the surrounding areas of Kunming. Many of these communities have their own unique ingredients and ways of cooking. Because of the biodiversity of the area (mountainous with many valleys, lakes, and basins) the choices of food ingredients are numerous. It’s a paradise of foodies.

Da Guang River, a leisurely walk from downtown.

A local restaurant with a retro entrance

A traditional residence-converted tea house.

A wet land park on the shore of Dian Chi (literally meaning Lake of Yunnan), one of the largest high-altitude lakes in China, within walking distance from the city. DIAN is another name of Yunnan province where Kunming is the capital. CHI means lake.

Chongqing, the City of Hills and Rivers

Two major rivers in China, Yangzi River and Jialin River, converge at down town Chongqing

The largest in area, most populous, and the newest (promoted in 1997) of the four provincial-level metropolitan areas (the other three being Beijing, Shanghai, and Tianjin) in China, Chongqing is the hottest tourist city right now in the country due to its famous delicious spicy food, unique hilly landscapes, and a booming economy. Two major rivers, Yangzi River and Jialin River, converge here. There are many hills between the two rivers. The city is constructed on the slopes of the hills, thus nicknamed “City of Hills”. Because the rivers produce a lot of moisture, the city is often covered in fogs and also has the nickname “Fog Capital of China”.

Watching a drone show in a hill-side restaurant. The characters made by the drones in the air literally read “the hills and waters are showing autumn colors”.

“Hot Pot City”-a commercial complex built on the cliffs housing lots of hot pot restaurants, one of the biggest attractions of Chongqing.

The city is built on hills and cliffs along the rivers

Wu River (WU means dark in Chinese) in an outskirt of Chongqing. The water is famous for its dark green color.

A small town Gong Tan on the Wu River bank, where we had delicious local fish, vegetables, and bamboo shoots.

Mi Le, a Subtropical Winter Paradise

Filling a private hot spring in the backyard of a hotel room

Just 35 minutes away from Kunming by high-speed train, yet felt a world away, Mi Le is a small city that is quite different from Kunming because it’s significantly sunnier, greener, and warmer than Kunming. This place is famous for two things, hot springs and affordable living standards. Many retirees come to Mi Le in winter to enjoy the sunny, warm weather and fresh food. I spent 3 nights here to soak in the hot springs and nice weather. At the most famous hot spring resort “Hu Quan” hot spring where there are a dozen or so open-air hot springs scattered along a leafy hill side, all I heard was dialects from all over China. It’s getting the attention of the country as a rising tourist hot spot.

A post-modern terracotta brick concert hall and, further away, a hotel

Chengdu, the City of Relaxed Life

Chengdu is most known for its relaxed lifestyle. Historically the city is in the center of a region that is agriculturally very productive. People there have leisure time to enjoy life. Its tea house culture is its biggest name card. Everybody visiting wants to experience the tea-sipping time, preferably under a tree. The city is also famous for its delicious eateries, such as dan-dan noodles, dumplings, and rice balls. People here are known for enjoying life over working hard. There are tea houses, restaurants, and bars virtually everywhere in this city. When it’s getting dark, the life starts.

A snapshot of night life of Chengdu-riverside bars, river cruises, restaurants on the bridge

Chengdu used to be the biggest city in Southwest China before Chongqing took over. It was the capital of one of the kingdoms some 1800 years ago (220 AD-280 AD) in the Three Kingdoms Dynasty. The city has a rich history and many people of literary and political importance left their marks here over the thousands of years. Nowadays Chengdu is a higher education, high tech, and transportation hub of China.

A Passer-by 过客