We only had one day of sightseeing in Kunming City. In the morning we visted Daguan Park, a traditional chinese park 3km southwest of Kunming City, by the Lake Dian. The Daguan Pavilion is one of the most important pavilion in China and as a couplet written by Sun Ranweng (1684-1763, a poor scholar in Qing Dynasty); this couplet of 180 Chinese characters is believed to be the longest antithetical couplet in the world and one of the most valued cultural treasures in Yunnan. Unfortunately when we were there the pavilion was under renovation.
In the afternnon we visited the Kunming Zoo and the Yuantong Temple, which is beside each other at the northern part of the city. We had hoped to see the Panda but there were none in the zoo. Some racoon like animals occupied the Panda enclosure. They are known as "Little Panda" in chinese.
With a history of more than 1,200 years, Yuantong Temple is one of the oldest and grandest Buddhist temples in Kunming. Unlike all other Buddhist temples, which are built on the higher place of the mountain, with many steps leading up to the Hall of Sakyamuni, one of the most important buildings in a Buddhist temple, Yuantong Temple is built at a lower place. The entrance to the temple is from above and then along a gently sloping garden path to reach the Hall of Sakyamuni, which is at the lowest point of all the temple buildings. Gigantic cypress trees and an array of flowers line the garden path to the temple.
We also attended the memorial service for the Sichuan earthquake victims in downtown Kunming. It was held concurrently throughout China, exactly one week after earthquake occured.
1 & 2. Daguan Park
3 & 4. Memorial Service for the Sichuan earthquake victims at downtown Kunming
5 & 6. Raccoon at Yunnan Zoo
7 to 9. Yuantong Temple
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