Latest news with #Yunnan
South China Morning Post
12 hours ago
- Lifestyle
- South China Morning Post
Insiders' guide to Kunming: what to eat, drink and do in Yunnan capital
Standing 1,900 metres above sea level, the old city of Kunming has ballooned into a metropolis of almost 6 million, double what the population was 20 years ago. Nevertheless, Yunnan 's provincial capital maintains a small-town vibe when compared with other large Chinese cities. The Old Street, running west off central Zhengyi Street, through the Flower and Bird Market, is lined with gemstone vendors, textile stores and cafes. The city's main draws are the 'wine-glass-shaped buildings' – twin European-style, curved constructions of 1940s provenance – as well as the flower-festooned parks of Cuihu (Green Lake) and Lianhuachi (Lotus Lake). It was Yunnan 's unique natural riches that attracted 19th century botanists to search its hills for exotic flora, establishing the province in the global consciousness as a Shangri-La. And for Yunnan University teacher Joseph Paterson, who has lived in Kunming for 15 years, regional biodiversity translates into healthy eating. Herbivore heaven The Qiongzhu Temple, also known as the Bamboo Temple. Photo: Thomas Bird 'I know all the vegetarian places around town,' says the Briton, before explaining that Kunming's meat-free eateries are typically all-you-can-eat buffets that, he, warns, 'can get busy on auspicious Buddhist holidays, so check the date in advance'. 'Every time you eat out, there are 10 vegetables you've never heard of – and they're all delicious,' says Paterson. 'Plus there are yecai [wild herbs] and, in the summer mushroom season, you can eat fresh shiitake, that would be expensive in Japan, for next to nothing.' Paterson recommends Su Ji Xiang, located between Green Lake Park and Yuantong Temple – a pond-fringed Buddhist complex established more than a millennium ago, where, for 20 yuan (HK$22), one can feast on as many plants as one can digest.
South China Morning Post
a day ago
- Climate
- South China Morning Post
Riverside houses collapse after heavy rainfall hits southwestern China
Houses near a river collapsed after heavy rainfall hit southwestern China's Yunnan province. The downpours caused flooding and triggered landslides in the region.
The Independent
2 days ago
- General
- The Independent
Ancient DNA fills ‘critical gap' in genetic history of Tibetans
A study confirms China's Yunnan province as a key crossroads of human migration, revealing that the ancestors of the Tibetan people, including a mysterious 'ghost' population, originated there over 7,100 years ago. The research helps solve mysteries about human spread across East Asia, showing that humans split into northern and southern branches at least 19,000 years ago, with Tibetans carrying genes from northern East Asians and an unknown 'ghost' group. Scientists sequenced DNA from over 125 individuals who lived in Yunnan between 7,100 and 1,500 years ago, discovering a 7,100-year-old individual genetically distinct from most modern East Asians, potentially representing Tibet's 'ghost' lineage. Researchers suggest this 'ghost' lineage likely diverged from other early Asian people over 40,000 years ago and survived in southern regions due to stable climates during the Ice Age. The findings indicate that Yunnan was an important crossroads where different groups met and mixed, with a unique 'central Yunnan' ancestry appearing around 5,500 years ago, shaping the genes of people speaking Austroasiatic languages today.
The Independent
2 days ago
- General
- The Independent
Archaeologists finally crack origin mystery of Tibet's ‘ghost ancestors'
Archaeologists have discovered that the ancestors of the Tibetan people, including a mysterious group known as the 'ghost' population, came from China 's Yunnan province more than 7,100 years ago. Researchers say the discovery helps solve an important mystery about how humans spread across East Asia. Scientists studying ancient DNA from East and Southeast Asia know that humans started spreading across the continent at least 19,000 years ago and that they split into northern and southern branches early on. But there are significant gaps in our understanding of the genetic origin of modern populations such as the Tibetans. Tibetan people carry genes from northern East Asians but also from an unknown group – the 'ghost' population – which some archaeologists think may be linked to ancient humans such as the Denisovans or an early group of modern humans from Asia. Denisovans are 'an extinct group of archaic humans previously known mainly from remains discovered in Siberia and Tibet ', according to the European Research Council. Previous research has pointed to China 's Yunnan region as the key to understanding the origins of Tibetan as well as Austroasiatic populations, referring to ethnic communities in Southeast Asia who speak Austroasiatic languages like Vietnamese, Khmer, and Mon. Studies indicate that about 80 per cent of the genetic makeup of Tibetan people comes from northern Chinese populations who lived between 9,500 and 4,000 years ago. The ancestry of the remaining 20 per cent remains unclear and is referred to as Tibet 's 'ghost' population. In a new study, scientists sequenced DNA from over 125 individuals who lived in Yunnan between 7,100 and 1,500 years ago. They compared the ancient genomes to the DNA of modern Tibetans and found that one person who might belong to the 'ghost' group carried genes of both ancient and modern Tibetans. This 7,100-year-old individual from Yunnan was discovered to be as genetically distinct from most modern East Asians as a 40,000-year-old person from the area now known as Beijing, indicating a previously unknown Asian ancestry. Scientists say this individual is the first known potential representative of Tibet 's previously uncharacterised 'ghost' lineage. Researchers suspect this lineage likely diverged from other early Asian people over 40,000 years ago and managed to survive in southern regions due to more stable climates during the Ice Age. They discovered that a unique 'central Yunnan' ancestry, different from the known northern and southern East Asian groups, appeared some 5,500 years ago and helped shape the genes of people speaking Austroasiatic languages today. This ancestry seems to have emerged before the widespread adoption of agriculture in the region, suggesting demographic expansions likely preceded the spread of farming. The findings show that Yunnan was for long an important crossroads where different groups of people met and mixed. 'This study not only fills a critical gap in the genetic data of prehistoric populations in East and Southeast Asia but also identifies one of the Tibetan Plateau's 'ghost ancestors' for the first time from a genetic perspective,' researchers said.
The Sun
2 days ago
- General
- The Sun
Inside world's narrowest city home to 450,000 people who can shake hands across street – but ‘sit on edge of disaster'
THE WORLD'S narrowest city has alleyways just big enough for two people to squeeze past each other, with residents having to use bikes as the roads are too small for cars. Wedged between soaring cliff faces, Yanjin, which is located in China 's Yunnan province, is just 100 feet wide in many places. 3 3 3 The eight-mile-long city, which is divided by the Nanxi River is home to around 400,000 residents. As it is wedged between the cliffs and the river, inhabitants of the unique location have had to build upwards instead of outwards. This means that homes, shops and schools are all stacked on top of each other. In some areas, streets are so thin that people on opposite sides of the roads can hold hands. Thin bridges connect the parts of the city on both sides of the river, with houses clinging to the edge of cliff faces. As the streets are too narrow for cars, city dwellers have to use bikes or travel on foot. And the city's proximity to the river means that buildings have had to be built on tall pillars, to protect against flooding. In the rainy season, the banks of the river can swell dangerously, whilst the steep cliffs are prone to landslides, which can cause damage to the city below. Although you likely have not heard of this unusual city, it has an interesting history. Yanjin was known as the "Gateway to Sichuan and Yunnan" in ancient times and once had a key stronghold on the ancient Southern Silk Road. Inside Europe's highest capital city with no airports or train stations - but welcomes EIGHT MILLION tourists a year Many residents in the ancient city now rely on fishing and agriculture to make a living, whilst many own small businesses. As the city is too small to farm livestock in, many city folk own plots of land in the nearby area. The city is in a very remote part of China, making it extremely tricky to get to. The Chongqing-Kunming runs close to the city, so it is fairly convenient to access Yanjin by car. However, if you don't have access to a car, you will have to get a bullet train to Kunming, the provincial capital, from Shanghai, Beijing, or Hong Kong, and then take a six hour bus to Kunming. Yanjin is home to a number of local festivals such as the Lantern Festival and Dragon Boat Festival, during which the tiny streets are lit up and flooded with excited revellers. "It's truly mind-blowing to see how Yanjin has adapted to its natural environment, with its residents making the most of every inch of space available," said Drew Binsky, a YouTuber who has visited all 195 countries.
