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Chuxiong Travel Guide

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Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture is located in the central part of Yunnan Province. It neighbors on Kunming to the east, close to Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture to the west, next to Puer and Yuxi in the south, and borders upon Sichuan Province in the north. Covering an area of 11,296.6 acres, the region is 108.7 miles from east to west and 153.8 miles from north to south. In this Yi Autonomous Prefecture, the residents are made up of 26 nationalities, including Yi, Miao, Bai, Hui, Hani and Lisu.

 Geography
Chuxiong is a very hilly area, with 90 percent of the region covered with mountains. Mount Wumeng is situated in the east, Mount Ailao sits in the southwest, Baicao Mountain lies in the northwest; Jinsha River and Yuan River run through Chuxiong from south to north. The average elevation of Chuxiong is about 1,773 meters (5,187 feet), with the highest point in Baicao Mountain at an altitude of 3,657 meters (11,998) and the lowest position at an altitude of 556 meters (1,824) in Shuangbai County. 

 Climate
The climate type of Chuxiong belongs to the subtropical monsoon climate. Usually, summer and winter are short while spring and autumn are long. But the winter is not that cold and the summer is not that hot. Generally the climate is comfortable. The annual average temperature ranges between 14.8 degrees Centigrade (58.6 degrees Fahrenheit) and 21.9 degrees Centigrade (71.4 degrees Fahrenheit). The hottest month is June while the coldest weather is in January. 

 History
As one of the cradle land of human beings, Chuxiong Prefecture has profound history and brilliant culture. From 1960s to 1980s, the fossils of the Ramapithecus which lived eight million years ago were discovered in Lufeng County; the fossils of man apes that lived three million years ago were unearthed in Yuanmou County. In 1965, the Homo erectus yuanmouensis fossils, the stoneware as well as the traces of using fire were discovered in Yuanmou County. In 1975, the earliest bronze drums of the world, which indicates that the ancient ancestors of Chuxiong created the 'Bronze Culture' in 2,500 years ago. 

 Tourist Resources
Chuxiong is endowed with abundant tourist resources, since it is rich in natural scenery and contains much cultural relics. Mount Zixi National Forest Park and Yuanmou Clay Forest are two most popular attractions here. If you want to admire more local landscapes, you may go to the Lingxiu Lake, Lufeng Wutai Mountain, Hutiaotan Clay Forest or the Lion Hill (in Wuding County); if you would like to learn about the local ethnic culture, Chuxiong Museum is the best place. What is more, if you come to Chuxiong in July or August, you will have a chance to experience the so called 'Oriental Carnival' of Yi people - the Torch Festival, which held annually on June 24 of Chinese lunar calendar.

 What to see: Yuanmou Earth Forest 

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