Yunnan (China)

beyond the beaten path

As vast and rich in natural treasures the entire territory of China may be, there is one small region in the southwest of the country that has stolen our hearts like no other: Yunnan. The province occupies only 4% of the entire national territory, yet it harbours around 42.6% of all protected plant species and 72.5% of all protected wild animals in the country, of which 15% are strictly endemic to Yunnan. Its landscapes vary from snow-capped mountains to real tropical forests, supporting an extraordinary and unique biological diversity. If we then consider that Yunnan shares its borders with Tibet, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam, it is easy to imagine that this diversity is also reflected at a cultural level, in a truly sensational mix of ethnicities, traditions, languages and customs. Several of Yunnan's breathtaking landscapes, such as the Honghe Hani rice terraces or the Three Parallel Rivers protected area, have been recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, yet it's still possible to explore much of the region without getting stuck on tourist routes. It is precisely here that the mythical kingdom of Shangri-La is hidden: if you ask us, we will continue to look for it alongside our local guides, while protecting the timeless charm of this unique land.