China: All about Yunnan Province Quiz

Answer: Dianchi Lake

Dianchi Lake covers a area of 115 square miles (just under 300 square km) and is the eighth largest lake in China, as well as being the largest lake in Yunnan.

Much of the marsh around Dianchi Lake was destroyed during the Great Leap Forward, a disastrous economic and social campaign under Mao Zedong from 1958-1962, which entailed filling the marshes with imported soil, ruining the ecosystem. This was a misguided attempt at rice production. Despite billions of U.S dollars being spent in an effort to clean the lake since, it remains unsafe to drink.

Answer: Salween and Mekong

The Mainri Snow Mountain Range is close to the north-western border of Yunnan Province. Its highest peak, Kawagebo, is (22,110 feet (6,740 m) high.

The Salween River flows through Southeast Asia and is around 2,040 miles (3,290 km) long. Although this river has very high potential in regards to hydropower, few dams exist on it.

The Mekong River is the sixth longest river of Asia, and the twelfth longest in the world at around 3,050 miles (4,910 km) long.

Answer: Fuxian

Fuxian Lake stretches across Yunnan's counties of Chengjiang, Jiangchuan and Huaning. It is the third largest lake in Yunnan, and one of the deepest lakes in all of China. There is evidence of a submerged ancient city lying at the bottom of Fuxian Lake. Its maximum depth is around 510 feet (155 m) deep.

Carbon dating in 2007 on some stone relics found in the lake, suggested the items were around 1,750 years old. Over 40 handmade stone ancient artefacts were recovered from the lake in 2014.

Answer: Mount Jizu

Mount Jizu is situated on the north-east of Lake Erhai, in the Dali Prefecture, Yunnan, Japan. It is a sacred mountain in Buddhism and forms a tripoint between Dali City and Yunnan's counties of Binchuan and Hequing.

Xuyun was an old monk who traveled the world making pilgrimages to Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Myanmar, India etc. He had been to Jizu mountain before 1904 but was dissatisfied with the practices of the monks, refusing to live with them and preferring to sleep under trees. He later stated that the monks wore normal clothes, did not talk of temples or the faith, nor did they even burn incense. He left in disgust. He came back to Mount Jizu in 1904 to restore the holiness of the mountain.

Answer: Dali City

Dali City is located in the north-west of Yunnan, and is the county seat of the Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture. It is around 160 miles (250 km away) from the capital, Kunming. The 1925 Dali earthquake destroyed most of the city and killed approximately 5,000 people.

Malong is the highest peak of the Cangshan Mountains at around 13,525 feet (4,120 m) high.

Answer: Kawagebo

Kawagebo is one of the most sacred mountains of Tibetan culture. It is located between Yunnan's Deqin County, and the Zogang and Zayu counties of Tibet. Around 20,000 Tibetan pilgrims visit Kawagebo annually. The mountain is rich in stone resources such as marble.

Kawagebo is is 22,110 feet (6,740 m) high. The Mingyong Glacier descends from the summit of the mountain and is therefore also considered sacred. The retreating glacier is a concern for local Tibetans, with one monk speculating that this is punishment from Kawagarpo, the warrior god who holds the mountain as his home.

Answer: Kunming

The Kingdom of the Little People is mired in controversy, as some argue the park is exploitative of those with dwarfism, with comedic performances involved. Those who support the park argue that those employed by it would otherwise find it very difficult (if not impossible) to find work. Some employees have also stated that they feel less lonely working with others with dwarfism.

Answer: Dali City

The Panthay Rebellion was a Muslim-led revolt against the Qing Dynasty's Manchu rulers. The rebellion was a result of the discrimination the Hui people (Chinese and Chinese-speaking followers of Islam) faced under the Qing Dynasty.

Answer: Chenghai

Chenghai Lake (sometimes called Heiwuhai Lake) is located in Yongsheng County, Yunnan. There are three natural sulphur mineral springs on the southern end of the lake. The pristine north side is considered ideal for natural bathing, and the surrounding plateau a good training place for aquatic sports enthusiasts.

Spirulina is a kind of edible blue-green algae.

Answer: Pu'er

Pu'er City (formerly "Simao") in southern Yunnan is where Pu'er tea is made. In the 1940s, Pu'er was recorded as one of the most unhealthy places of Yunnan, the area being afflicted with various diseases, including the plague. It was mainly uninhabited by 1950.

When a road was built from Kumnming (around 350 miles away) in place of the decrepit old mule track, the city soon regained its prominence again. The tea industry has thrived here since.

Answer: Yuxi

Yuxi is the administrative centre of Yunnan's Hongta District. Yuxi is near Fuxian Lake. It is famous for its high quality tobacco and rice, as well as its hot springs.

Answer: Zhaotong

The Yi people now typically reside around China, Thailand and Vietnam. Yi tradition holds that their people have a common ancestor: Apu Dumu, who had three wives, each having two sons each by him. The sons travelled to what is now Zhaotong and created the various clans of the Yi people.

Zhaotong is highly mountainous and is known for its hot springs. It is located on the Yangtze River.

Answer: Honghe

Rolling down the Ailao Mountains to the shores of the Hong River, the Honghe Hani Rice Terraces are a complex system of irrigated terraces, carved from dense forests on valleys and mountainsides around 1,300 years ago. Red rice is the main crop of the terraces.

Answer: Ham

Xuanwei ham is dry-cured ham. This cuisine of Yunnan has a history dating back to 1766, however it was not until around 1909 that the ham was first commercially produced, which then increased its popularity.

Answer: Ruili

Ruili is located in the west of Yunnan, in Dehong Prefecture. The town of Muse, Myanmar is located across the border. It is an important trade location for Myanmar, in both legal and illegal circles. The city is surrounded by rolling hills.