Yunnan Province

Only a foolhardy traveler would skip out on the beautiful Yunnan province in Southwest China in the foothills of the Himalayas. The very beauty of the reigon may lead to demise of its charm as tourists pour into Tiger-leaping Gorge and flood the streets of Lijiang. Modernity arrives at a full gallop, though in a different fashion than the skyscrapers of Shanghai or futuristic opera house in Beijing. Here it is Jeeps full of foreign passengers with news of the outside world chugging up a mountain for a scenic getaway. It is new-era Naxi entrepreneurs crafting their culture so that Taiwanese tourists can take a bit home. Chinese characters are used for writing, while traditional heiroglyphics are preserved as engravings for sale. Older men and women walk the town in their navy blue peasant suits, but ask a dollar for a photograph. Yunnan is not untouched.

Yet remnants of the old remain. Wenhai Ecolodge, a hostel on the outskirts of Lijiang gained international recognition after a New York Times feature. But although a steady stream of westerners frequent the lodge, few venture beyond its walled courtyard unguided. Several hundred yards becomes several hundred miles on muddy horse-paths that lead Naxi harvesters at work in the wheat fields. Further on is a magical old Yi village best reached either on foot or by horseback.

Yunnan is home to a dozen or so ethnic minorities, a widely varied landscape, and magical charm available to those brave enough to venture off the beaten track. The following images attempt to capture that captivating, picturesque world.