A few days in Dali

After Yangshou we jumped on another 24-hour sleeper train and headed further west to Yunnan province. One of the most ethnically diverse provinces in China, we chose to spend a couple of weeks here. We arrived in the province capital, Kunming, where we spent a night before jumping on a bus to Dali, an old town set between one of China's largest lakes and the Jade Green Mountains.

Arriving at the tail end of China's May holiday week, the streets were alive with colourful festivals

A Dali local taking a rest from the midday sun

The sun sets behind the Qianxun Padoga (c.950AD), the Jade Green Mountains in the background

Some of Dali's Bai women

A detailed look at the intricately painted gates to the city

Dali's local food was spectacular- here I'm eating some fried cheese and yak stew

The kitchen window of one of the local eateries- the layers of grease built up on the shutters must mean that many a meal has been cooked in that kitchen