Apr 7, Tuesday, Guanling to Kunming

We had a long morning drive, broken up by a visit to the Dragon Palace.  As usual the drive was through some beautiful mountainous areas. 

More rice terraces

People seem to set up shop everywhere.  This gentleman set up his fruit "stand" right along the highway.

The grounds of the area were beautiful with a lake and many large rocks placed throughout the large plazas and walk ways.  As usual, everything was under construction with expansions and improvements going on.  

At the end of the walk we reached an elaborate bridge carved in the shape of a dragon and a small cavern or grotto with a waterfall.

And the trail beyond the bridge wound up the steep cliff face.

After pictures we took the elevator to the top and then walked down to a lovely lake. 

At one side of the lake there was a gaping hole where the water flowed from the lake down to the waterfall we had seen below.  Does Monstro the Whale from Pinocchio come to mind?  Or maybe the movie Jaws?  

At the lake we boarded a boat that took us into the Dragon Palace Cave, a beautiful long cave that was light with many colorful lights.  In China, it is very common to see natural things "improved" with colored lights. 

Cave Entrance

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Then it was on to the Guanling airport for a flight to Kunming, the City of Eternal Spring, so named because of its year round moderate temperatures.  We stayed in a wonderful hotel and saw a number of Westerners for the first time in quite a while.