Beneath the plateau of Yunnan lies a hidden realm made of stone, water and time — the Jiuxiang Scenic Area, a journey underneath the earth’s surface into a world that seems sculpted by fantasy. 1. Entering the Subterranean Realm Located about 90 km from Kunming’s city center, overlooking the Yi and Hui autonomous township of Yiliang, Jiuxiang may appear from the road like misty mountains and forested slopes. But step into the valley and you’re soon drifting on a subterranean

A paper that lasts a thousand years, a living pictographic script still in use—Lijiang holds passwords to travel through time. Imagine a writing system that doesn't use letters or characters, but miniature drawings—a bird for "bird," a fish for "fish," recording the world with brushstrokes. This isn't a child's doodle, but the world's only living pictographic script still in use—Dongba Script. In Lijiang, you'll be amazed to discover these ancient symbols not only reside in m