Lin Huiyin pushed open the "kaleidoscopic" window lattice of Kunming,

while Wang Zengqi savored charcoal bayberries in the lush green rainy season.

Yunnan, with its mountains, rivers, and the vibrancy of everyday life,
offers sojourners the possibility of an "Nth way of living."

Sojourning in Yunnan, Living in Kunming,
they say it like this↓

"The rainy season in Kunming is bright, abundant, and deeply moving. In spring, the city is overgrown with grass and trees; in early summer, the foliage grows lush. The rainy season in Kunming is a rich, verdant green." — Wang Zengqi

Mile Temple Park. Photo by Zhao Wei

Xihua Garden. Photo by Zhao Wei

This passage comes from Wang Zengqi's essay "The Rain in Kunming," where he vividly depicts the distinctive character of Kunming's rainfall. The rain here falls decisively - neither lingering nor cloying. Even while the sun still shines brightly, the rain may suddenly begin, only to stop just as abruptly. In his writing, Wang describes visiting the wet markets during rainy season, where one finds all varieties of wild mushrooms - Russula virescens, Penny Bun, Thelephora ganbajun... When stir-fried with garlic, they release an intensely rich and savory aroma. He notes how the bayberries from Dongting Mountain in Suzhou and those from Jinggang Mountain seem to pale in comparison to Kunming's unique "charcoal bayberries" (so named because these unusually large, ping-pong ball-sized berries have a distinctive dark red hue resembling burning charcoal). These vivid details collectively capture the unique charm of Kunming's rainy season.

Stir-fried Wild Mushrooms

"I have finally returned to Kunming! To see this city bathed in clear skies, caressed by warm breezes, carpeted in flowers, and brimming with color." — Lin Huiyin

Ditai Temple Bougainvillea in Full Bloom. Photo by Zhao Wei

Blue Jacaranda on Jiaochang Road. Photo by Wang Junxing

Kunming, where flowers bloom year-round, leaves an unforgettable impression. In a letter to a friend, Lin Huiyin wrote: "I have finally returned to Kunming! To see this city bathed in clear skies, caressed by warm breezes, carpeted in flowers, and brimming with color... It is a memory I will cherish for a lifetime."

The roses in Daguan Park’s Yuyuan Garden are in bloom. Photo by Zhao Wei

"I only love Yunnan where I am staying."

"All my words are rooted in Yunnan’s spirit." — Poet, essayist Lei Pingyang

Jiaozi Mountain Rhododendron Sea. Photo by Wang Junxing

Red Land of Dongchuan. Photo from Dongchuan District Converged Media Center

"In Yunnan, flowers are not just for admiration—they can also be eaten. Here, spring blossoms quietly, yet their beauty is breathtaking. A single glance reveals how every little corner interprets spring in the most dazzling way. A gentle nudge from the spring breeze sends you tumbling into a sea of petals, leaving you marveling at this beautiful accident. There’s no wine, yet you’re utterly intoxicated. Witnessing flowers in Yunnan is a life-affirming experience—you realize each blooming tree has gathered a lifetime’s strength to burst forth so magnificently." — Children's author, screenwriter, playwright, poet, and lyricist Tang Ping

Roses in Anning Ba Jie. Photo from Glamorous Anning

Flower Cake. Photo from Glamorous Anning

"If I were to choose a place to sojourn, it would only be Yunnan." — Writer Qi Shiyi

Cuihu Park, Photo from Kunming Wuhua Release

Daguan Park

Inspired by Wang Zengqi’s essay "Heart Shadows of Cuihu Lake," writer Qi Shiyi came to Yunnan. The sunlight, flowers, and vibrant local life made her feel she "never wanted to leave." She describes Yunnan as having a magical ability to "catch" you—to cradle weary bodies and minds while filling hearts with joy. She coined the term "spiritual Yunnan people"—even if one isn’t physically in Yunnan, the heart always yearns for it.

Dounan Flower Market. Photo by Wang Junxing

"Yunnan’s skies, shaped by those whose eyes hold stars, create a beauty as vast as the cosmos. It’s as if the wind sweeps across winter’s wilderness, planting the lightness and radiance of spring into life’s prelude in an instant. Thus, every flower, every fresh green, every drifting cloud, every colorful breeze, every tender yet untamed soul, every wandering traveler... resonates with a clear, vibrant melody, becoming a note in the spring symphony—a playful yet lingering movement." — Children's author, screenwriter, playwright, poet, and lyricist Tang Ping

"This time last year, exhausted by Chengdu’s endless overcast days without sun, I boarded a plane to Kunming with two suitcases, found an apartment near Cuihu Lake with trees and lush greenery outside the window, and began settling into life here... After a year in Kunming, I gradually discovered the city’s charm. Living here, you will inevitably fall in love with life again."

"This is a city that demands you slow down, wander thoughtfully, and savor its essence. Sunlight is its best filter, plants take root and flourish effortlessly, and the culture—serene, unhurried, and relaxed—might just heal the numbness and fatigue of big-city life." — Qi Shiyi

Nanqiang Street

From Lin Huiyin’s "poetic dwelling"

To Wang Zengqi’s "verdant rainy season,"

Yunnan’s allure transcends time and space.

Whether it’s Lei Pingyang’s deep-rooted nostalgia,

Or Qi Shiyi’s "spiritual belonging to Yunnan,"

Yunnan, through its fusion of nature and culture,

Always offers sojourners the possibility of "the Nth way of living."