Cultural wonders thrive together in Yunnan, Indonesia

A poster of the Yunnan cultural tourism promotion in Jakarta on May 15

Where human hearts meet ancient minds, Yunnan old tea forests murmur tales of symbiosis, and Indonesian stupas guard the cultural imprints under twilight. In the scroll of World Heritage sites, life itself remains the most moving story.

Yunnan cultural heritages full of warmth

Lijiang old town

The Old Town of Lijiang is located in the Gucheng district, northwest Yunnan's Lijiang city. It was listed as a World Heritage in December 1997. Cobblestone paths in the old town have witnessed the Naxi folk customs. Courtyards are adorned with Dongba scripts, and an ingenious water system gives life to the town. As Yunnan’s first World Cultural Heritage site, it is a healing fusion of humanity and nature.

Old tea forests in Pu’er

The Cultural Landscape of Old Tea Forests of the Jingmai Mountain in Pu'er is located in Lancang Lahu autonomous county, southwest Yunnan's Pu'er city. It is composed of five ancient tea forests, nine ancient villages and three separated shelter forests. In September 2023, it was listed as the world's first cultural heritage themed on tea. Here, the Blang and Dai forefathers showed their wisdom in planting the understorey tea. The area has been a living example where man and nature thrive together.

Honghe rice terraces

The Cultural Landscape of Honghe Hani Rice Terraces has a history of over 1,300 years, and it features the "forest-village-terrace-water" ecosystem that cascades across mountains. At dawn, the mushroom-shaped houses emerge from mist, embodying the Hani people’s philosophy of harmony. It was listed as a World Heritage in June 2013.

Indonesian sites tell tales of civilization

Borobudur

With 72 stupas and 2,500㎡ of reliefs, the Borobudur Temple Compounds stand as an architectural marvel. Alongside the Great Wall, Taj Mahal, and Angkor Wat, the site is one of the "four ancient wonders of the East."

Prambanan

The Prambanan Temple Compounds, built in the 10th century, stands as Indonesia's largest architectural ensemble in Shiva temples. This stone-carved epic of over 200 temples, though having weathered multiple earthquakes, has been carefully repaired. Rid of the dust of history, it continues to showcase its unique charm to the world.

Subak irrigation system

As a cultural landscape of Bali province, the Subak System nourishes Bali’s emerald terraces, and it features a centuries-old network of canals, dams, and temples. More than irrigation, the system also embodies the Tri Hita Karana philosophy, which brings together the realms of the spirit, the human world and nature.

Yogyakarta's cosmic axis

The Cosmological Axis of Yogyakarta and its Historic Landmarks includes the Kraton (Palace) Complex and a series of linked landmarks, monuments and spaces located along a six-kilometre-long south-north axis in central Yogyakarta. The axis links up Mount Merapi and the Indian Ocean, and it embodies key beliefs about the cosmos in Javanese culture, including the marking of the cycles of life.

Travel tip

Have a notebook for writing. Borobudur’s sunrise inspires poetry, while Lijiang’s night rain whispers lyrics. Stay with us for the Yunnan cultural tourism promotion in Jakarta on May 15.

By YICC reporters