Special Yunnan Lifestyle: Travel writer Paul says Yunnan is full of surprise

Paul Salopek, a well-known American travel writer, also an explorer of National Geography, has recently trekked through western Yunnan, as part of his global-trekking effort. In the morning, Paul usually drinks a cup of tea, puts on boots and a hat and then sets out. Each day of his walking in west Yunnan offered him surprise. The mysterious mountains and rivers have showed him the magic of nature.

Paul’s global journey began in Ethiopia, Africa in Jan 2013, and he would trek through Middle East, Asia, North and South Americas in more than ten years. His final destination is Tierra del Fuego in South America. In September 2021, Paul started his walking in China’s Yunnan.

Trekking through the Ancient Tea Horse Road and Mt.Gaoligong, Paul left his footprints in forests, lakes, snow mountains and villages of west Yunnan. As a two-time Pulitzer winner, Paul filmed well-known documentaries about his extraordinary journey, such as Out of Eden and the Forever Walk: China. In doing so, he presented the world natural scenery and human wonders.

Recalling the days when he was young, Paul said that he loved fast things, so he used to ride motorcycles to get to the destinations quickly. However, if one only spends time in speed, he will miss the details on the way.

Now, he wants to be a good story teller. To tell stories of West Yunnan, he slowed down to observe tiny things along the way, without presetting any destination.

During walking, Paul loved the special Yunnan lifestyle. He would spend two to three days living with a farmer, talking long under a tree and having a breakfast together. He would stop to film a woman who was grinding red peppers. He was surprised that in the villages, people still use their hands to build houses and roads, making tools for living and farming.

Taking a closer look at Yunnan and experiencing the special lifestyle have amazed him a lot. He ate local foods and felt the weather with his skin. To Paul, this is an immersive tour.

“The food in Yunnan is, of course, delicious and wonderful. It reminds me of the food in Southeast Asia,” said Paul, adding the soil and plants in the two regions are similar. However, what he loves most about Yunnan food is the freshness. “The fruits and coffee are so fresh that they taste as good as those immediately picked from trees or dug out of the earth.”

In the mountains of West Yunnan, there is no bustle of cites, but farmers growing their own food in small yards can be seen. There is no busy traffic, but people are going everywhere on foot or by horse. Wild animals can be seen and the chirp of birds can be heard.

Here, people use their hands to maintain the agricultural civilization of thousand-year history. In the forest, people live in harmony with nature and stick to a man-nature balance. The incredible landscapes and ethnic diversity were just like a mosaic of colors.

“You see, I’m a man with gray hair already. I’ve walked to countries worldwide, but West Yunnan is a rarity,” said Paul. “As a world-famous province of tourism, Yunnan is expected to preserve its culture diversity to the utmost.”

Reporting by Wang Yunya and Guo Yao; Trans-editing by Wang Yunya; Photos providing by Paul Salopek; Proofreading by Wang Huan and Wang Shixue; Special thanks to Wildchin.com and Zhang Qinghua