Yunnan, the sixth largest of China's provinces, lies in the southwest part of the country. Towering ice-capped mountains adjoin Tibet and Myanmar in the northwest, and lush tropical rainforests border Laos and Vietnam in the South. Yunnan offers some of the most picturesque topography and diversified culture in the world. It is home to 25 different ethnic groups, a third of China's ethnic minorities, and half the country's plant and animal species. With a unique array of fascinating ecological resources, including snow-capped mountains, lakes and hot springs, tropical rainforests, as well as a healthy climate and the friendly people, Yunnan is one of the most alluring destinations in China