Nowadays, reports of resurgent Russian nationalism are old news. At the risk of hurting the feelings of the Chinese people, it appears that violence against foreigners in China may be on the rise as well.
We'll be in China in the summertime. As recently as fifteen or so years ago, you pretty much had to enter and exit via Beijing, Shanghai or Hong Kong. This time, we'll enter, via Incheon, at the provincial capital of Chengdu, travel to Xinjiang in the northwest and exit over the Torugart Pass, to Kyrgyzstan.
In seven previous visits, we've never felt threatened because of our "foreign-ness" in any way. To the contrary, particularly in rural areas, our "foreign-ness" is as often as not the cause of amusement, interest and sometimes everybody stands together and poses for a round of photos.
Kunming is the capital of Yunnan province in China's southwest. You might stop through on your way to tourist sites like the newly branded "Shangri-La," Dali and Lake Erhai, Leaping Tiger Gorge and the fabulous rice terraces near Yuanyang.
We thought of Kunming, China's "Spring City," as a little like the city we lived in for years, Atlanta - that is, a provincial capital where you can get anything done a traveler might need, one with some cultural attractions, plenty of dining and diversions, safe, easy to spend a little time in, and, compared to China's mega-cities, maybe just the least bit dull.
Then came the bus bombings in Kunming last July, which killed three. Now comes this post on the blog Lost Laowai, about violence against foreigners in Kunming.
(Photo of Kunming from the China Gallery at EarthPhotos.com. See lots more photos from all over China there.)
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