Cool-down tourism mushrooms in Yunnan

KUNMING — As the heat wave rolls in, where can one find a cool retreat that also offers the charm of borderland culture and the joy of leisurely sightseeing? Head to Southwest China's Yunnan province.

From admiring breathtaking landscapes to savoring the delicacies of wild mushrooms and exploring the secrets of rainforests, summer in Yunnan is a vibrant tapestry woven with cool-down tourism and mushroom foraging. These diverse sectors converge to create a booming summer economy that draws visitors from within China and beyond its borders.

"Puzhehei is a dream — a serene place where twilight melts into dawn, where every taste and touch leave traces too vivid to forget and too profound to describe," wrote American visitor Lia about Yunnan's renowned Puzhehei scenic area last year.

Nearly a year later, Lia and her family returned to this small Chinese village, spending several days embracing another leisurely summer.

Yunnan's reputation as a cool haven dates back centuries. When asked why Yunnan residents rarely use air conditioning, the answer is unanimous — it's unnecessary.

According to climate data from Yunnan's national meteorological stations, the average July temperature across the province is 21.9 C with 71 counties falling within the "comfortable" range for humans. Fifty-five percent of its districts and counties are suitable for developing cool-down tourism.

More tourists are shifting from "brief stopovers" to "poetic living" to explore suitable lifestyles in places like Lijiang, Shangri-La and Qujing.

Yunnan's climatic advantage is now translating into tangible economic benefits. According to the latest tourism statistics, from January to June this year, Yunnan received 371 million visits, representing a 10.8 percent year-on-year increase. Total tourism expenditure reached 658.4 billion yuan ($91.8 billion), a 10.5-percent increase compared to the same period last year.

This year, Yunnan is busy innovating industrial integration and cultivating new growth points such as live-in travel, night tours, and inbound tourism. Data show that in the first half of this year, the number of travelers choosing to sojourn in Yunnan exceeded 2.8 million, a 45.4 percent increase year-on-year.

With the recent influx of wild mushrooms on the market, Yunnan is experiencing peak gourmet tourism.

Niche experiences, such as in-depth tours, study tours, and family trips centered around wild mushrooms, have become a must-do.

"Searching for wild mushrooms is like decoding the secrets of nature," says Ma Bo, a visitor from Beijing who traveled to Yunnan specifically for mushroom foraging. Escaping the hustle and bustle of big cities, he finds tranquillity in the mountains and enjoys the pleasure of a mushroom hot pot.

Many places in Yunnan have launched unique products, such as "mushroom maps", "mushroom festivals", and "mushroom stamps". These initiatives create a new integrated model of culture and tourism that promotes dining and travel experiences.

At the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, groups of children participate in mushroom-themed study tours. "Mushroom study tours are not only a natural experience but also an educational journey," says Luo Qian, a botanical garden staff member. The garden combines wild mushroom resources with edible mushrooms, examples that are used in on-site teaching.

Thanks to its unique geography, climate and rich biodiversity, the province, also known as "Kingdom of Wild Mushrooms", is home to a wide variety of 900 edible mushroom species known for their delicate taste, high nutritional value, and fine texture, which account for over 90 percent of China's mushrooms.