Fast Facts about Yunnan

Area

394,000 sq.km.

Capital City

Kunming

Population

Approximately 41 Million

Language

Mandarin. A local dialect is also spoken, not understood by outsiders. Outside large hotels, very little English is spoken

Religion

Buddhism, Taoism, Islam and Christianity.

Climate

Varies widely according to latitude and elevation, from subtropical in the south, to high tundra in northern areas.

Local Time

GMT +8

Currency

Chinese Renminbi (RMB) is the medium of exchange. The basic unit of RMB is yuan, in denominations of 100, 50, 10, 5, 2 and 1. The yuan is divided into 10 jiao, which is further divided into 10 fen.

Credit Cards

Accepted in large hotels, but generally not in wide use.

Business Hours

Government Offices: 8:00-12:00, 14:30-18:30;
Businesses: 8:30-12:00, 14:30-18:00;
Banks: 8:30-12:00, 14:30-18:00.
Post Offices: 08:00-19:00 hrs

Travellers cheques

Travellers cheques and currencies may be exchanged into Yuan in major banks and hotels.

Tipping

Small tips are expected, in addition to hotel and restaurant service charges.

Nightlife

There is no recognised nightlife suitable for tourists at present.

Electricity supply

220V, 50 Hz

Photography

Film is available but may have been poorly stored. You are advised to bring an adequate supply, including spare camera batteries.

Tourist Information

Yunnan Airlines - Bangkok: (66-2) 2163067-8; email: bkk3q@samart.co.th Air China -Kunming: (86-761) 2730022; Bangkok: (66-2) 6310731-4; Hanoi: (84-4) 8269233
Yunnan Provincial Tourism Administration -Tel: (86-871) 3543560, 3545832; Fax: (86-871) 3517048