Chuxiong Counties Travel Guide

Chuxiong Yi autonomous Prefecture is located in the heart of Yunnan Plateau, as one of the only two Yi autonomous prefectures Chuxiong is considered the "epicenter of Yi culture" and the place in Yunnan where the Yi culture is best preserved. Some of the most characteristics features of Yi culture are preserved in Chuxiong, as are their epic poems "Meige and Chamu", the ten-month solar calendar, the festivities of cult to the tiger, and many more ethnic and cultural customs.

With an area of 29,258 square kilometers and a population of 2,6 millions, the 600.000 Yi living in Chuxiong Prefecture belong to 13 different branches. Most of Chuxiong Prefecture is mountainous terrain with only a ten percent of its surface considered flat lands. The mountains are well forested, according to official statistics a 60% of the prefecture is covered by forest. Chuxiong is famous in China as was the home of the oldest hominid discovered in China, the Yuanmou Man that must have living there about 1,7 millions of years ago. In historic times it was the home of some famous Yi kingdoms, that felt in the political orbit of Nanzhao kingdom first and Dali Kingdom later. With the immigration of Han people to Chuxiong during the Ming and Qiang dynasties, the Yi cultures were transformed, adapting themselves to the influences of Han culture. Only in the more inaccessible mountains the Yi culture has been preserved until the present.

Chuxiong Yi Nationality Autonomous Prefecture is between Dianchi Lake beside Kunming and Erhai Lake in Dali. Chuxiong is famous for "Yuanmon Man", th fossils of lama ancient ape of Lufeng about 80 million years ago. It is the well- known as one of the birthplace of humanity and a treasure house of ancient living things' fossils. Other scenic spots like Wuding Lion Mountain and Colorful Yuanmou Earth Forest are attractive too.

Adminsitration Subdivisions:
There is one county-level city and 9 counties.

Map
#	Name	Hanzi	Hanyu Pinyin	Population (2003 est.)	Area (km²)	Density (/km²)
1	Chuxiong City	楚雄市	Chǔxióng Shì	490,000	4,482	109
2	Shuangbai County	双柏县	Shuāngbǎi Xiàn	150,000	4,045	37
3	Mouding County	牟定县	Móudìng Xiàn	200,000	1,494	134
4	Nanhua County	南华县	Nánhuá Xiàn	230,000	2,343	98
5	Yao'an County	姚安县	Yáo'ān Xiàn	200,000	1,803	111
6	Dayao County	大姚县	Dàyáo Xiàn	280,000	4,146	68
7	Yongren County	永仁县	Yǒngrén Xiàn	100,000	2,189	46
8	Yuanmou County	元谋县	Yuánmóu Xiàn	210,000	1,803	116
9	Wuding County	武定县	Wǔdìng Xiàn	260,000	3,322	78
10	Lufeng County	禄丰县	Lùfēng Xiàn	420,000	3,631	116