Kunming - Lake Dianchi (Lake Kunming) 
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Lake Dianchi has a surface area of 297sq.km/115sq.mi and an average depth of 5.5m/18ft. Now known as Lake Kunming, it lies about 4km/2.5mi southwest of the city and is fed by 20 rivers and streams. There are thought to have been settlements here more than two thousand years ago.
On the shores of the lake there are many places to visit, for example Daguan Lou Gongyuan Park with its tower of the same name on the west shore. The tower, which was completed in 1691, originally had two stories but in 1828 a third story was added. For a number of years the tower served as a meeting-place for local men of letters. In 1857 it was destroyed during the war but rebuilt in 1869. The building has a double roof which is covered with yellow-glazed tiles. In 1888 the famous calligrapher Sun Ranweng engraved the longest ''parallel poem'' (duilian) in China (180 characters) on the two front pillars.
The Western Mountains (Xishan), which rise to over 2300m/7500ft, lie along the west shore of Lake Dianchi, about 15km/9mi from Kunming, from where they can be reached by bus. Between the highest summit, Taihuashan, and the lake there is a difference in altitude of 470m/1542ft. Hidden away in the mountain valleys there are several Buddhist and Taoist temples, while at the foot of Gaoraoshan the visitor will come across the tomb of the Kunming-born composer Nie Er (1912-35), who composed the Chinese national anthem. His tomb is approached by 24 steps, symbolizing the age of the deceased.
On the shores of the lake there are many places to visit, for example Daguan Lou Gongyuan Park with its tower of the same name on the west shore. The tower, which was completed in 1691, originally had two stories but in 1828 a third story was added. For a number of years the tower served as a meeting-place for local men of letters. In 1857 it was destroyed during the war but rebuilt in 1869. The building has a double roof which is covered with yellow-glazed tiles. In 1888 the famous calligrapher Sun Ranweng engraved the longest ''parallel poem'' (duilian) in China (180 characters) on the two front pillars.
The Western Mountains (Xishan), which rise to over 2300m/7500ft, lie along the west shore of Lake Dianchi, about 15km/9mi from Kunming, from where they can be reached by bus. Between the highest summit, Taihuashan, and the lake there is a difference in altitude of 470m/1542ft. Hidden away in the mountain valleys there are several Buddhist and Taoist temples, while at the foot of Gaoraoshan the visitor will come across the tomb of the Kunming-born composer Nie Er (1912-35), who composed the Chinese national anthem. His tomb is approached by 24 steps, symbolizing the age of the deceased.
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