Fuxian Lake.	A young Huayao Dai woman.

Yuxi City, birthplace of Nie Er, composer of China's National Anthem, is at the center of Yunnan Province, 88 kilometers from the provincial capital Kunming. Yuxi has a population of 2.09 million that includes 670,000 people of ethnic minorities. The one district and eight counties under its jurisdiction cover a total area of 15,000 square kilometers.

Yuxi is a transportation pivot in the province and an important gateway from southwest China to other ASEAN countries. Highways connect Yuxi City’s counties and districts, and the Pan-Asia Railway passes through on its way southward.

Yuxi has a mild climate all year round. Within its borders are Fuxian Lake -- the largest freshwater lake in China, Xingshan Lake -- the best natural fishery in Yunnan, scenic Qilu Lake and the aqua blue, crystal clear Yangzong Lake. These four bodies of water form a unique water town scenario on the plateau.

Significant historical findings, such as an underwater architectural complex in Fuxian Lake, bronze wares unearthed from Lijia Mountain, and the discovery of benthic fossils and trilobites on Maotian Mountain near Fuxian Lake add to the city’s compelling mystique. There is also a wealth of natural scenic splendor within the city, such as the Ailao Mountain national forest park and nature reserve, Xiushan – regarded as Yunnan’s most beautiful mountain, and Longquan National Forest Park.

Yuxi’s breathtaking landscape has nurtured a diverse and rich social culture. Its predominant ethnic group is the Huayao Dai, or Flower Waist Dai, so named because of the long colorful belts worn by the Dai women living in the area. The Huayao Dai live in Yuxi’s subtropical mountain valley in an environment that retains aspects of their original culture, in particular ancient Dai music.

In recent years Yuxi has made optimum use of its resources to develop tourism, power and mining industries in order to make its economy prosper. Yuxi is the site of the Yuxi Cigarette Plant of the Yunnan Hongta Group -- Asia’s number one and the world number five cigarette industry. The Hongta Group is one of a number of pillar enterprises that have been encouraged to grow in the city and contribute to its comprehensive strength.

Yuxi City has formulated development guidelines based on the principle of “Maintaining a balanced ecology, developing industry and stabilizing agriculture.” Maintaining the ecology is a main aspect of Yuxi’s urban construction, as illustrated by a current 9-project in its central district that incorporates protection of the ecological environment of its three lakes.

As long as Yuxi’s ecology is conserved, so too will be the beauty of the city’s natural and historical attractions for the delectation of future generations.