楚雄彝族自治州

Why this place

Chuxiong is the Yi autonomous prefecture in central Yunnan, and the Lufeng dinosaur beds nearby produced one of the richest collections of Jurassic dinosaur fossils in the world — including complete skeletons that are on display in the local museum.

What to see

• The Lufeng Dinosaur Museum and the excavation sites
• The Yi villages and the Torch Festival
• The Zixi Mountain and the central Yunnan countryside

What to eat

• Yi cooking: large meat cuts, buckwheat and the local sour broth
• Chuxiong is known for its 'yizhou' and its wild mushrooms in season

Best time

October–April; the Torch Festival is in July or August