Simao County, Frontier Town Of South Yunnan

Located southwest of Yunnan Province, the Simao Prefecture borders Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam with a border of over 600 kilometers. More than 43% of its land area is covered by forests, which host a mild climate that receives plenty of rainfall. Simao province includes 10 counties, which are inhabited by 14 distinct ethnic minorities, such as Hani, Yi, Dai, Lahu, Wa, Bulang and Yao. The total minority population in the region numbers well over one million.

Periodic malaria epidemics have claimed the lives of many in the region since the 1920s and a local proverb says "if you plan on going Simao, you'd better marry off your wife first'. After the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, a highly successful anti - malaria hygiene campaign was launched to fight against the disease. In recent years, Simao has been renovated into a bustling modern community. It really deserves the nickname "Small Spring City " given to it by many tourists.

The Simao Prefecture is 500 kilometers from Kunming City. It takes 40 minutes to get there by plane.