With an average elevation of around 2000 meters above sea level, Yunnan features huge differences in altitude: while Yunnan’s north borders Tibet and the Eastern Himalayas (up to 6740 m), the subtropical landscapes of the south are not higher than 100 meters. As a plateau and mountainous province, Yunnan belongs to the southward extension part of the Tibetan Plateau.
A local saying goes Four seasons can be found along the same mountain slope and different weather conditions can be witnessed over a short distance of 10 li (about 5 km). The climate in Yunnan is vertically diversified and its unique and special topography provides the province with a rich variety of plants. No wonder, Yunnan is also called the Kingdom of Plants, Hometown of Spices, the Natural Garden or the Treasure-house of Medicinal Herbs.
Below a list of selected Yunnan cities with respective altitute in meters (A-Z):
| City | Elevation | City | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baoshan | 1653 m | Luxi | 1704 m |
| Chuxiong | 1772 m | Mengding | 511 m |
| Dali | 1990 m | Nujiang | 1100 m |
| Dehong | 1000 m | Pu’er | 1302 m |
| Deqin | 3485 m | Qujing | 1898 m |
| Gongshan | 1591 m | Ruili | 776 m |
| Honghe | 2000 m | Shangri-La | 3276 m |
| Huaping | 1244 m | Tengchong | 1654 m |
| Huize | 2109 m | Weixi | 2325 m |
| Jingdong | 1162 m | Wenshan | 1590 m |
| Kunming | 1891 m | Xishuangbanna | 552 m |
| Lancang | 1054 m | Yiliang | 1532 m |
| Lijiang | 2393 m | Yuanmou | 1120 m |
| Lincang | 1502 m | Yuxi | 1636 m |
| Lushui | 1804 m | Zhaotong | 1949 m |
Every traveler to Yunnan shall be aware that altitude sickness can occur at some destinations. Lijiang, Shangri-La and Deqin, as popular visiting spots, shall specifically be mentioned. Wonders Of Yunnan Travel suggests starting a Yunnan Tour from a relatively low place and gradually ‘climb up’ for having enough time adapting to the higher altitudes.
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