China · 15–23 September 2026 · Xiamen / Kunming / Lijiang
By Ronald Cudiamat
What began with an invitation to the Kunming International Flower Expo became nine days of flowers, mountain air, old streets, warm welcomes, and moments shared together. This is our journey, as we lived it.
DAY 01 · 15 SEPTEMBER 2026 · MANILA → XIAMEN
The journey begins
Our journey began in Manila, carrying a little excitement and the quiet anticipation of everything still ahead. Xiamen was only a transit stop, yet it gave us our first taste of Chinese hospitality. Our driver greeted us warmly and brought us to our hotel, Holiday Inn Express. With the evening to ourselves, we relaxed and explored a little of Xiamen. The city lights made even this short pause feel like the beginning of an adventure.
A warm welcome in Xiamen · An evening glimpse of the city
DAY 02 · 16 SEPTEMBER 2026 · XIAMEN → KUNMING
A city in bloom
We woke early for our connecting flight to Kunming. At Nostalgia S Hotel, which would be our home for several days, the staff welcomed us with such kindness and attention that their service exceeded every expectation. Then we stepped into the city: the calm of Yuantong Temple, the greenery of Green Lake Park, and the energy of Nanping Pedestrian Street. Flowers seemed to appear wherever we looked. By the end of our first day, I understood why Kunming is called the City of Eternal Spring.
Our welcome in Kunming · Yuantong Temple · Flowers along the way
DAY 03 · 17 SEPTEMBER 2026 · DRAGON GATE · LONGMEN GROTTOES
Above Dianchi Lake
We took the Kunming Tourism Ropeway toward Dragon Gate, with beautiful Dianchi Lake opening beneath us. The mountain walk to the Longmen Grottoes was a pleasure of its own. Along carefully carved paths, each turn offered another view of the water below. Even the illuminated cave felt like a small discovery. We slowed down to take it all in: the stonework, the changing perspective, and the quiet reward of climbing higher.
The ropeway · Mountain paths · A view from the climb
DAY 03 · 17 SEPTEMBER 2026 · NEW LUOSIWAN · DOUNAN
Markets of endless choice
After the mountain, we entered a very different kind of landscape. Junfa New Luosiwan International Trade City seemed to stretch on without end, with wholesale and retail shops offering so much to choose from. Then came Dounan Flower Market. As a grower, I could hardly help feeling overwhelmed by the scale and beauty of the flowers around us. Rows of blooms and color filled the market. It was one of those places that made me want to look closer at everything.
Junfa New Luosiwan International Trade City · Dounan Flower Market
DAY 04 · 18 SEPTEMBER 2026 · KUNMING INTERNATIONAL FLOWER EXPO
The day we came for
At last, the Kunming International Flower Expo: the day we had been looking forward to. The exhibitors surrounded us with flowers of extraordinary beauty, and every display drew us onward. We had rewarding conversations with people in the industry. Meeting Edward Koks of De Ruiter Innovations BV was especially meaningful because of our connection through the rose varieties grown at EMV Farm Corporation. For a moment, the work we do at home and the wider world of flowers met in one place.
At the expo · Floral installations · Roses everywhere
DAY 04 · 18 SEPTEMBER 2026 · NETHERLANDS–CHINA RECEPTION
An evening of connection
The day ended with an invitation to the Netherlands–China Horticultural Business Network Reception. We were grateful for the generosity of the Netherlands government and especially to our Dutch business partner, Oscar Niezen. Over a sumptuous dinner, we shared conversation and celebrated connections built through our love of horticulture. It was a gracious end to an unforgettable expo day.
The horticultural business network reception · New conversations · Dinner
DAY 05 · 19 SEPTEMBER 2026 · KUNMING → LIJIANG
Waterfalls and a new road
We spent the morning walking through Kunming Waterfalls Park. Seeing the water in full flow was a simple kind of bliss. In the afternoon, we boarded the high speed train to Lijiang—our first time riding one together, and a pleasant experience for all of us. We arrived as the day faded and stayed within Lijiang Old Town. Beneath the lanterns and among the old streets, we felt we had stepped into a living glimpse of China’s cultural heritage.
Kunming Waterfalls Park · Our first high speed train · Lijiang by night
DAY 06 · 20 SEPTEMBER 2026 · TIGER LEAPING GORGE
The force of the gorge
Our first guided tour took us to Tiger Leaping Gorge. There, the landscape did not ask for attention—it commanded it. The river rushed through the mountains with a force we could feel, while the steep slopes rose around us. Every viewpoint reminded us how small we were beside it. The journey was exhilarating, and the scenery stayed with us long after we moved on.
The roaring river · The walk through the gorge · The scale of the mountains
DAY 06 · 20 SEPTEMBER 2026 · WHITE WATER TERRACES
The quiet of the terraces
Later, the White Water Terraces offered the gentlest contrast to the gorge. Their pale, flowing shapes and still pools seemed almost unreal against the mountains. We had begun the day in the presence of a roaring river and ended it looking out over calm water. That contrast is what I remember most: nature showing us its strength and its softness in a single day.
The pale terraces · A moment together · Mountain scenery
DAY 07 · 21 SEPTEMBER 2026 · BLUE MOON VALLEY · SNOW MOUNTAIN
Blue water, thin air
Our second guided tour began at Blue Moon Valley, whose clear blue water lived up to its name. Then we rode the ropeway into the heights of the snow mountain. Reaching 4,680 meters was a triumph, though the altitude made its presence felt; some of us experienced altitude sickness. Oxygen helped us continue. Up there, beauty and difficulty stood side by side, and the mountain left us with a deeper respect for its scale.
Blue Moon Valley · The water and mountains · Up toward 4,680 meters
DAY 07 · 21 SEPTEMBER 2026 · IMPRESSION LIJIANG · GRANDMA’S KITCHEN
A performance to remember
Impression Lijiang unexpectedly became the highlight of our tour. Against the mountain backdrop, the performers brought stories of Yunnan’s people, culture, and ways of life vividly before us. That evening, we gathered for our last dinner in Lijiang at Grandma’s Kitchen. We had enjoyed Chinese food throughout the journey; this generous, delightful spread was a celebration of a vacation well spent. We raised a toast to the days we had shared. Cheers!
Impression Lijiang · The mountain stage · Our final dinner in Lijiang
DAY 08 · 22 SEPTEMBER 2026 · LIJIANG → KUNMING
One last morning in Lijiang
I woke early and walked through Lijiang Old Town before the day grew busy. Its roofs, flowers, waterways, and winding lanes felt different in the morning light. It was a pretty amazing walk, and I was glad I had made time for it. In the afternoon, we returned to Kunming, carrying the images of Lijiang with us.
Morning rooftops · Flowers along the lanes · Old Town in daylight
DAY 09 · 23 SEPTEMBER 2026 · KUNMING → HOME
Until we meet again
The journey home gave us time to remember how much we had seen together: the flowers, the mountains, the old streets, and the people who made us feel welcome. Xiamen Airlines served us two full, delicious meals, a generous final touch that kept us happily satiated. Thank you for taking such good care of us. We left with gratitude and the hope that we will come back again, God willing.
On the flight home · A generous meal · A memory from the journey
