“Friends, whatever you do, don’t come to Yunnan—because once you do, you won’t want to leave!” In videos by Liz, a blogger from South Africa, viewers see Kunming’s warm winter sunshine and vast blue skies, energetic runners and cyclists along the Dianchi Lake greenway, and steaming copper-pot beef, spicy and deeply satisfying. Walking through Kunming Old Street, she speaks with genuine admiration of a city where nature, a clean environment, modernity, and leisure blend seamlessly. She has even given Kunming a bold title: “the best city on Earth.”

Liz, a South African blogger. Photo provided by the interviewee.

Liz is 29 years old. After graduating from university, she came to China and became an English teacher for young children. She first taught in Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, and later chose to move to the Kunming branch because she wanted to experience life in a different city. The comfortable and pleasant living environment, together with the rich and diverse ethnic cultures, made her fall in love with Kunming at first sight. As she says in her videos, once she arrived in Kunming, she decided to settle down—and has now stayed for seven years.

From traveler to resident, and from long-term residence to entrepreneurship, Liz’s journey has continued to evolve. Yunnan’s natural beauty and vibrant everyday life are not only tourism assets; they have also given her a constant source of creative inspiration and a passion for storytelling. After working in Kunming for several years, Liz began to think about starting her own business. Two years ago, she left her teaching job and registered her own company in Kunming, focusing on video production and content creation. Through her camera lens, she captures the lively street scenes of Yunnan, the distinctive charm of its ethnic cultures, and the simple warmth of everyday human interactions, opening a window for audiences at home and abroad to better understand Yunnan through social media.

What surprised Liz was that starting a business in Kunming was far smoother than she had expected. “A lot of people told me that it would be very complicated for a foreigner to set up a company in China, but my entrepreneurial experience in Kunming has been incredibly smooth!” she recalled. From her initial inquiries to the completion of the various formalities that followed, the relevant authorities provided clear guidance and efficient service.

Yunnan’s favorable business environment and unique geographical advantages have convinced Liz of its enormous development potential. In recent years, the launch of the China–Laos Railway and the implementation of the 240-hour visa-free transit policy have turned Yunnan into an important gateway for opening up and connectivity. They have also provided content creators like Liz with abundant materials and broader opportunities. “With the China–Laos Railway, it has become much more convenient for me to travel to places like Xishuangbanna for filming,” she said.

Among Liz’s overseas followers, many are fascinated by Yunnan’s terraced fields and snow-capped mountains. Uniquely local experiences—such as ethnic festivals and wild mushroom hotpot—also frequently spark lively online discussion. “Many foreigners know only a little about Yunnan, but I believe that once they get to know Yunnan and come here, almost all of them will fall in love with it,” Liz said confidently.

Liz uses the words “slow-paced” and “dreamlike” to describe life in Yunnan, and “opportunity” to sum up her entrepreneurial journey. From sightseeing to truly building a life, from passing visitor to long-term resident, stories like hers—where travel turns into creation and entrepreneurship—are playing out across Yunnan again and again. Regardless of nationality, people are finding opportunities of their own on this vibrant land. (Yunnan Daily, reporter Guo Yao and trainee reporter Li Xiaofan)

Click here to view the Chinese report

(Editors: Rachel, Doe)