Location
 

· Located in North Kunming

· Only Two Hours to Hong Kong & Thailand

· Close to Tibet, Vietnam & Laos

Based on the outskirts of Kunming City is the South of the Clouds Centre of Excellence.  

This facility is situated in the perfect location for year round learning and training.  It seems that you could be a million miles from anywhere with the tranquillity and calm that permeates this area, but in reality you are only a short ride from the centre of the capital city of Yunnan Province.

Lying in the North of Kunming City, the centre is surrounded by a protected parkland area which is very popular with visitors keen to take a walk through these wooded areas and enjoy the atmosphere. This area is also used to train in during the summer and offers a great walking or cycling excursion for our guests during their stay.

Kunming is home to a number of famous locations. There is the Bird and Flower market, Stone forest, Green Lake Park and a host of temples to see. Nowhere is more well known than the Western Hills. Seen from afar, its undulating skyline resembles a graceful young lady sleeping on her back, hence it has earned the name of the "sleeping beauty".  It’s plentiful and beautifully scented trees and bamboos are set off by the famous Huating Temple, Taihua Temple, Sanqing Monastery and the Dragon Gate. These temples are a mixture of Buddhist and Daoist and have been fashioned over thousands of years into sometimes very precarious positions on the face of the cliffs.


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In The Annals of Mountains and Rivers of Yunnan, Yang Shen, a Ming-dynasty poet praised the Western Hills thus: ‘The azure mountains with precipices thousands of chi high reflected on vast rippling blue waters at its foot in the bright moonlight, and flying clouds skimming over high above, are indeed one of the best scenic spots in Yunnan.’

Kunming itself was home to the Chinese Olympic squad during their training for the 2008 Olympics as the area is at altitude and the air quality is much higher than most other areas of China.  This vibrant and enthralling capital city is also home to a large Western community many of whom favour its temperate climate. 

Facilities & Transport
 

· On-Site Sports Facilities

· On-Suite Rooms

· Kunming Airport located in City

The centre has a first class set up to ensure your stay here is truly unforgettable.  Rooms provided have an en-suite bathroom, there is a large dining hall for your meals and other facilities such as a bar, shop, barbeque area and much more.  As a Western owned and run company South of the Clouds puts service and standards as a priority, meaning you only need to be concerned with learning and enjoying.

Meals will be served from the restaurant on site here three times a day as part of your package.  There are of course other options for eating and purchasing with a shop stocking a range of western goods, barbeques held regularly during the year and a bar.  The food here in Yunnan is perhaps the finest in China.  With the large mix of different ethnic people and cultures the range of variety is huge.  This is reflected in the food and you will not be disappointed in the delicious Chinese dishes on offer during your stay.

The facility itself is home to an large array of activities which can help you while away the time when not busy with your chosen subjects.  There are tennis and badminton court, gymnasium, fishing and table tennis to name but a few.  Alternatively you could just take a walk in the forests surrounding the academy & make friends with some of the animals that live there or relax in the bar.

As an activities based company other sports & cultural activities are also on offer to all those interested.  How about cycling through the breathtaking scenery, trekking through some of the local mountains or yachting on the beautiful lakes?  This academy really is a sports persons dream, the scope for outdoor adventure & learning is second to none.

Transport links to Kunming are very developed and increasingly expanding.  It is viewed as the gateway from China to the rest of South East Asia so there are currently lots of air connections to Thailand, Indonesia etc. as well as a rail link which is currently underway to link Kunming through Laos, Thailand all the way down to Indonesia.  A second airport is about to be constructed which reflects the amount of traffic which is catered for in this region. 

Once you arrive in Kunming Airport you will be collected by our friendly staff and assisted with settling in and any questions you may have can be answered.  You will then be introduced to our team, your chosen teacher and also get a chance to meet our other guests.

Climate
 

· Year Round Temperate Climate

· Clean Air & Environment

· Train at Altitude

Kunming is known as the ‘City of Four Springs’ or ‘City of Eternal Spring’ due to its temperate year round climate.  Whilst most of China struggles through red hot summers and freezing cold winters we here in Kunming enjoy a comfortable existence all year round. 

Fresh air and tranquillity are our hallmarks and due to Yunnan’s plethora of trees and scenic areas you don’t have to go too far in any direction to find this in abundance.

Due to its climate Kunming & Yunnan provide many of the flowers to the rest of China on a year round basis and even in the depths of winter the variety of plants and trees in bloom is breathtaking. As we are at altitude here your training will benefit and you will notice the difference once you return to locations nearer sea level. 

With the centre located on the outskirts of Kunming you have the benefit of fresh air, great facilities and amazing scenery, alongside the convenience of being so close to the hub of Yunnan Province and all the sights and sounds that will await you in Kunming.