I think the confusion may be that in French gravure is a generic term for engraving (and even etching) and doesn't refer to the specific process/technology as it does in English. In English, it is a shortened version of "rotogravure," thus the cylinder.
Anyway, it's weird. My interpretation from the photos and what I can make of the Google Translate of the description, it seems somebody took an engraved plate and then drew on top of it with ink.
It's technically not allowed, but quite a lot of people do it anyway, in the northwest corner of the Sanjiacun reservoir. It's located in the Qipanshan area, just west of Kunming, between Xishan and Bamboo Temple.
I don't know about the ASEAN Forest, but have heard good things about access to hiking in the hills in Chenggong.
You could also consider the area in Kunming proper that is north-northwest of Xiao Tun and Huangtupo. Good access the roads that run west out of the city. Quite a bit of nice forest, trails, little villages, etc. out that way. They are building a subway line that should be open within the year and will terminate at somewhere around, I think the English name is Joy City, 吾悦广场. It's closer to the core parts of the city, like Green Lake, downtown, Dianchi Lu, Beishiqu etc.
Also, the northern part of Kunming, like out toward the end of Longquan Lu has some decent countryside access.
I don't think there is more to this than the rent increase. Business owners who rent their properties have very few legal protections against their greedy landlords. These landlords try to run short leases and hike up rent as much as they think they can get away with every time.
Sadly, it's the people who have enough intelligence, drive and creativity to set up a successful business instead of a clone of an existing business model that often suffer the most under this ludicrous system. When a business is successful and the landlord knows it's making more money than its neighbors, (s)he know that he can raise the rent to even more astronomical heights.
Cantina is always a safe bet for top-notch food and great service. I think it has actually gotten better and better over the years, which is often not the case with restaurants. Most people who live in Kunming know Cantina. Perhaps not as many know how involved the owners, Libby and Diego, are in various social welfare and community service efforts. Highly recommended both for visitors and long-term residents!
I went there twice for group boxing classes. I left the third time when I was attempting to book into a grappling class. This was part of an attempted process on my part to try the different classes offered there and see if I wanted to purchase one of their various membership cards.
The boxing classes were fun, a great workout, and the coaches and fellow students were all nice. A good atmosphere. Certainly room for improvement, especially in terms of explaining the class structure and fundamental concepts of the sports to beginners...but overall good.
However, on front desk staff member erased the positive aspects of the gym through his unprofessional and rude conduct. I was treated like some sort of con-man for wanting to try out the different classes offered before committing to multi-thousand RMB membership card, despite my willingness to pay per class to try them out. I wasted my time riding over to the gym on a very cold day on my scooter and then being refused service unless I committed on the spot to buying a membership card in direct contradiction to the gym's own policies and written price table. Also wasted was my friend's time and money, as she was in a cab on the way over to the gym in order to join me for the group class at the time I was refused service. My exchange with the staff (in which I was not terribly satisfied, but remained calm and reasonable throughout) was topped off with a remark from the one particular staff member with xenophobic undertones.
As one may see from my other reviews on this site, I typically try not to say anything unless I have something nice to say. In this case, I feel I must make an exception: I don't think it's a business that deserves your effort or money.
Wenhua Xiang filling up with financially overextended youth
发布者The dudes shining the lasers everywhere, including, one time, into my eyes are really obnoxious.
Getting Away: Nanning
发布者The reading public demands times!
Bird Bar in Dali to shut doors after 10 years
发布者I don't think there is more to this than the rent increase. Business owners who rent their properties have very few legal protections against their greedy landlords. These landlords try to run short leases and hike up rent as much as they think they can get away with every time.
Sadly, it's the people who have enough intelligence, drive and creativity to set up a successful business instead of a clone of an existing business model that often suffer the most under this ludicrous system. When a business is successful and the landlord knows it's making more money than its neighbors, (s)he know that he can raise the rent to even more astronomical heights.
GoKunming Weekend Preview
发布者The Great Apes were awesome at Uprock on Saturday. Definitely a band worth checking out.
GoKunming Weekend Preview
发布者^Sounds like another Kunminger gone off the deep end. Maybe these endless days of nothing but sunshine are frying our brains.