@Dazzer: yeah you're right, mea culpa, don't know how I got into that - Alex's comment, perhaps.

I'm an old and decrepit curmudgeon. Would someone please comment on the altitudes of these locations? Old folk can't take the altitudes and cold weather from Kunming, Dali, & Lijiang - respiratory ailments and it's just nasty cold. Kunming although developed - is at 2km altitude - also not terribly conducive to old folks (like me) - time to plan a jaunt down to xishuangbanna (Jinghong) to thaw out.

As for business opportunities - opportunities abound - one does NOT need to build a business focused on expats. There are rural opportunities abound and municipal opportunities abound, for local products and or services - as long as one understands the culture and behavior of one's buyers. Just remember, unless you're Apple computer - difficult to change the culture of your buyers (and I think Apple didn't actually create or change a culture - they attracted a certain unexploited market segment - geek cool with quality and innovation. The most memorable response to Apple, that I recall, was Microsoft dressing it's CEO up in a bunny suit and him prancing around the stage like an utter moron...bad geek...bad geek...

Jinghong, Puer, Honghe and Nujiang consistently have the warmest weather during the winters in Yunnan.

@HFCAMPO
Thanks - I was thinking xishuangbanna as a snow bunny escape - but the summers are a bit warm...

"Metro, Carre Four and Walmart are not important to me. Eating western food is not important to me."

you only eat chinese food? ha ha,. that's hard-core man. they should give you an award for that.

can you suggest a place for a proper foreign meal? the best ive found was orielys, but the cloud of smoke tainted the experience.

Jianshui is an option, as for foreigner to start place, Jianshui is the idea place for catering business.

"Minor problem with Jinghong is the doubled level of laziness and lack of service."

How do you think Jinghong workers compare to the guys in Dali Old Town?

"you only eat chinese food? ha ha,. that's hard-core man."

You know what's hardcore? Breathing the "air" in east China. You guys in Kunming have it easy if food is your biggest concern.

Magnifico, hundreds of millions of people eat only Chinese food - they should all get awards?

Maybe it's hardcore if you're a softy.

hundreds of millions who have grown up eating it and don't know anything else