Ha.Ha. That's a good one and so true.

Yeah, and you can check the authenticity from their hukou or id. Real Yunnanese will have something other than Han on it.

Han have been in Yunnan for more than 700 years. How Yunnanese do you want?

Well certainly if you bring home something equivalent of Han, it will be just a Chinese souvenir rather than something specifically from Yunnan.

Comparable to let's say mooncakes as someone suggested, or dumplings or hot pot ingredients, or chopsticks - nothing particularly local.

On the topic of dishes (really), if weight is not an issue you could bring some dried Yunnan ham.

Cheap fags ;o)

When a carton of 200 costs 100rmb and back home in London people pay 90rmb for a 20 pack, you'll find a couple of cartons to a few fave (smoker) friends goes down better than any mooncake or rosecake lol. Never have any prob with 3 or 4 in my case and 3 or 4 in wifes :o)

Your basically saving them about £90 each carton you give!

Obviously my mum I always get something a bit more nicer/prettier (plus she don't smoke) like some Chinese style tea set etc

a pet apparently

if you think about it they probably have loads of stuff from China back home

The first time I went back for a visit in 2011 I went shopping to get a few things for the kitchen that I could not find in Kunming.
Got exactly what I wanted, then looked at the label - Made in China!

@JanJal Have you successfully taken Yunnan ham to USA, Europe?

Getting out of China probably no issue but we looked into taking some back to The Netherlands and figured it would get confiscated and possibly lead to fines.

Any concrete experience or information to the contrary?

@nnoble

No I haven't tried to take ham myself. The only meat products I have taken back to EU (succesfully but probably against regulations) have been those small candy-like bags of meat and spicy chicken feet in consumer packages from Carrefour etc.