Haahah...2 days is better than 1!

Haahah...2 days is better than 1!

I come from dull Chengdu and reading people that complain about air quality in Kunming makes me feel weird.

In Chengdu you can hardly see the sun, and once you see it you know it will not last long and there is nothing to do.

I feel Kunming air quality is not the best in the world but is reasonable considering we are in China. I feel so lucky to live here :)

The lack of water is annoying but ladies and gentlemen, this is what we will suffer in the early future all around the world. So lets get use to it :)

Okay. Mommy/Daddy.

@cuihulongjing, I agree that Santa Fe is an awesome place. The elevation is about the same as Kunming, so no adjustment will be needed for you once you move there, it's a smaller place so easier to get around...the people are really friendly and are easy to strike up a conversation with and the surrounding landscapes are breathtaking. Despite being a high-altitude desert, I even think there is something really nice about the drive down to Albuquerque - the colors and variety of landscapes are really beautiful.

Having said that, I don't feel that Kunming is particularly anti-foreign or anything like that. If anything, it's probably more welcoming than many other cities. The only anti-foreigner vibe you describe probably stems from last year's incidents that occurred mainly in northern China and re-verberated around the country - though I don't think the average local even remembers these incidents nor associates every foreigner they see with these incidents, especially when they're in Kunming, not Beijing.

But of course if we're talking air quality, quality of life, the friendliness of people in general (including local-to-local interactions), even the climate and weather then clearly a place like Santa Fe is way ahead of Kunming. Not only that, but I'm guessing you're an American and thus perhaps longing to go back home? If you're like me, then at some point living in many not-so-multicultural countries like China, it's kinda refreshing to go back home and experience the multicultural diversity that many of our western societies are becoming known for. This means people will be used to seeing different ethnic groups and races, better food from all over the world, and many other things.

@Tom69 & cuihulongjing, have not been to Santa Fe for long time, but often thought if i had retired in usa would be great spot. Mountains near there are great and also Taos.

Any one have thoughts on Yuxi as an alternative to Kunming?

Yuxi is ok but a bit industrialised. Another soulless county town like Anning. It also has a lot of new development and sprawl.
If I was moving that far out of Kunming, I would head for Jianshui. A city of history and culture. That does seem to have some soul to it.

I went to Jianshui briefly last fall and liked it. Guess I'll go back for a more careful look. Thanks for the suggestion.

Jianshui is nice. TongHai is not as full of history, but it's closer and also a nice place from what I've seen. But I'd plump for Simao/Pu'Er. Only 6-7 hours from Kunming by expressway, rural town (though growing fast) with easy access to the countryside, minorities. No traffic jams, local tea (if you're into that) and lower house prices...