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.
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.
Book Review: Tea Horse Road
Posted bySorry to say, I'm not sure. A copy showed up in our office one day so I read it and reviewed it.
Kunming battling Chinglish
Posted by"A 24-hour hotline has also been established...when GoKunming called to verify if the hotline operators were bilingual, no one answered."
Bless you, Kunming. The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Jin Feibao runs bomb-shortened Boston Marathon
Posted byIndeed, I used to see his photo on city buses from time to time as part of product endorsement ads. He's a very well known brand, in Yunnan at least.
Getting Away: Hiking the Gaoligong Mountains
Posted byGreat post, thanks for telling us about this area.
Detailed Kunming metro plans finally unveiled
Posted by"Its days," not "it's days." :-(