The reasons for a trip to China are many - a fan would list dozens of them. But if a traveler only needed a few of them in order to decide to go to this strange place, these would be the first five I would tell him:
Lijiang is the best known and most touristy place in Yunnan and for good reasons: the enormous old town was once a stage on the Tea-Horse Road and is really well preserved. But is has become very touristy, so here is an anti-disappointment plan should you visit Lijiang!
A charming town on the banks of a river, a preserved village that's home to a "second" Great Wall of China, meant to protect the population from the Miaos: don't miss the very nice town of Fenghuang!