Where in the world is Alyson?

Alyson is in Kunming which is the capital city of the southern province of Yunnan, China.

Alyson is either residing in the Kunming City Social Welfare Insitute (orphanage) or is in foster care associated with that orphanage. According to the only information we have on her, from age 7 months old, she was in the orphanage but that could have changed at any time.

This is the Kunming City SWI:

Kunming means "eternal spring" so supposedly they have mild temperatures year round but summer is their rainy season.

Just a side note, right now the restaurant chain PF Changs is featuring a menu called "Flavors of Yunnan." I copied this info from their website:

The Yunnan Province is the most southwest province in China and is bordered by Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and Tibet as well as the Chinese provinces of Sichuan and Guizhou and has one of the most diverse ethnic populations in China. The region has a wide range of weather conditions from snow-capped mountains and glaciers in the north to a mild spring climate in the central part to tropical rainforests in the south. The diversity of culture and climate is reflected in Yunnan cuisine. Some of the most unique foods found in the Yunnan Province include its famous cured Yunnan Ham (similar to Spanish Serrano Ham), cheese and dairy products, numerous varieties of mushrooms and chilies as well as fermented items, hearty noodles and pu’er tea. The Flavors of Yunnan menu is reflective of the unique ingredients found in this province.

The passage mentions the ethnic diversity of Yunnan province. When most Americans picture a Chinese person with typical Chinese features they are thinking of a member of the Han majority. But just as other ethnic groups have variations so do the Chinese. I'm not talking about obvious minority differences like Caucasion vs. Hispanic, It's more like within a Caucasion population there is a difference between someone of Irish descent vs. German descent.

Yunnan Province has the largest number of ethnic minorities in China, at least 25 recognized groups.

Several people have commented on Alyson's dark coloring and her more round eyes. Her features are similar to other babies from Kunming and we are pretty sure she is from an ethnic minority but I don't know how we'll ever know for sure which one. We'll never be able to tell from the 3 little pictures we have of her but hopefully as she grows up we can do more research and narrow it down for her.