From Niujiaozhai to Yuanyang
Yuanyang county, south of the Red River in the province's southeast, is famous for its Hani rice-terraces. With its splendid vistas and ethnic mix it is also a great area for hiking. Here we describe a moderate day-hike starting at the market-town of Niujiaozhai, passing through Yi and Hani villages and ending with stunning sunset vistas over the rice-terraces of Longshuba.
The temple in Mangdao 芒岛, built in 1899, is one of few surviving examples of Dai Buddhist temples having survived the Cultural Revolution by being converted into grain storage.
C. Patterson Giersch: Asian Borderlands: The Transformation of Qing China's Yunnan Frontier
Yunnan was not always China: indeed not so long ago large parts of Yunnan were only nominally part of the empire. To make Yunnan, outside the main Han cities, a Chinese province required significant effort. Here Giersch's study on Yunnan's hinterland makes an interesting if academic read.
A number of Chinese historic texts covering life and politics in Yunnan have survived over the centuries. I have translated a few of them.
Yi embroidery.
Hometown of many Bai merchants, Xizhou boast some impressive architecture.
C. Patterson Giersch: Asian Borderlands: The Transformation of Qing China's Yunnan Frontier
Yunnan was not always China: indeed not so long ago large parts of Yunnan were only nominally part of the empire. To make Yunnan, outside the main Han cities, a Chinese province required significant effort. Here Giersch's study on Yunnan's hinterland makes an interesting if academic read.
Bai vernacular architecture is very ornate, the style of painting is recognised as national level intangible heritage.
The Danxia, or red sandstore, cliffs around Liming are a hikers' and climbers' paradise that is just now being discovered.
Upcoming Festivals
| Name | Date |
|---|---|
| Bai Yi New Year | 28 Jul |
| Black Dragon Fair | 29 Jul |
| Benzhu Worship (Jianchuan Area) | 31 Jul |
| Benzhu Worship (Jianchuan Area) | 31 Jul |
| Guanyin Practice Day | 01 Aug |
| Guanyin Practice Day | 01 Aug |
| Play on the Lake | 01 Aug |
| Benzhu Worship | 01 Aug |
| Guanyinshan Temple Fair | 01 Aug |
| Paddy Rice Birthday | 01 Aug |
| Dali Guanyin Worship | 01 Aug |
| Litang Horse Racing | 01 Aug |
Markets this Thursday
| Dali | 大理 |
|---|---|
| Nanxin | 南新 |
| Niujie | 牛街 |
| Yangcen | 羊岑 |
| Maidi | 脉地 |
| Gudi | 古底 |
| Fengyi | 凤仪 |
| Weishan | 巍山彝族回族自治县 |
| Wase | 挖色 |
| Qiaohou | 乔后 |
| Daying | 大营 |
| Taiyi | 太邑彝族乡 |
| Dianzhong | 甸中 |
| 鲁庄 | |
| Xinjie | 新街镇 |
| 妙姑村 | |
| 田口 | |
| 太和社区 | |
| 龙洞村 | |
| 北桥 | |
| Mizhi | 密祉镇 |
| Shalong | 沙龙镇 |
| Liuchang | 刘厂镇 |
| Shidongcun | 石洞村 |
| Qiaodian | 乔甸镇 |
| 果城村 | |
| Luming | 鹿鸣乡 |
| Xiazhuang | 下庄镇 |
| Xishuangbanna | 西双版纳 |
|---|---|
| Xiding | 西定哈尼族乡 |
| Baoshan | 保山市 |
|---|---|
| Manglong | 芒龙 |
| Lincang | 临沧 |
|---|---|
| Cangyuan | 沧源佤族自治县 |
| Shuangjiang | 双江拉祜族佤族布朗族傣族自治县 |
| Quannei | 圈内 |
| Junsai | 军赛乡 |
| Zhenkang | 镇康县 |
| Qujing | 曲靖市 |
|---|---|
| Fenghuang | 凤凰 |
| 干海子 | |
| Laochang | 老厂乡 |
| Wuxing | 五星乡 |
| Xinjie | 新街回族乡 |
| Yangmeishan | 杨梅山 |
| Zhaotong | 昭通 |
|---|---|
| Menggu | 蒙姑镇 |
| Yuxi | 玉溪 |
|---|---|
| Mosha | 漠沙镇 |
| Fuliangpeng | 富良棚 |
| Puer | 普洱 |
|---|---|
| Fubang | 富邦乡 |
| Kangping | 康平乡 |
| Dehua | 德化镇 |
| Mujia | 木戛乡 |
| Fuyan | 富岩 |
| Ankang | 安康佤族乡 |
| Wendong | 文东佤族乡 |
| Liming | 黎明乡 |
| 把边 |