Yunnan - China's most beautiful province


1875: Death of a British Diplomat

After Britain's 1852 annexation of lower Burma lucrative trade with China through its back-door seemed more than a distant possibility. But after a successful first mission up the Irrawaddy and into Yunnan in 1868, the second British mission six years later ended in tragedy.



The watermills in Fengqing's Gumo village operate just like a thousand years ago.


John Israel: Lianda: A Chinese University in War and Revolution

Cover Image
Everyone knows about the Mao's Long March, but a few years later another long march took place: that of Chinese students leaving their cushy campuses on the east coast, trekking all the way to Yunnan where their universities reformed as Lianda, the united university. Kunming, then a total backwater, became a hotbed for new ideas, not just scientific. We liked the section of east coast girls scampering around Mengzi in their latest fashion.


A number of Chinese historic texts covering life and politics in Yunnan have survived over the centuries. I have translated a few of them.

Extremely beautiful Wenchang Temple, created in part by national level Intangible Cultural Heritage transmitter Li Yunyi.



The old border crossing to Guizhou.


Ronald G. Knapp: China's Old Dwellings

Cover Image
Few people know as much about Chinese architecture as Knapp: from palaces to humble homes he explains important building principles; the connection between environment and housing styles and the development of style over time. A section on minority housing styles complements the book.


An unspoilt Tibetan area along the Zhibaluo River.

Markets this Saturday

Kunming 昆明
Jijie 鸡街乡
Fazhe 法者镇
Shilin 石林彝族自治县
Tangdan 汤丹镇
Tuanjie 团结

Dali 大理
Duomei 朵美
Junhua 均化
Zhoucheng 州城
Yongping 永平县
Lijiao 力角
Paiying 排营
Haidong 海东
Shijing 师井
Diannan 甸南
Liuhe 六合
Yinqiao 银桥
Heqing 鹤庆县
Jiangwei 江尾镇
Changyi 长邑村
Hedian 禾甸镇
桥街
Hongyan 红岩镇
Deju 德苴乡
Qinghaiying 青海营

Lijiang 丽江
Jiuhe 九河

Dehong 德宏
Kachang 卡场镇
Lianghe 梁河县

Honghe 红河
Shengcun 生村
Xinansuo 新安所镇
Daheishan 大黑山乡
Leyu 乐育
Shalatuo 沙拉托
Wuwan 乌弯
Xinxian 新现乡
Daheigong 大黑公
Panzihua 攀枝花
Zhemi 者米拉祜族乡
Tongchang 铜厂

Wenshan 文山
Tiechang 铁厂镇
Babu 八布乡
Matang 马塘镇
Pingba 坪坝镇
Zhuanjiao 篆角乡
Banlun 板仑乡
Mulun 睦伦乡

Chuxiong 楚雄
Wanyaoshu 弯腰树
Dahekou 大河口乡
Mixing 弥兴镇

Baoshan 保山市
Wafang 瓦房彝族白族乡
Mangbang 芒棒

Lincang 临沧
Yongde 永德县
Danjia 单甲乡
Wumulong 乌木龙乡
Mengdui 孟堆乡
Fuhe 复合

Qujing 曲靖市
Kuangshan 矿山镇
Xitu 西土
Yema 野马林场

Zhaotong 昭通
Shuanghe 双河

Yuxi 玉溪
Chahe 岔河
Mosha 漠沙镇
Dalongtan 大龙潭

Nujiang 怒江
Hexi 河西
Puladi 普拉底乡
Aludi 阿路底
Laowo 老窝

Puer 普洱
Jiangcheng 江城哈尼族彝族自治县
Lancang 澜沧县
Mangxin 芒信镇
Qiannuo 千糯

Diqing 迪庆
Xiaoweixi 小维西
Zhonglu 中路
Kaifaqu 开发区