Yunnan - China's most beautiful province


A Republic Era Map of Dali

A Republic Era map shows the development of the Dali region over the last hundred years.



Lingjiu Temple near Fengyu is said to date back to Nanzhao, but the current structures are from the Qing Dynasty


Ronald G. Knapp: China's Old Dwellings

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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.


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

With its well-preserved architecture and tranquil atmosphere, Weishan's capital is Yunnan's most beautiful county town.


Jim Goodman: Living in Shangrila: Tibetans and Mosuo in Northwest Yunnan

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Abstract: When Diqing Prefecture, opened its doors to foreign visitors in 1992, tourist agencies and government officials promoted Zhongdian County as the Shangrila of James Hilton’s novel Lost Horizon. In 2001 the city officially changed its name to Shangrila. On a high plateau of over 3200 meters, surrounded by snow covered mountain peaks, inhabited mainly by relatively prosperous, friendly and contented Tibetans, with beautiful monasteries, lakes, forests and summer flowers, the county’s scenery and lifestyle certainly bore a strong resemblance to that in the novel. Living in Shangrila describes the life and environment of the Tibetan people throughout Diqing Prefecture. It also examines their neighbors the Mosuo, a branch of the Naxi nationality, who adopted Tibetan Buddhism as their religion, but are still mainly a matrilineal society, unique to Yunnan, living around Lugu Lake, the most picturesque body of water in the province. The book includes over 200 photographs.


Bai vernacular architecture is very ornate, the style of painting is recognised as national level intangible heritage.



Once an important salt-mining town, now the second largest town along the Heihui River north of Yangbi.

Markets this Tuesday

Kunming 昆明
Jijie 鸡街乡

Dali 大理
Junhua 均化
Fuheng 富恒
Duomei 朵美
Liandong 炼洞
Yongping 永平县
Fengyu 风羽
Guanping 关平
Caicun 才村
Liuhe 六合
Dali 大理
Baofeng 宝丰乡
Heqing 鹤庆县
Madeng 马镫
Binju 宾居
Shuijing 水井
果城村
Xinjie 新街镇
Deju 德苴乡
Beiya 北衙
Liuchang 刘厂镇
Mizhi 密祉镇

Lijiang 丽江
Shunzhou 顺州

Dehong 德宏
Kachang 卡场镇
Lianghe 梁河县

Honghe 红河
Caoba 草坝镇
Mingjiu 鸣鹫镇
Wantang 湾塘乡
Shalatuo 沙拉托
Longwu 龙武镇
Wuwan 乌弯
Daheigong 大黑公
Dayangjie 大羊街
Zhemi 者米拉祜族乡
Tongchang 铜厂
Panzihua 攀枝花

Wenshan 文山
Babu 八布乡
Tiechang 铁厂镇
Jiayi 稼依镇
Zhuanjiao 篆角乡
Funing 富宁县
Mulun 睦伦乡
Jiumo 旧莫乡

Chuxiong 楚雄
Gaoqiao 高桥镇
Dalongkou 大龙口乡
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
Fengqing 凤庆县
Wumulong 乌木龙乡
Mengdui 孟堆乡
Fuhe 复合

Qujing 曲靖市
Baiwu 白雾
Daqiao 大桥乡
Leye 乐业镇
Malu 马路乡
Yema 野马林场
Zhehai 者海镇
Zhichang 纸厂乡

Zhaotong 昭通
Shuanghe 双河

Yuxi 玉溪
Mosha 漠沙镇
Yani 亚尼
Yuanjiang 元江哈尼族彝族傣族自治县
Nanuo 那诺乡

Nujiang 怒江
Gudeng 古登
Bingzhongluo 丙中洛
Lishadi 利沙底乡

Puer 普洱
Mangxin 芒信镇
Qiannuo 千糯

Diqing 迪庆
岩瓦