Into the Land of the Black Lisu
The Nujiang Canyon, on Yunnan's western frontier, was until the 1930s a blank area on the map that not even Chinese troops dared to enter. In 1905 two British explorers made the first foray into this land of the Black Lisu.
Hand-made giant sparklers, called "Fire Flowers" 火花, are part of the firework displays for temple fairs in Menglian county.
Jim Goodman: The Terrace Builders: The Hani and their Neighbors in Yunnan's Ailao Mountains
Abstract: The rice terraces of the Ailao Mountains in southern Yunnan province, China, are some of the oldest terraced farms in Asia. First mentioned in Tang Dynasty records, these farms, 80% of which are irrigated, with water running through them all year round, have been in continuous use for over a thousand years. In 2013 UNESCO declared the heartland of this area a World Heritage Site. The Terrace Builders is a detailed account of how these farms are made and used, the cities and mountains of Honghe Prefecture and the far north of Vietnam, as well as the various ethnic minorities who live there. The book pays special attention to the Hani people, the largest ethnic group in the area, and includes summaries of the culture and clothing of their neighbors the Yi, Miao, Yao, Zhuang and Dai. The book includes 300 photos of the land and its people.
A number of Chinese historic texts covering life and politics in Yunnan have survived over the centuries. I have translated a few of them.
Reconstructed Qing Wenmiao, in a nice park setting.
The turn of the Yangzi made Chinese civilization possible and was the location of many important battles.
John Israel: Lianda: A Chinese University in War and Revolution
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.
Traditional Bai vernacular architecture with buildings to three sides and a screenwall.
Largest Miao village in the Kunming area with a large Christian community and a nationally-acclaimed church-choir.
Upcoming Festivals
| Name | Date |
|---|---|
| Confucius Festival | 07 Oct |
| Confucius Worship | 07 Oct |
| Confucius Birthday | 07 Oct |
| Benzhu Worship | 07 Oct |
| Cold Dew | 08 Oct |
| Welcoming the Grandmother | 09 Oct |
| Northern Dipper Ritual | 10 Oct |
| Welcoming the Grandmother | 10 Oct |
| Temple Fair | 10 Oct |
| Benzhu Worship | 11 Oct |
| Benzhu Festival | 11 Oct |
| Gongguoqiao September Trade Fair | 12 Oct |
Markets this Thursday
| Kunming | 昆明 |
|---|---|
| Jijie | 鸡街乡 |
| Dali | 大理 |
|---|---|
| Nanxin | 南新 |
| Niujie | 牛街 |
| Yangcen | 羊岑 |
| Maidi | 脉地 |
| Gudi | 古底 |
| Yinqiao | 银桥 |
| Daying | 大营 |
| Taiyi | 太邑彝族乡 |
| Huangping | 黄平镇 |
| Qiaohou | 乔后 |
| Zhongjiang | 中江 |
| Dacang | 大仓镇 |
| Qiaodian | 乔甸镇 |
| 鲁庄 | |
| Jindunjiecun | 金墩街村 |
| 太和社区 | |
| Caifeng | 财丰 |
| Miaojie | 庙街镇 |
| Hedian | 禾甸镇 |
| Hongyan | 红岩镇 |
| 三胜 | |
| Sanhe | 三鹤 |
| Houshancun | 后山村 |
| Xishuangbanna | 西双版纳 |
|---|---|
| Xiding | 西定哈尼族乡 |
| Honghe | 红河 |
|---|---|
| Shengcun | 生村 |
| Dianwei | 甸尾乡 |
| Heping | 和平乡 |
| Shalatuo | 沙拉托 |
| Baxin | 坝心镇 |
| Shuiguachong | 水瓜冲 |
| Shaochong | 哨冲镇 |
| Baixian | 白显 |
| Niujie | 牛街镇 |
| Zhemi | 者米拉祜族乡 |
| Panzihua | 攀枝花 |
| Tongchang | 铜厂 |
| Baoshan | 保山市 |
|---|---|
| Manglong | 芒龙 |
| Lincang | 临沧 |
|---|---|
| Luodang | 洛党 |
| Cangyuan | 沧源佤族自治县 |
| Wumulong | 乌木龙乡 |
| Quannei | 圈内 |
| Shuangjiang | 双江拉祜族佤族布朗族傣族自治县 |
| Zhenkang | 镇康县 |
| Junsai | 军赛乡 |
| Puer | 普洱 |
|---|---|
| Jiangcheng | 江城哈尼族彝族自治县 |
| Qushui | 曲水乡 |
| Fuyan | 富岩 |
| Diqing | 迪庆 |
|---|---|
| Kangpu | 康普 |