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.



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


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

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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.

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.


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



Unspoiled Weishan boast Yunnan's most beautiful county town, an important Taoist mountain and areas of strong Muslim and Yi tradition.

Markets this Thursday

Dali 大理
Nanxin 南新
Yangcen 羊岑
Niujie 牛街
Wanqiao 湾桥
Shuixie 水泄
Maidi 脉地
Fengyi 凤仪
Gudi 古底
Wase 挖色
Yongjian 永连
Taiyi 太邑彝族乡
Dacang 大仓镇
Qiaohou 乔后
Daying 大营
Huangping 黄平镇
Zhongjiang 中江
Gonglang 公郎镇
Jindunjiecun 金墩街村
云南驿村
Shidongcun 石洞村
Qiaodian 乔甸镇
Luming 鹿鸣乡
妙姑村
鲁庄
蛇街
太和社区
前所

Lijiang 丽江
Judian 巨甸镇

Xishuangbanna 西双版纳
Xiding 西定哈尼族乡

Dehong 德宏
Husa 户撒乡
Nangsong 曩宋阿昌族乡

Honghe 红河
Niujiaozhai 牛角寨
Dianwei 甸尾乡
Heping 和平乡
Lvchun 绿春县
Majie 马街
Nanke 南科
Baixian 白显
Jinping 金平苗族瑶族傣族自治县
Mengqiao 勐桥乡

Wenshan 文山
Pingzhai 平寨乡
Muyang 木央镇
Banggu 蚌谷乡
Nanping (Majie) 南屏镇 (马街)

Chuxiong 楚雄
Jiyi 己衣乡
Xiaoju 小苴
Tanhua 昙花乡
Sanchahe 三岔河乡
Dongpo 东坡傣族乡
Guanglu 光路镇

Baoshan 保山市
Manglong 芒龙

Lincang 临沧
Cangyuan 沧源佤族自治县
Guoda 郭大彝族白族乡
Fengqing 凤庆县
Shuangjiang 双江拉祜族佤族布朗族傣族自治县
Quannei 圈内
Xinhua 新华彝族苗族乡
Zhenkang 镇康县
Junsai 军赛乡

Qujing 曲靖市
Fenghuang 凤凰
干海子
Laochang 老厂乡
Luna 鲁纳乡
Shangcun 上村乡
Wuxing 五星乡
Xinjie 新街回族乡
Yangmeishan 杨梅山

Zhaotong 昭通
Shuitian 水田
Linfeng 麟风
Menggu 蒙姑镇

Yuxi 玉溪
Mosha 漠沙镇
Xingmeng 兴蒙
Hexi 河西
Fuliangpeng 富良棚

Nujiang 怒江
Jiakedi 架科底乡
Pihe 匹河怒族乡
Dimaluo
Fugong 福贡

Puer 普洱
Minle 民乐
Fuyan 富岩
Puyi 普义乡

Diqing 迪庆
Weideng 维登
岩瓦