Dancing under the Moonlight: the Costume Festival of Zhizuo
As villages go, Zhizuo could hardly be more remote. Some 70km from the county town, first along a winding mountain road, then on a deeply rutted track without public transport: even in the dry season it takes several hours and a bit of stamina to reach. Yet, at least on the first full moon of the year, the effort is worth it, as Zhizuo holds one of Yunnan's most colourful festivals, the Dress Competition Festival or Caizhuangjie 赛装节.
The watermills in Fengqing's Gumo village operate just like a thousand years ago.
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.
A number of Chinese historic texts covering life and politics in Yunnan have survived over the centuries. I have translated a few of them.
Sculpture making in the Dali region.
A spectacularly narrow canyon high above the Jinsha River.
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.
Remote temple in Weishan, site of temple fair.
Best surviving station on the French-built Vietnam-Kunming railway.
Upcoming Festivals
| Name | Date |
|---|---|
| Third Month Fair | 01 May |
| Yangmei Festival | 01 May |
| May Day | 01 May |
| Migan Festival | 02 May |
| Start of Summer | 05 May |
| Yangbi Jijie Song Festival | 05 May |
| Start of Summer Market | 05 May |
| Start of Summer | 05 May |
| Smelly Water | 05 May |
| Benzhu Worship (Jianchuan Area) | 05 May |
| Zhetu Flower Street | 06 May |
| Lingbao Mountain Fair | 06 May |
Markets this Wednesday
| Dali | 大理 |
|---|---|
| Shanyang | 衫阳 |
| Longjie | 龙街 |
| Xintun | 辛屯 |
| Haidong | 海东 |
| Shunbi | 順濞 |
| Songgui | 松桂 |
| Shaba | 沙坝 |
| Yinqiao | 银桥 |
| Longjie | 龙街 |
| Caojian | 漕间 |
| Zhongying | 种英 |
| Huangping | 黄平镇 |
| Shanglan | 上兰 |
| Zhouguanying | 周官营 |
| Qinghaiying | 青海营 |
| 龙街 | |
| Puping | 普淜镇 |
| Shangcang | 上沧 |
| Midian | 米甸镇 |
| Junhuacun | 均华村 |
| 西庄 | |
| Gongguoqiao | 功果桥镇 |
| 寅街村 | |
| 顺荡 |
| Lijiang | 丽江 |
|---|---|
| Shigu | 石鼓镇 |
| Honghe | 红河 |
|---|---|
| Zhicun | 芷村镇 |
| Sankeshu | 三棵树 |
| Dixibei | 地西北 |
| Baiyun | 白云乡 |
| Xinjie | 新街 |
| Yongning | 永宁乡 |
| Tutai | 土台 |
| Hongtian | 红田 |
| Baoshan | 保山市 |
|---|---|
| Manglong | 芒龙 |
| Lincang | 临沧 |
|---|---|
| Cangyuan | 沧源佤族自治县 |
| Yalian | 亚练乡 |
| Quannei | 圈内 |
| Shuangjiang | 双江拉祜族佤族布朗族傣族自治县 |
| Junsai | 军赛乡 |
| Zhenkang | 镇康县 |
| Diqing | 迪庆 |
|---|---|
| Shangjiang | 上江 |
| Kaifaqu | 开发区 |