古镇: Death-knell for Yunnan's Historic Towns
In China even the 'old towns' are new. Under the 古镇, or ancient town, moniker old towns are razed and their population driven out to make space for sanitized versions of Chinese history that drive the tourist dollar.
Early 20th century murals at Mangzhong Temple near Menglian
Jim Goodman: Children of the Jade Dragon: the Naxi of Lijiang and their mountain neighbours the Yi
In the first half of the 1990s Lijiang had barely made its appearance on the Chinese tourism stage, even less so the then remote mountains of Ningland and Lugu Lake. Jim Goodman's account of the Naxi and the Yi draws back to a time where not everything was staged for mass tourism: an account of a lost world.
A number of Chinese historic texts covering life and politics in Yunnan have survived over the centuries. I have translated a few of them.
Benzhu Temple dedicated to 段宗棒.
The Danxia, or red sandstore, cliffs around Liming are a hikers' and climbers' paradise that is just now being discovered.
Jim Goodman: The Akha: Guardians of the Forest
The Akha, in China known as the Aini branch of the Hani people, migrated from China southwards into Laos, Burma and Thailand. In this richly illustrated book J Goodman, aka 'Akha Jim', explains their life and culture.
The Yi in the southern part of Dali have a special Dance and Song Festival.
Upcoming Festivals
| Name | Date |
|---|---|
| Watersplashing Festival | 13 Apr |
| Watersplashing Festival | 13 Apr |
| Shankang Tea Ancestor Festival | 14 Apr |
| Water Splashing Festival | 15 Apr |
| Water Splashing Festival | 16 Apr |
| Yongping Watersplashing Festival | 16 Apr |
| Mengzhun Watersplashing Festival | 16 Apr |
| Gutianshi Temple Fair | 17 Apr |
| Mengdui Bada | 17 Apr |
| Mengdui Daba | 17 Apr |
| New Moon Ritual | 17 Apr |
| Xu Xiake Memorial Event | 17 Apr |
Markets this Wednesday
| Dali | 大理 |
|---|---|
| Shunbi | 順濞 |
| Fengyi | 凤仪 |
| Qinghua | 清华 |
| Shaba | 沙坝 |
| Yongjian | 永连 |
| Yinqiao | 银桥 |
| Wase | 挖色 |
| Huangping | 黄平镇 |
| Niujie | 牛街 |
| Dacang | 大仓镇 |
| Zhongying | 种英 |
| Zhongjiang | 中江 |
| Shanglan | 上兰 |
| Zhouguanying | 周官营 |
| Puping | 普淜镇 |
| Gongguoqiao | 功果桥镇 |
| Shidongcun | 石洞村 |
| 顺荡 | |
| Hedian | 禾甸镇 |
| Luming | 鹿鸣乡 |
| 妙姑村 | |
| 龙街 | |
| 蛇街 | |
| Jindunjiecun | 金墩街村 |
| Hongyan | 红岩镇 |
| Shangcang | 上沧 |
| Lijiang | 丽江 |
|---|---|
| Judian | 巨甸镇 |
| Honghe | 红河 |
|---|---|
| Zhicun | 芷村镇 |
| Shengcun | 生村 |
| Nafa | 那发 |
| Daheigong | 大黑公 |
| Jiache | 架车 |
| Wuwan | 乌弯 |
| Baiyun | 白云乡 |
| Yongning | 永宁乡 |
| Zhongzhai | 中寨 |
| Tutai | 土台 |
| Hongtian | 红田 |
| Yuxi | 玉溪 |
|---|---|
| Xingmeng | 兴蒙 |
| Fuliangpeng | 富良棚 |
| Hexi | 河西 |
| Puer | 普洱 |
|---|---|
| Jiangcheng | 江城哈尼族彝族自治县 |
| Mangxin | 芒信镇 |
| Qiannuo | 千糯 |
| Mengxian | 勐先镇 |