Xu Xiake 徐霞客 in Dali
Xu Xiake (1586 - 1641) was China's first travel blogger. During the third lunar month in 1639 he travelled through Dali and recorded his experiences in his diary, posthumously published as 徐霞客游记. Is it still possible to retrace Xu's steps on the Dali plain?
The watermills in Fengqing's Gumo village operate just like a thousand years ago.
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.
A number of Chinese historic texts covering life and politics in Yunnan have survived over the centuries. I have translated a few of them.
A Bai village rich in cultural heritage.
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.
Large Wenmiao and Wumiao complex.
A history trading post on the upper reaches of the Yangzi.
Upcoming Festivals
| Name | Date |
|---|---|
| Flower Festival | 17 Jun |
| Green Flag Festival | 29 Jun |
| Full Moon Ritual | 29 Jun |
| Slight Heat | 07 Jul |
| Zheng He Cultural Tourism Festival | 11 Jul |
| Mango Festival | 11 Jul |
| Benzhu Worship | 12 Jul |
| Zhoucheng Patron Saint Birthday | 12 Jul |
| Benzhu Worship | 12 Jul |
| South Gate Festival | 12 Jul |
| Danu Festival | 13 Jul |
| Southern Dipper Ritual | 14 Jul |
Markets this Monday
| Dali | 大理 |
|---|---|
| Haidong | 海东 |
| Biaocun | 表村 |
| Longjie | 龙街 |
| Xintun | 辛屯 |
| Songgui | 松桂 |
| Jizushan | 鸡足山 |
| Longjie | 龙街 |
| Tuanjie | 团结 |
| Misha | 弥沙 |
| Baishi | 白石 |
| Shaping | 沙平村 |
| Huangping | 黄平镇 |
| Taiping | 太平乡 |
| Puping | 普淜镇 |
| Miaowei | 苗尾傈僳族乡 |
| Qinghaiying | 青海营 |
| Lijiang | 丽江 |
|---|---|
| Shigu | 石鼓镇 |
| Honghe | 红河 |
|---|---|
| Niujiaozhai | 牛角寨 |
| Laozhai | 老寨苗族乡 |
| Chemalong | 车玛龙 |
| Wuwan | 乌弯 |
| Daheigong | 大黑公 |
| Sankeshu | 三棵树 |
| Dixibei | 地西北 |
| Puxiong | 普雄 |
| Baihe | 白河乡 |