Yunnan - China's most beautiful province


On the Statelets between Nanzhao and the Dali Kingdom

After the demise of Nanzhao 南诏, the Buddhist kingdom that integrated the tribes of the Erhai region in the second half of the first millennium, local strongmen proclaimed a succession of short-lived statelets before Duan Siping 段思平 in 937 CE established the Dali Kingdom 大理国.




Early 20th century murals at Mangzhong Temple near Menglian


Jim Goodman: The Akha: Guardians of the Forest

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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.

Once an important salt-mining town, now the second largest town along the Heihui River north of Yangbi.


Judith Shapiro: Mao's War Against Nature: Politics and the Environment in Revolutionary China

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Even if Chinese civilization has developed more against than with nature, the Mao years were a particular exercise in environmental destruction. In one case-study Shapiro tells the story of the draining of the northern part of Dianchi Lake, one of the first steps turning Kunming's lake into the fetid cess-pool it is today.


Baofeng's Benzhu festival is classed as Dali-level intangible cultural heritage.


Markets this Monday

Kunming 昆明
Jijie 鸡街乡

Dali 大理
Biaocun 表村
Weishan 巍山彝族回族自治县
Fengyi 凤仪
Jizushan 鸡足山
Wase 挖色
Misha 弥沙
Tuanjie 团结
Baishi 白石
Shaping 沙平村
Zuòyì 作邑
Dianzhong 甸中
北桥
Taiping 太平乡
Shidongcun 石洞村
Hongyan 红岩镇
Luming 鹿鸣乡
Hedian 禾甸镇
妙姑村
Miaowei 苗尾傈僳族乡
田口

Honghe 红河
Shengcun 生村
Laozhai 老寨苗族乡
Sancun 三村
Chemalong 车玛龙
Shalatuo 沙拉托
Puxiong 普雄
Zhemi 者米拉祜族乡
Panzihua 攀枝花
Tongchang 铜厂
Baihe 白河乡

Wenshan 文山
Babu 八布乡
Tiechang 铁厂镇
Zhuanjiao 篆角乡
Mulun 睦伦乡

Chuxiong 楚雄
Qianchang 前场镇
Chadian 插甸乡

Baoshan 保山市
Xiaopingtian 小平田
Tengchong 腾冲县
Wama 瓦马彝族白族乡

Lincang 临沧
Mangka 芒卡镇
Boshang 博商
Fengwei 风尾镇
Wumulong 乌木龙乡
Mengjiao 勐角乡

Qujing 曲靖市
Dahai 大海乡
Huohong 火红乡
Nagu 娜姑镇
Yema 野马林场
迤车
Zhehai 者海镇

Yuxi 玉溪
Fuliangpeng 富良棚

Nujiang 怒江
Pengdang 捧当
Fugong 福贡
Maji 马吉乡

Puer 普洱
Jiangcheng 江城哈尼族彝族自治县
Yongping 永平镇
Kangping 康平乡
Meng'a 孟啊

Diqing 迪庆
Zili 梓里
Kaifaqu 开发区