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 temple in Mangdao 芒岛, built in 1899, is one of few surviving examples of Dai Buddhist temples having survived the Cultural Revolution by being converted into grain storage.
Jim Goodman: The Terrace Builders: The Hani and their Neighbors in Yunnan's Ailao Mountains
Abstract: The rice terraces of the Ailao Mountains in southern Yunnan province, China, are some of the oldest terraced farms in Asia. First mentioned in Tang Dynasty records, these farms, 80% of which are irrigated, with water running through them all year round, have been in continuous use for over a thousand years. In 2013 UNESCO declared the heartland of this area a World Heritage Site. The Terrace Builders is a detailed account of how these farms are made and used, the cities and mountains of Honghe Prefecture and the far north of Vietnam, as well as the various ethnic minorities who live there. The book pays special attention to the Hani people, the largest ethnic group in the area, and includes summaries of the culture and clothing of their neighbors the Yi, Miao, Yao, Zhuang and Dai. The book includes 300 photos of the land and its people.
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 clan temple on the slopes of a burial hill near Xizhou.
With its well-preserved architecture and tranquil atmosphere, Weishan's capital is Yunnan's most beautiful county town.
Jim Goodman: The Terrace Builders: The Hani and their Neighbors in Yunnan's Ailao Mountains
Abstract: The rice terraces of the Ailao Mountains in southern Yunnan province, China, are some of the oldest terraced farms in Asia. First mentioned in Tang Dynasty records, these farms, 80% of which are irrigated, with water running through them all year round, have been in continuous use for over a thousand years. In 2013 UNESCO declared the heartland of this area a World Heritage Site. The Terrace Builders is a detailed account of how these farms are made and used, the cities and mountains of Honghe Prefecture and the far north of Vietnam, as well as the various ethnic minorities who live there. The book pays special attention to the Hani people, the largest ethnic group in the area, and includes summaries of the culture and clothing of their neighbors the Yi, Miao, Yao, Zhuang and Dai. The book includes 300 photos of the land and its people.
The Yi in the southern part of Dali have a special Dance and Song Festival.
Largest Miao village in the Kunming area with a large Christian community and a nationally-acclaimed church-choir.
Upcoming Festivals
| Name | Date |
|---|---|
| Wild Mushroom Trade Fair | 20 Jul |
| Lingshan Temple Fair | 21 Jul |
| Ongkor Festival | 23 Jul |
| Great Heat | 23 Jul |
| Bai Yi New Year | 25 Jul |
| Benzhu Worship (Eryuan Area) | 25 Jul |
| Benzhu Worship (Jianchuan Area) | 26 Jul |
| Qingyuan Cave Festival | 26 Jul |
| Nuodeng Dragon King Temple Fair | 26 Jul |
| Benzhu Worship | 27 Jul |
| Full Moon Ritual | 28 Jul |
| Benzhu Worship | 28 Jul |
Markets this Wednesday
| Dali | 大理 |
|---|---|
| Shunbi | 順濞 |
| Shaba | 沙坝 |
| Caicun | 才村 |
| Dali | 大理 |
| Zuòyì | 作邑 |
| Huangping | 黄平镇 |
| Zhongying | 种英 |
| Zhongjiang | 中江 |
| Shanglan | 上兰 |
| Zhouguanying | 周官营 |
| Liuchang | 刘厂镇 |
| Gongguoqiao | 功果桥镇 |
| Xinjie | 新街镇 |
| Shangcang | 上沧 |
| 顺荡 | |
| 龙街 | |
| Jindunjiecun | 金墩街村 |
| Mizhi | 密祉镇 |
| Beiya | 北衙 |
| 果城村 |
| Lijiang | 丽江 |
|---|---|
| Shunzhou | 顺州 |
| Honghe | 红河 |
|---|---|
| Zhicun | 芷村镇 |
| Shalatuo | 沙拉托 |
| Longwu | 龙武镇 |
| Baiyun | 白云乡 |
| Yongning | 永宁乡 |
| Tutai | 土台 |
| Panzihua | 攀枝花 |
| Zhemi | 者米拉祜族乡 |
| Tongchang | 铜厂 |
| Hongtian | 红田 |
| Diqing | 迪庆 |
|---|---|
| Kaifaqu | 开发区 |