The Bai in Early Chinese Minority Film
After Liberation in 1949 Chinese cinema became a propaganda medium for the New China. The 1950 saw cinemas spreading to all towns, showing movies meant to increase the socialist spirit and fostering national unit. China's ethnic minorities often featured in these films before the Cultural Revolution. Only after its end played ethnic minority themes a role again. Here we look at films from before 2000 that feature the Bai minority.
In Huize, the old capital of copper in Yunnan, many splendid guildhalls survive.
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.
Large golden pagoda in Menglian town
Hometown of many Bai merchants, Xizhou boast some impressive architecture.
Liao Yiwu: God is Red: The Secret Story of How Christianity Survived and Flourished in Communist China
Liao Yiwu, one of China's most prominent dissidents, was driven out of China, but not before he used a period of internal exile to research Christian groups, mainly in Yunnan. In this book he tells the stories of the Christians of Dali and of Wuding county.
Dali's dragon boat races were held on the day of the Torch Festival.
This old caravan town on the Jinsha River is Yunnan's gateway to Tibet.
Upcoming Festivals
| Name | Date |
|---|---|
| Heqing Receiving the Village Protector | 01 Mar |
| Dipping into Spring | 01 Mar |
| Benzhu Worship | 02 Mar |
| Spring Festival in Fengyu | 02 Mar |
| Emperor Festival Last Day | 03 Mar |
| Singing Festival | 03 Mar |
| Benzhu Worship | 03 Mar |
| Benzhu Worship | 03 Mar |
| Benzhu Worship | 03 Mar |
| Benzhu Festival | 03 Mar |
| Wuyin Pilgrimage | 03 Mar |
| Temple Fair | 03 Mar |