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.




In Huize, the old capital of copper in Yunnan, many splendid guildhalls survive.


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.

John Israel: Lianda: A Chinese University in War and Revolution

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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 spectacularly narrow canyon high above the Jinsha River.

Markets this Saturday

Kunming 昆明
Jiulong 九龙乡
Fazhe 法者镇
Shilin 石林彝族自治县
Tangdan 汤丹镇

Dali 大理
Junhua 均化
Duomei 朵美
Zhoucheng 州城
Yongping 永平县
Paiying 排营
Longjie 龙街
Lijiao 力角
Shijing 师井
Liuhe 六合
Diannan 甸南
Longjie 龙街
Heqing 鹤庆县
Jiangwei 江尾镇
Zuòyì 作邑
桥街
西庄
寅街村
Puping 普淜镇
Beiya 北衙
Changyi 长邑村
Deju 德苴乡
Midian 米甸镇

Lijiang 丽江
Jiuhe 九河
Shunzhou 顺州

Dehong 德宏
Husa 户撒乡
Nangsong 曩宋阿昌族乡

Honghe 红河
Xinansuo 新安所镇
Daheishan 大黑山乡
Leyu 乐育
Xinxian 新现乡
Sankeshu 三棵树
Longwu 龙武镇
Xinjie 新街
Dixibei 地西北

Wenshan 文山
Matang 马塘镇
Badaoshao 八道哨乡
Pingba 坪坝镇
Heizhiguo 黑支果乡
Boai 剥隘镇
Dongma 董马乡
Xinzhai 新寨乡

Chuxiong 楚雄
Wanyaoshu 弯腰树
Dahekou 大河口乡
Mixing 弥兴镇

Baoshan 保山市
Manglong 芒龙

Lincang 临沧
Cangyuan 沧源佤族自治县
Yalian 亚练乡
Shuangjiang 双江拉祜族佤族布朗族傣族自治县
Quannei 圈内
Junsai 军赛乡
Zhenkang 镇康县

Qujing 曲靖市
Baiwu 白雾
Daba 大坝
Daqiao 大桥乡
Jiache 驾车乡
Leye 乐业镇
Malu 马路乡
Yulu 雨碌乡
Zhichang 纸厂乡

Zhaotong 昭通
Shuanghe 双河

Yuxi 玉溪
Mosha 漠沙镇
Yani 亚尼
Yuanjiang 元江哈尼族彝族傣族自治县
Nanuo 那诺乡

Nujiang 怒江
Hexi 河西
Puladi 普拉底乡
Aludi 阿路底
Laowo 老窝

Puer 普洱
Lancang 澜沧县
Fuyan 富岩

Diqing 迪庆
Xiaoweixi 小维西
Kaifaqu 开发区
岩瓦