Dancing under the Moonlight: the Costume Festival of Zhizuo
As villages go, Zhizuo could hardly be more remote. Some 70km from the county town, first along a winding mountain road, then on a deeply rutted track without public transport: even in the dry season it takes several hours and a bit of stamina to reach. Yet, at least on the first full moon of the year, the effort is worth it, as Zhizuo holds one of Yunnan's most colourful festivals, the Dress Competition Festival or Caizhuangjie 赛装节.
Brenda McLean: George Forrest, Plant Hunter
George Forrest, perhaps the most successful plant collector of his time, left little written about his numerous journeys to Yunnan, so this well-illustrated book fills in much needed detail about his life.
Guided Tours
YunnanExplorer can put you in contact with personally vetted, experienced tour guides, speaking Chinese, English and German, for southwestern China. They can help you plan a trip matching your personal interests and requirements and accompany you on your trip. There are no fixed itineraries or time limits. Costs are generally a fixed daily fee plus expenses during the trip. YunnanExplorer just provides the introduction, we do not charge any commission on either side.
For enquiries tours@yunnanexplorer.com
Snow over Dali
Once a decade snow falls on the Dali plain, dusting not only the Cangshan mountains, but also the old city and its beautiful pagodas in white.
Upcoming Festivals
| Name | Date |
|---|---|
| Benzhu Worship | 24 Jul |
| Wumulong Torch Festival | 26 Jul |
| Eid al-Fitr | 28 Jul |
| Mule Fair | 31 Jul |
| Horse Racing | 01 Aug |
| Moerduo Temple Fair | 05 Aug |
| Wild Mushroom Festival | 06 Aug |
| Changmei Festival | 07 Aug |
Markets this Saturday
| Dali | 大理 |
|---|---|
| Jiangwei | 江尾镇 |
| Songgui | 松桂 |
| Diannan | 甸南 |
| Xintun | 辛屯 |
| Longjie | 龙街 |
| Paiying | 排营 |
| Zhoucheng | 州城 |
| Lijiao | 力角 |
| Yongping | 永平县 |
| Shanyang | 衫阳 |
| Longjie | 龙街 |
| Wenshan | 文山 |
|---|---|
| Boai | 剥隘镇 |
| Banlun | 板仑乡 |
| Matang | 马塘镇 |
| Pingba | 坪坝镇 |
| Heizhiguo | 黑支果乡 |
| Badaoshao | 八道哨乡 |
| Dongma | 董马乡 |
| Xinzhai | 新寨乡 |
| Baoshan | 保山市 |
|---|---|
| Tengchong | 腾冲县 |
| Xiaopingtian | 小平田 |
| Yuxi | 玉溪 |
|---|---|
| Jiasa | 戛洒镇 |
| Diqing | 迪庆 |
|---|---|
| Shangjiang | 上江 |
| Kaifaqu | 开发区 |