From Niujiaozhai to Yuanyang
Yuanyang county, south of the Red River in the province's southeast, is famous for its Hani rice-terraces. With its splendid vistas and ethnic mix it is also a great area for hiking. Here we describe a moderate day-hike starting at the market-town of Niujiaozhai, passing through Yi and Hani villages and ending with stunning sunset vistas over the rice-terraces of Longshuba.
The Gourd Festival 葫芦节 is the main festival of the Lahu people. In Lancang, its date has been moved into April to coincide with the county's foundation.
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.
The turn of the Yangzi made Chinese civilization possible and was the location of many important battles.
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.
Rattlestick Dance is a traditional dance of the Bai minority, specifically in Jianchuan county.
A history trading post on the upper reaches of the Yangzi.
Upcoming Festivals
| Name | Date |
|---|---|
| Ghost Month | 13 Aug |
| Mule Fair | 17 Aug |
| Benzhu Worship | 21 Aug |
| Moerduo Temple Fair | 22 Aug |
| Playing the Fragrant Dragon | 23 Aug |
| End of Heat | 23 Aug |
| Benzhu Worship | 25 Aug |
| Benzhu Worship (Jianchuan Area) | 26 Aug |
| Maulid an-Nabi | 26 Aug |
| Benzhu Worship (Jianchuan Area) | 26 Aug |
| Burning Bag Festival | 26 Aug |
| Benzhu Worship | 27 Aug |
Markets this Saturday
| Dali | 大理 |
|---|---|
| Zhoucheng | 州城 |
| Yongping | 永平县 |
| Lijiao | 力角 |
| Paiying | 排营 |
| Longjie | 龙街 |
| Shijing | 师井 |
| Diannan | 甸南 |
| Longjie | 龙街 |
| Huangping | 黄平镇 |
| Jiangwei | 江尾镇 |
| Zhongjiang | 中江 |
| 寅街村 | |
| Puping | 普淜镇 |
| Midian | 米甸镇 |
| Qinghaiying | 青海营 |
| Deju | 德苴乡 |
| Changyi | 长邑村 |
| Beiya | 北衙 |
| Jindunjiecun | 金墩街村 |
| 西庄 | |
| 桥街 |
| Honghe | 红河 |
|---|---|
| Xinansuo | 新安所镇 |
| Daheishan | 大黑山乡 |
| Leyu | 乐育 |
| Longwu | 龙武镇 |
| Xinxian | 新现乡 |
| Sankeshu | 三棵树 |
| Dixibei | 地西北 |
| Xinjie | 新街 |
| Wenshan | 文山 |
|---|---|
| Pingba | 坪坝镇 |
| Badaoshao | 八道哨乡 |
| Matang | 马塘镇 |
| Banlun | 板仑乡 |
| Heizhiguo | 黑支果乡 |
| Dongma | 董马乡 |
| Boai | 剥隘镇 |
| Xinzhai | 新寨乡 |
| Baoshan | 保山市 |
|---|---|
| Xiaopingtian | 小平田 |
| Tengchong | 腾冲县 |
| Wama | 瓦马彝族白族乡 |