Into the Land of the Black Lisu
The Nujiang Canyon, on Yunnan's western frontier, was until the 1930s a blank area on the map that not even Chinese troops dared to enter. In 1905 two British explorers made the first foray into this land of the Black Lisu.
Early 20th century murals at Mangzhong Temple near Menglian
Fei Hsiao-Tung and Chang Chih-I: Earthbound China: A Study of Rural Economy in Yunnan
Fei is the father of modern sociology in China: western-trained, he came to Yunnan at the end of the 1930s when China's eastern universities relocated west. In "Earthbound China" he applied modern empirical techniques that he had pioneered around Shanghai to the Chinese hinterland. The economical development, and subsequent societal changes, of three un-named, but typical villages in Yunnan is analyzed in great detail in this fascinating study.
A number of Chinese historic texts covering life and politics in Yunnan have survived over the centuries. I have translated a few of them.
Dali's dragon boat races were held on the day of the Torch Festival.
Unspoiled Weishan boast Yunnan's most beautiful county town, an important Taoist mountain and areas of strong Muslim and Yi tradition.
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.
Bai architecture style.
Largest Miao village in the Kunming area with a large Christian community and a nationally-acclaimed church-choir.
Upcoming Festivals
| Name | Date |
|---|---|
| Fumin Cherry Picking | 05 Apr |
| Singing Festival | 06 Apr |
| Pingchuan Guanyin Birthday | 06 Apr |
| February Festival | 06 Apr |
| Guanyin Cave Fair | 06 Apr |
| Guanyin Festival | 06 Apr |
| Dali Guanyin Worship | 06 Apr |
| Dengchuan Guanyin Worship | 06 Apr |
| Guanyin Birthday | 06 Apr |
| Tuzhu Temple Fair | 06 Apr |
| Luocha Temple Festival | 06 Apr |
| Yangbi Farm Fair | 06 Apr |
Markets this Tuesday
| Dali | 大理 |
|---|---|
| Junhua | 均化 |
| Zhongsuo | 中所 |
| Fuheng | 富恒 |
| Duomei | 朵美 |
| Liandong | 炼洞 |
| Yongping | 永平县 |
| Fengyu | 风羽 |
| Haidong | 海东 |
| Guanping | 关平 |
| Baofeng | 宝丰乡 |
| Liuhe | 六合 |
| Yinqiao | 银桥 |
| Binju | 宾居 |
| Madeng | 马镫 |
| Heqing | 鹤庆县 |
| Shuijing | 水井 |
| Hongyan | 红岩镇 |
| 龙洞村 | |
| Qinghaiying | 青海营 |
| Hedian | 禾甸镇 |
| Shalong | 沙龙镇 |
| Deju | 德苴乡 |
| Xiazhuang | 下庄镇 |
| Beiya | 北衙 |
| Lijiang | 丽江 |
|---|---|
| Shunzhou | 顺州 |
| Lincang | 临沧 |
|---|---|
| Menglai | 勐来乡 |
| Zhaotong | 昭通 |
|---|---|
| Shuanghe | 双河 |
| Nujiang | 怒江 |
|---|---|
| Gudeng | 古登 |
| Bingzhongluo | 丙中洛 |
| Lishadi | 利沙底乡 |
| Puer | 普洱 |
|---|---|
| Jiangcheng | 江城哈尼族彝族自治县 |
| Donghui | 东回镇 |
| Meizi | 梅子镇 |
| Xuelin | 雪林佤族乡 |
| Menglian | 孟连傣族拉祜族佤族自治县 |
| Mengsuo | 勐梭镇 |
| Wenggake | 翁嘎科镇 |