古镇: Death-knell for Yunnan's Historic Towns
In China even the 'old towns' are new. Under the 古镇, or ancient town, moniker old towns are razed and their population driven out to make space for sanitized versions of Chinese history that drive the tourist dollar.
The watermills in Fengqing's Gumo village operate just like a thousand years ago.
C. Patterson Giersch: Asian Borderlands: The Transformation of Qing China's Yunnan Frontier
Yunnan was not always China: indeed not so long ago large parts of Yunnan were only nominally part of the empire. To make Yunnan, outside the main Han cities, a Chinese province required significant effort. Here Giersch's study on Yunnan's hinterland makes an interesting if academic read.
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 biggest country fair in Yunnan.
An unspoilt Tibetan area along the Zhibaluo River.
Jim Goodman: The Akha: Guardians of the Forest
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.
The Yi in the southern part of Dali have a special Dance and Song Festival.
Unspoiled Weishan boast Yunnan's most beautiful county town, an important Taoist mountain and areas of strong Muslim and Yi tradition.
Upcoming Festivals
| Name | Date |
|---|---|
| Yangmei Festival | 01 May |
| Manlong Buckwheat Festival | 30 May |
| Butterfly Festival | 31 May |
| Benzhu Worship (Midu) | 31 May |
| Benzhu Worship | 31 May |
| Butterfly Spring Meeting | 31 May |
| Yongping Wenbi Pagoda Ceremony | 31 May |
| Full Moon Ritual | 31 May |
| Benzhu Worship | 01 Jun |
| Guniangjie | 03 Jun |
| Benzhu Worship | 03 Jun |
| Yanguang Birthday | 05 Jun |
Markets this Sunday
| Dali | 大理 |
|---|---|
| Duomei | 朵美 |
| Junhua | 均化 |
| Jiuzhou | 旧州 |
| Sanying | 三营 |
| Shanyang | 衫阳 |
| Haidong | 海东 |
| Yunlong | 云龙县 |
| Binchuan | 宾川县 |
| Beitou | 北头 |
| Liantie | 炼铁 |
| Liuhe | 六合 |
| Lawu | 拉乌 |
| Heqing | 鹤庆县 |
| Dacang | 大仓镇 |
| Changxin | 长新 |
| Caojian | 漕间 |
| Jianchuan | 剑川县 |
| Eryuan | 洱源县 |
| Pingpo | 平坡 |
| Junhuacun | 均华村 |
| Liuchang | 刘厂镇 |
| Minjian | 民建乡 |
| Xinjie | 新街镇 |
| Qinghaiying | 青海营 |
| Mizhi | 密祉镇 |
| 果城村 | |
| 青苗 | |
| Xiazhuang | 下庄镇 |
| 龙洞村 | |
| Niujie | 牛街彝族乡 |
| Shalong | 沙龙镇 |
| Honghe | 红河 |
|---|---|
| Pingbian | 屏边苗族自治县 |
| Diema | 垤玛 |
| Mengzi | 蒙自县 |
| Liangdi | 浪堤 |
| Chake | 岔科 |
| Jiayin | 甲寅 |
| Azhahe | 阿扎河 |
| Mengping | 勐坪 |
| Baohua | 宝华 |
| Yongning | 永宁乡 |
| Luoen | 洛恩 |
| Laomeng | 老勐 |
| Wenshan | 文山 |
|---|---|
| Lida | 里达镇 |
| Zhujie | 朱街镇 |
| Shuanglongying | 双龙营乡 |
| Guangnan | 广南县 |
| Mugan | 木杆 |
| Banlun | 板仑乡 |
| Zhulin | 珠琳镇 |
| Pingyuan | 平远 |
| Funing | 富宁县 |
| Zhesang | 者桑乡 |
| Babao | 八宝镇 |
| Baoshan | 保山市 |
|---|---|
| Manglong | 芒龙 |
| Lincang | 临沧 |
|---|---|
| Cangyuan | 沧源佤族自治县 |
| Quannei | 圈内 |
| Shuangjiang | 双江拉祜族佤族布朗族傣族自治县 |
| Junsai | 军赛乡 |
| Zhenkang | 镇康县 |
| Zhaotong | 昭通 |
|---|---|
| Shuanghe | 双河 |