Early Maps of Yunnan
The history of maps in Yunnan began more than a thousand years ago. But it was the Jesuits who revolutionised mapping in China, producing the first accurate maps of the provinces, including remote Yunnan.
Remnants of colour still show on the stone carvings at Shibaoshan, revealing that the Buddhist images were once brightly painted.
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.
Shaxi is the most complete historic ensemble of a caravan town in Yunnan.
Largest Miao village in the Kunming area with a large Christian community and a nationally-acclaimed church-choir.
Judith Shapiro: Mao's War Against Nature: Politics and the Environment in Revolutionary China
Even if Chinese civilization has developed more against than with nature, the Mao years were a particular exercise in environmental destruction. In one case-study Shapiro tells the story of the draining of the northern part of Dianchi Lake, one of the first steps turning Kunming's lake into the fetid cess-pool it is today.
An Yi ritual in Xiangyun county.
Hometown of many Bai merchants, Xizhou boast some impressive architecture.
Upcoming Festivals
| Name | Date |
|---|---|
| Benzhu Worship | 01 Feb |
| Benzhu Worship | 02 Feb |
| Full Moon Ritual | 02 Feb |
| Start of Spring | 04 Feb |
| Benzhu Worship | 05 Feb |
| Temaoke | 06 Feb |
| Benzhu Worship | 10 Feb |
| Daba Spring Festival Evening Party | 16 Feb |
| Lunar New Year's Eve | 16 Feb |
| Benzhu Worship | 16 Feb |
| Benzhu Worship | 16 Feb |
| New Year Ritual | 17 Feb |
Markets this Friday
| Dali | 大理 |
|---|---|
| Xiangtu | 象图乡 |
| Hecun | 萂村 |
| Gunipen | 沽泥盆 |
| Jiancao | 捡槽 |
| Longjie | 龙街 |
| Waxi | 瓦溪 |
| Fengyi | 凤仪 |
| Pingchuan | 平川 |
| Weishan | 巍山彝族回族自治县 |
| Wuxing | 五星 |
| Longjie | 龙街 |
| Wase | 挖色 |
| Baidangping | 白荡坪 |
| Yangbi | 漾濞彝族自治县 |
| Shaxi | 沙溪 |
| Zuòyì | 作邑 |
| Dianzhong | 甸中 |
| Yousuo | 右所镇 |
| 寅街村 | |
| Wachang | 瓦厂乡 |
| Shidongcun | 石洞村 |
| 妙姑村 | |
| 田口 | |
| Xishan | 西山乡 |
| 大栗树 | |
| Luming | 鹿鸣乡 |
| 北桥 | |
| Midian | 米甸镇 |
| 西庄 | |
| Jijie | 鸡街乡 |
| 汤涧 | |
| Puping | 普淜镇 |
| Honghe | 红河 |
|---|---|
| Xinhua | 新华乡 |
| Sancun | 三村 |
| Lengquan | 冷泉镇 |
| Lengdun | 冷墩 |
| Dongshan | 东山镇 |
| Daheigong | 大黑公 |
| Sankeshu | 三棵树 |
| Wuwan | 乌弯 |
| Shitouzhai | 石头寨 |
| Xinjie | 新街 |
| Dixibei | 地西北 |
| Yuxi | 玉溪 |
|---|---|
| Fuliangpeng | 富良棚 |