Yunnan - China's most beautiful province


Historic Dali

Founded in the Ming dynasty, in today's old Dali history is present, but sometimes hidden.




The discovery of the bronze age culture of Sanxingdui in the Chengdu Plain is one of the most significant of the 20th century.


Jim Goodman: The Terrace Builders: The Hani and their Neighbors in Yunnan's Ailao Mountains

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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.


A number of Chinese historic texts covering life and politics in Yunnan have survived over the centuries. I have translated a few of them.

John Israel: Lianda: A Chinese University in War and Revolution

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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.


Location of the historically important 'Cangshan Conference' in 794AD.



Hometown of many Bai merchants, Xizhou boast some impressive architecture.

Markets this Saturday

Kunming 昆明
Fazhe 法者镇
Shilin 石林彝族自治县
Wumeng 乌蒙乡
Tangdan 汤丹镇
Banqiao 板桥乡

Dali 大理
Junhua 均化
Duomei 朵美
Zhoucheng 州城
Yongping 永平县
Shanyang 衫阳
Lijiao 力角
Haidong 海东
Paiying 排营
Qinghua 清华
Shijing 师井
Liuhe 六合
Yinqiao 银桥
Diannan 甸南
Heqing 鹤庆县
Dacang 大仓镇
Niujie 牛街
Jiangwei 江尾镇
Caojian 漕间
Puping 普淜镇
Xinjie 新街镇
Deju 德苴乡
Liuchang 刘厂镇
Changyi 长邑村
Junhuacun 均华村
Qinghaiying 青海营
桥街
果城村
Mizhi 密祉镇

Lijiang 丽江
Jiuhe 九河
Liming 黎明

Honghe 红河
Nafa 那发
Xinansuo 新安所镇
Leyu 乐育
Daheishan 大黑山乡
Xinxian 新现乡
Jiache 架车
Zhongzhai 中寨

Wenshan 文山
Puyang 普阳
Pingba 坪坝镇
Matang 马塘镇
Banlun 板仑乡
Shupi 树皮彝族乡
Funing 富宁县
Xichou 西畴县

Chuxiong 楚雄
Dahekou 大河口乡
Wanyaoshu 弯腰树
Mixing 弥兴镇

Baoshan 保山市
Xiaopingtian 小平田
Wama 瓦马彝族白族乡
Tengchong 腾冲县

Lincang 临沧
Mangka 芒卡镇
Boshang 博商
Fengwei 风尾镇
Mengjiao 勐角乡

Qujing 曲靖市
Wopo 窝坡
Kuangshan 矿山镇
Xitu 西土

Zhaotong 昭通
Shuanghe 双河

Yuxi 玉溪
Tadian 塔甸
Mosha 漠沙镇
Jiasa 戛洒镇
Xingmeng 兴蒙
Hexi 河西

Nujiang 怒江
Hexi 河西
Puladi 普拉底乡
Aludi 阿路底
Laowo 老窝

Puer 普洱
Yongping 永平镇
Meng'a 孟啊

Diqing 迪庆
Xiaoweixi 小维西
Kaifaqu 开发区
岩瓦