Yunnan - China's most beautiful province


Marco Polo in Yunnan?

Did the great Venetian traveller reach Yunnan? Almost certainly not, but still his accounts are the first words Europeans heard about this far-away region.



Laoxudian 老旭甸 in Shiping 石屏 has been dubbed Fossil Village 化石村 as the houses are built from sandstone containing many fossilised plants. In a region mostly inhabited by Yi, this village is entirely Han with the families from the Zhou 周 clan.


Brenda McLean: George Forrest, Plant Hunter

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George Forrest, perhaps the most successful plant collector of his time, left little written about his numerous journeys to Yunnan, so this well-illustrated book fills in much needed detail about his life.


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

With its well-preserved architecture and tranquil atmosphere, Weishan's capital is Yunnan's most beautiful county town.


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.


The Danxia, or red sandstore, cliffs around Liming are a hikers' and climbers' paradise that is just now being discovered.

Markets this Tuesday

Dali 大理
Fuheng 富恒
Zhongsuo 中所
Liandong 炼洞
Yongping 永平县
Fengyu 风羽
Guanping 关平
Baofeng 宝丰乡
Binju 宾居
Madeng 马镫
Shuijing 水井
Huangping 黄平镇
Zuòyì 作邑
Zhongjiang 中江
龙洞村
Shalong 沙龙镇
Hongyan 红岩镇
Beiya 北衙
Xiazhuang 下庄镇
Jindunjiecun 金墩街村
Deju 德苴乡
Hedian 禾甸镇

Lijiang 丽江
Shunzhou 顺州

Dehong 德宏
Kachang 卡场镇
Lianghe 梁河县

Honghe 红河
Shengcun 生村
Mingjiu 鸣鹫镇
Wantang 湾塘乡
Caoba 草坝镇
Longwu 龙武镇
Sancun 三村
Yafangzi Yafangzi
Longwu 龙武镇
Wuwan 乌弯
Daheigong 大黑公
Dayangjie 大羊街
Mengping 勐坪

Wenshan 文山
Zhujie 朱街镇
Shuanglongying 双龙营乡
Lida 里达镇
Mugan 木杆
Jiayi 稼依镇
Zhulin 珠琳镇

Chuxiong 楚雄
Gaoqiao 高桥镇
Shizhong 适中乡
Dalongkou 大龙口乡

Baoshan 保山市
Wafang 瓦房彝族白族乡
Mangbang 芒棒

Lincang 临沧
Yongde 永德县
Danjia 单甲乡
Fuhe 复合
Mengdui 孟堆乡

Qujing 曲靖市
Dahai 大海乡
Huohong 火红乡
Nagu 娜姑镇
迤车
Zhehai 者海镇

Zhaotong 昭通
Shuitian 水田
Linfeng 麟风

Yuxi 玉溪
Mosha 漠沙镇
Yani 亚尼
Yuanjiang 元江哈尼族彝族傣族自治县
Nanuo 那诺乡

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
Mangxin 芒信镇
Qiannuo 千糯
Meizi 梅子镇
Wenggake 翁嘎科镇