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.
Hand-made giant sparklers, called "Fire Flowers" 火花, are part of the firework displays for temple fairs in Menglian county.
John Israel: Lianda: A Chinese University in War and Revolution
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.
A number of Chinese historic texts covering life and politics in Yunnan have survived over the centuries. I have translated a few of them.
A well preserved small town that grew rich on salt.
A history trading post on the upper reaches of the Yangzi.
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.
Way of making ham in Nuodeng, Yunlong.
This old caravan town on the Jinsha River is Yunnan's gateway to Tibet.
Upcoming Festivals
| Name | Date |
|---|---|
| Pupeng Zhejume Pilgrimage | 31 Oct |
| Dharmic Assembly | 31 Oct |
| Benzhu Worship | 31 Oct |
| Temple Fair | 01 Nov |
| Open Door Festival | 01 Nov |
| Benzhu Worship | 01 Nov |
| Anniversary of Yangbi County Foundation | 01 Nov |
| Benzhu Festival | 01 Nov |
| Dongshan Tuzhu Temple Fair | 02 Nov |
| Benzhu Festival | 04 Nov |
| Jingpo New Rice | 04 Nov |
| Benzhu Festival | 05 Nov |
Markets this Saturday
| Dali | 大理 |
|---|---|
| Duomei | 朵美 |
| Zhoucheng | 州城 |
| Junhua | 均化 |
| Shanyang | 衫阳 |
| Yongping | 永平县 |
| Lijiao | 力角 |
| Paiying | 排营 |
| Shijing | 师井 |
| Liuhe | 六合 |
| Diannan | 甸南 |
| Heqing | 鹤庆县 |
| Shuanglang | 双廊镇 |
| Jiangwei | 江尾镇 |
| Zuòyì | 作邑 |
| Caojian | 漕间 |
| Dacang | 大仓镇 |
| 龙洞村 | |
| Xiazhuang | 下庄镇 |
| Longjie | 龙街 |
| Deju | 德苴乡 |
| Changyi | 长邑村 |
| 桥街 | |
| Shalong | 沙龙镇 |
| Junhuacun | 均华村 |
| Honghe | 红河 |
|---|---|
| Longpeng | 龙朋镇 |
| Mengla | 勐拉 |
| Daqiao | 大桥乡 |
| Xinansuo | 新安所镇 |
| Niujiaozhai | 牛角寨 |
| Daheishan | 大黑山乡 |
| Leyu | 乐育 |
| Sancun | 三村 |
| Xinxian | 新现乡 |
| Maandi | 马鞍底 |
| Wenshan | 文山 |
|---|---|
| Matang | 马塘镇 |
| Pingba | 坪坝镇 |
| Shadou | 沙斗 |
| Nijiao | 腻脚彝族乡 |
| Jijie | 鸡街乡 |
| Tienpeng | 田蓬镇 |
| Donggan | 董干镇 |
| Jiumo | 旧莫乡 |
| Baoshan | 保山市 |
|---|---|
| Xiaopingtian | 小平田 |
| Wama | 瓦马彝族白族乡 |
| Tengchong | 腾冲县 |
| Zhaotong | 昭通 |
|---|---|
| Shuanghe | 双河 |