On the Statelets between Nanzhao and the Dali Kingdom
After the demise of Nanzhao 南诏, the Buddhist kingdom that integrated the tribes of the Erhai region in the second half of the first millennium, local strongmen proclaimed a succession of short-lived statelets before Duan Siping 段思平 in 937 CE established the Dali Kingdom 大理国.
Kids from one of Lancang's 澜沧县 schools dress up in minority clothes for the annual Gourd Festival 葫芦节.
Jim Goodman: Living in Shangrila: Tibetans and Mosuo in Northwest Yunnan
Abstract: When Diqing Prefecture, opened its doors to foreign visitors in 1992, tourist agencies and government officials promoted Zhongdian County as the Shangrila of James Hilton’s novel Lost Horizon. In 2001 the city officially changed its name to Shangrila. On a high plateau of over 3200 meters, surrounded by snow covered mountain peaks, inhabited mainly by relatively prosperous, friendly and contented Tibetans, with beautiful monasteries, lakes, forests and summer flowers, the county’s scenery and lifestyle certainly bore a strong resemblance to that in the novel. Living in Shangrila describes the life and environment of the Tibetan people throughout Diqing Prefecture. It also examines their neighbors the Mosuo, a branch of the Naxi nationality, who adopted Tibetan Buddhism as their religion, but are still mainly a matrilineal society, unique to Yunnan, living around Lugu Lake, the most picturesque body of water in the province. The book includes over 200 photographs.
A number of Chinese historic texts covering life and politics in Yunnan have survived over the centuries. I have translated a few of them.
Nuodeng is an ancient Bai salt producing village in Yunlong.
Yunnan's only Shui-Township with stunning karst scenery.
Jim Goodman: The Terrace Builders: The Hani and their Neighbors in Yunnan's Ailao Mountains
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.
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 |
|---|---|
| Walnut Festival | 01 Sep |
| Circling the Mountain | 06 Sep |
| Benzhu Worship | 06 Sep |
| Benzhu Worship (Fengyu Area) | 06 Sep |
| White Dew | 07 Sep |
| Shibaoshan Songfest | 08 Sep |
| Benzhu Worship (Jianchuan Area) | 09 Sep |
| Sigunai Temple Fair | 09 Sep |
| Teachers' Day | 10 Sep |
| Azhali Ritual | 11 Sep |
| New Moon Ritual | 11 Sep |
| Benzhu Worship (Fengyu Area) | 11 Sep |
Markets this Monday
| Kunming | 昆明 |
|---|---|
| Kedu | 柯渡镇 |
| Dali | 大理 |
|---|---|
| Duomei | 朵美 |
| Junhua | 均化 |
| Wanqiao | 湾桥 |
| Biaocun | 表村 |
| Haidong | 海东 |
| Jizushan | 鸡足山 |
| Liuhe | 六合 |
| Misha | 弥沙 |
| Heqing | 鹤庆县 |
| Tuanjie | 团结 |
| Baishi | 白石 |
| Shuanglang | 双廊镇 |
| Shaping | 沙平村 |
| Miaowei | 苗尾傈僳族乡 |
| 西庄 | |
| Taiping | 太平乡 |
| Beiya | 北衙 |
| 龙洞村 | |
| Shalong | 沙龙镇 |
| Longjie | 龙街 |
| 寅街村 | |
| Xiazhuang | 下庄镇 |
| Midian | 米甸镇 |
| Lijiang | 丽江 |
|---|---|
| Shunzhou | 顺州 |
| Honghe | 红河 |
|---|---|
| Mengla | 勐拉 |
| Laozhai | 老寨苗族乡 |
| Chemalong | 车玛龙 |
| Longwu | 龙武镇 |
| Wuwan | 乌弯 |
| Daheigong | 大黑公 |
| Puxiong | 普雄 |
| Xinjie | 新街 |
| Maandi | 马鞍底 |
| Baihe | 白河乡 |
| Zhaotong | 昭通 |
|---|---|
| Shuanghe | 双河 |