Guandu Old Town
With the Bird and Flower Market and the Muslim Quarter fallen, little remains of 'Lao Kunming', the characterful old town of former times. Now it is all high-rises, wide avenues, chain-shops. Everywhere? No, a small part of Kunming is holding out...
Impressions from a small Dai village in Menglian county near the Burmese border
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.
Ritual dance at the court of the local Menglian ruler
With its well-preserved architecture and tranquil atmosphere, Weishan's capital is Yunnan's most beautiful county town.
Ronald G. Knapp: China's Old Dwellings
Few people know as much about Chinese architecture as Knapp: from palaces to humble homes he explains important building principles; the connection between environment and housing styles and the development of style over time. A section on minority housing styles complements the book.
A well-preserved Bai merchant town with perhaps the best examples of Bai traditional architecture.
Upcoming Festivals
| Name | Date |
|---|---|
| Gedong | 14 Jan |
| Benzhu Worship | 18 Jan |
| Pulling the Wooden Drum | 19 Jan |
| New Moon Ritual | 19 Jan |
| Great Cold | 20 Jan |
| Kuoshi Lisu New Year | 23 Jan |
| Wuxi Festival | 24 Jan |
| "Replenish Provisions" Ritual | 24 Jan |
| Benzhu Worship (Jianchuan Area) | 26 Jan |
| Lingshan Temple Fair | 26 Jan |
| Benzhu Worship (Jianchuan Area) | 27 Jan |
| Long Table Feast | 27 Jan |
Markets this Saturday
| Dali | 大理 |
|---|---|
| Zhoucheng | 州城 |
| Yongping | 永平县 |
| Paiying | 排营 |
| Lijiao | 力角 |
| Weishan | 巍山彝族回族自治县 |
| Shijing | 师井 |
| Fengyi | 凤仪 |
| Diannan | 甸南 |
| Wase | 挖色 |
| Shuanglang | 双廊镇 |
| Jiangwei | 江尾镇 |
| Zuòyì | 作邑 |
| Dianzhong | 甸中 |
| Deju | 德苴乡 |
| 西庄 | |
| Shalong | 沙龙镇 |
| Midian | 米甸镇 |
| Xiazhuang | 下庄镇 |
| Changyi | 长邑村 |
| 龙洞村 | |
| Shidongcun | 石洞村 |
| 寅街村 | |
| 田口 | |
| 妙姑村 | |
| 北桥 | |
| 桥街 | |
| Luming | 鹿鸣乡 |
| Longjie | 龙街 |
| Lijiang | 丽江 |
|---|---|
| Jiuhe | 九河 |
| Honghe | 红河 |
|---|---|
| Xinansuo | 新安所镇 |
| Mengla | 勐拉 |
| Leyu | 乐育 |
| Daheishan | 大黑山乡 |
| Sancun | 三村 |
| Wuwan | 乌弯 |
| Xinxian | 新现乡 |
| Daheigong | 大黑公 |
| Xinjie | 新街 |
| Maandi | 马鞍底 |
| Yuxi | 玉溪 |
|---|---|
| Mosha | 漠沙镇 |
| Fuliangpeng | 富良棚 |