The Bai in Early Chinese Minority Film
After Liberation in 1949 Chinese cinema became a propaganda medium for the New China. The 1950 saw cinemas spreading to all towns, showing movies meant to increase the socialist spirit and fostering national unit. China's ethnic minorities often featured in these films before the Cultural Revolution. Only after its end played ethnic minority themes a role again. Here we look at films from before 2000 that feature the Bai minority.
The annual Bai Raosanling is one of the wildest temple fairs in the province.
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.
A number of Chinese historic texts covering life and politics in Yunnan have survived over the centuries. I have translated a few of them.
An ancient Bai wedding ritual only found in Yunlong county.
Yunnan's only Shui-Township with stunning karst scenery.
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 big festival on the 15th day of the first lunar month.
A history trading post on the upper reaches of the Yangzi.
Upcoming Festivals
| Name | Date |
|---|---|
| Fishpond Fair | 06 Oct |
| Cold Dew | 08 Oct |
| Baitan Temple Fair | 09 Oct |
| Benzhu Worship on Jiansuo Island | 14 Oct |
| Benzhu Worship (Jianchuan Area) | 14 Oct |
| Benzhu Worship | 14 Oct |
| Benzhu Worship (Fengyu Area) | 14 Oct |
| Benzhu Worship (Dengchuan Area) | 14 Oct |
| Benzhu Worship | 14 Oct |
| Flower Lantern | 15 Oct |
| Lajing Salt Road Culture Festival | 15 Oct |
| Mountain God Temple Worship | 16 Oct |
Markets this Thursday
| Kunming | 昆明 |
|---|---|
| Tuanjie | 团结 |
| Dali | 大理 |
|---|---|
| Nanxin | 南新 |
| Niujie | 牛街 |
| Yangcen | 羊岑 |
| Wanqiao | 湾桥 |
| Maidi | 脉地 |
| Xintun | 辛屯 |
| Gudi | 古底 |
| Songgui | 松桂 |
| Taiyi | 太邑彝族乡 |
| Qiaohou | 乔后 |
| Daying | 大营 |
| Huangping | 黄平镇 |
| Hongyan | 红岩镇 |
| Qiaodian | 乔甸镇 |
| Shalong | 沙龙镇 |
| Hedian | 禾甸镇 |
| Xiazhuang | 下庄镇 |
| 龙洞村 | |
| 太和社区 | |
| 鲁庄 |
| Lijiang | 丽江 |
|---|---|
| Shigu | 石鼓镇 |
| Xishuangbanna | 西双版纳 |
|---|---|
| Xiding | 西定哈尼族乡 |
| Wenshan | 文山 |
|---|---|
| Zhujie | 朱街镇 |
| Lida | 里达镇 |
| Shuanglongying | 双龙营乡 |
| Mugan | 木杆 |
| Zhulin | 珠琳镇 |
| Puer | 普洱 |
|---|---|
| Jiangcheng | 江城哈尼族彝族自治县 |
| Jiahe | 嘉禾乡 |
| Menglian | 孟连傣族拉祜族佤族自治县 |
| Mengsuo | 勐梭镇 |