Dancing under the Moonlight: the Costume Festival of Zhizuo
As villages go, Zhizuo could hardly be more remote. Some 70km from the county town, first along a winding mountain road, then on a deeply rutted track without public transport: even in the dry season it takes several hours and a bit of stamina to reach. Yet, at least on the first full moon of the year, the effort is worth it, as Zhizuo holds one of Yunnan's most colourful festivals, the Dress Competition Festival or Caizhuangjie 赛装节.
In Huize, the old capital of copper in Yunnan, many splendid guildhalls survive.
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 number of Chinese historic texts covering life and politics in Yunnan have survived over the centuries. I have translated a few of them.
Remote temple in Weishan, site of temple fair.
A history trading post on the upper reaches of the Yangzi.
Judith Shapiro: Mao's War Against Nature: Politics and the Environment in Revolutionary China
Even if Chinese civilization has developed more against than with nature, the Mao years were a particular exercise in environmental destruction. In one case-study Shapiro tells the story of the draining of the northern part of Dianchi Lake, one of the first steps turning Kunming's lake into the fetid cess-pool it is today.
Yunnan's best preserved historic town.
An unspoilt Tibetan area along the Zhibaluo River.
Upcoming Festivals
| Name | Date |
|---|---|
| Miluoqimi Fair | 23 Feb |
| Benzhu Festival | 23 Feb |
| Kaixinjie | 25 Feb |
| Weishan Temple Fair | 25 Feb |
| Benzhu Festival | 25 Feb |
| Golden Temple Fair | 25 Feb |
| Singing Festival | 25 Feb |
| Receiving the Village Protector | 25 Feb |
| Depeihao | 25 Feb |
| Hedian Lantern Festival | 26 Feb |
| Benzhu Worship | 26 Feb |
| Kaixinjie | 26 Feb |
Markets this Thursday
| Kunming | 昆明 |
|---|---|
| Banqiao | 板桥乡 |
| Dali | 大理 |
|---|---|
| Nanxin | 南新 |
| Niujie | 牛街 |
| Yangcen | 羊岑 |
| Shanyang | 衫阳 |
| Maidi | 脉地 |
| Xintun | 辛屯 |
| Qinghua | 清华 |
| Songgui | 松桂 |
| Gudi | 古底 |
| Qiaohou | 乔后 |
| Daying | 大营 |
| Caojian | 漕间 |
| Taiyi | 太邑彝族乡 |
| Niujie | 牛街 |
| Huangping | 黄平镇 |
| Junhuacun | 均华村 |
| 鲁庄 | |
| Hongyan | 红岩镇 |
| Hedian | 禾甸镇 |
| Puping | 普淜镇 |
| Qiaodian | 乔甸镇 |
| Qinghaiying | 青海营 |
| 太和社区 |
| Lijiang | 丽江 |
|---|---|
| Shigu | 石鼓镇 |
| Xishuangbanna | 西双版纳 |
|---|---|
| Xiding | 西定哈尼族乡 |
| Lincang | 临沧 |
|---|---|
| Menglai | 勐来乡 |
| Puer | 普洱 |
|---|---|
| Jiangcheng | 江城哈尼族彝族自治县 |
| Baozang | 宝藏乡 |
| Donghui | 东回镇 |
| Menglian | 孟连傣族拉祜族佤族自治县 |
| Xuelin | 雪林佤族乡 |
| Mengsuo | 勐梭镇 |
| Diqing | 迪庆 |
|---|---|
| Shangjiang | 上江 |