Yunnan - China's most beautiful province


From Niujiaozhai to Yuanyang

Yuanyang county, south of the Red River in the province's southeast, is famous for its Hani rice-terraces. With its splendid vistas and ethnic mix it is also a great area for hiking. Here we describe a moderate day-hike starting at the market-town of Niujiaozhai, passing through Yi and Hani villages and ending with stunning sunset vistas over the rice-terraces of Longshuba.



In Huize, the old capital of copper in Yunnan, many splendid guildhalls survive.


Jim Goodman: The Akha: Guardians of the Forest

Cover Image
The Akha, in China known as the Aini branch of the Hani people, migrated from China southwards into Laos, Burma and Thailand. In this richly illustrated book J Goodman, aka 'Akha Jim', explains their life and culture.


A number of Chinese historic texts covering life and politics in Yunnan have survived over the centuries. I have translated a few of them.

Rattlestick Dance is a traditional dance of the Bai minority, specifically in Jianchuan county.



Once an important salt-mining town, now the second largest town along the Heihui River north of Yangbi.


Liao Yiwu: God is Red: The Secret Story of How Christianity Survived and Flourished in Communist China

Cover Image
Liao Yiwu, one of China's most prominent dissidents, was driven out of China, but not before he used a period of internal exile to research Christian groups, mainly in Yunnan. In this book he tells the stories of the Christians of Dali and of Wuding county.


The old border crossing to Guizhou.

Markets this Saturday

Kunming 昆明
Fazhe 法者镇
Shilin 石林彝族自治县
Tuanjie 团结
Tangdan 汤丹镇

Dali 大理
Duomei 朵美
Zhoucheng 州城
Junhua 均化
Yongping 永平县
Paiying 排营
Lijiao 力角
Wanqiao 湾桥
Haidong 海东
Shijing 师井
Diannan 甸南
Liuhe 六合
Heqing 鹤庆县
Jiangwei 江尾镇
Hedian 禾甸镇
Changyi 长邑村
Xiazhuang 下庄镇
Deju 德苴乡
Shalong 沙龙镇
Hongyan 红岩镇
龙洞村
桥街

Lijiang 丽江
Jiuhe 九河

Honghe 红河
Shengcun 生村
Xinansuo 新安所镇
Leyu 乐育
Daheishan 大黑山乡
Xinxian 新现乡
Mengping 勐坪

Wenshan 文山
Matang 马塘镇
Zhujie 朱街镇
Shuanglongying 双龙营乡
Pingba 坪坝镇
Lida 里达镇
Mugan 木杆
Zhulin 珠琳镇

Chuxiong 楚雄
Wanyaoshu 弯腰树
Dahekou 大河口乡
Mixing 弥兴镇

Baoshan 保山市
Hehua 荷花傣族佤族乡
Xinzhai 新寨

Lincang 临沧
Mengding 孟定
Fengqing 凤庆县
Nanmei 南美拉祜族乡
Banhong 班洪乡

Qujing 曲靖市
Baiwu 白雾
Daqiao 大桥乡
Leye 乐业镇
Malu 马路乡
Zhehai 者海镇
Zhichang 纸厂乡

Zhaotong 昭通
Shuanghe 双河

Yuxi 玉溪
Chahe 岔河
Mosha 漠沙镇
Dalongtan 大龙潭

Nujiang 怒江
Hexi 河西
Puladi 普拉底乡
Aludi 阿路底
Laowo 老窝

Puer 普洱
Jiangcheng 江城哈尼族彝族自治县
Nuofu 糯福
Lancang 澜沧县
Dashan 大山乡
Mengma 孟马镇

Diqing 迪庆
Xiaoweixi 小维西
Zhonglu 中路
Kaifaqu 开发区