古镇: Death-knell for Yunnan's Historic Towns
In China even the 'old towns' are new. Under the 古镇, or ancient town, moniker old towns are razed and their population driven out to make space for sanitized versions of Chinese history that drive the tourist dollar.
Hand-made giant sparklers, called "Fire Flowers" 火花, are part of the firework displays for temple fairs in Menglian county.
Jim Goodman: The Akha: Guardians of the Forest
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.
An ancient burial mountain.
Best surviving station on the French-built Vietnam-Kunming railway.
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.
Bai vernacular architecture is very ornate, the style of painting is recognised as national level intangible heritage.
This old caravan town on the Jinsha River is Yunnan's gateway to Tibet.
Upcoming Festivals
| Name | Date |
|---|---|
| Start of Winter | 07 Nov |
| Sea of Blood Temple Fair | 07 Nov |
| New Moon Ritual | 09 Nov |
| Single's Day | 11 Nov |
| Yi New Year | 12 Nov |
| Hani New Year | 14 Nov |
| Meige Festival | 16 Nov |
| Mother Earth Worship | 16 Nov |
| Leonid Meteor Shower | 17 Nov |
| Dai New Year | 18 Nov |
| Benzhu Worship (Jianchuan Area) | 21 Nov |
| Slight Snow | 22 Nov |
Markets this Sunday
| Dali | 大理 |
|---|---|
| Jiuzhou | 旧州 |
| Sanying | 三营 |
| Longjie | 龙街 |
| Yunlong | 云龙县 |
| Liantie | 炼铁 |
| Binchuan | 宾川县 |
| Longjie | 龙街 |
| Beitou | 北头 |
| Lawu | 拉乌 |
| Huangping | 黄平镇 |
| Jianchuan | 剑川县 |
| Changxin | 长新 |
| Pingpo | 平坡 |
| Eryuan | 洱源县 |
| Zhongjiang | 中江 |
| Dacang | 大仓镇 |
| Miaojie | 庙街镇 |
| Qinghaiying | 青海营 |
| 三胜 | |
| 青苗 | |
| Niujie | 牛街彝族乡 |
| Puping | 普淜镇 |
| Sanhe | 三鹤 |
| Jindunjiecun | 金墩街村 |
| Minjian | 民建乡 |
| Caifeng | 财丰 |
| Houshancun | 后山村 |
| Honghe | 红河 |
|---|---|
| Pingbian | 屏边苗族自治县 |
| Niujiaozhai | 牛角寨 |
| Diema | 垤玛 |
| Mengzi | 蒙自县 |
| Jiayin | 甲寅 |
| Azhahe | 阿扎河 |
| Liangdi | 浪堤 |
| Chake | 岔科 |
| Baxin | 坝心镇 |
| Sankeshu | 三棵树 |
| Shaochong | 哨冲镇 |
| Dixibei | 地西北 |
| Shuiguachong | 水瓜冲 |
| Baohua | 宝华 |
| Yongning | 永宁乡 |
| Luoen | 洛恩 |
| Niujie | 牛街镇 |
| Laomeng | 老勐 |
| Wenshan | 文山 |
|---|---|
| Badaoshao | 八道哨乡 |
| Guangnan | 广南县 |
| Banlun | 板仑乡 |
| Pingyuan | 平远 |
| Heizhiguo | 黑支果乡 |
| Zhesang | 者桑乡 |
| Dongma | 董马乡 |
| Xinzhai | 新寨乡 |
| Babao | 八宝镇 |
| Boai | 剥隘镇 |
| Puer | 普洱 |
|---|---|
| Lancang | 澜沧拉祜族自治县 |
| Nanling | 南岭乡 |
| Donghui | 东回镇 |
| Qushui | 曲水乡 |
| 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 |
|---|---|
| Kangpu | 康普 |