Early Maps of Yunnan
The history of maps in Yunnan began more than a thousand years ago. But it was the Jesuits who revolutionised mapping in China, producing the first accurate maps of the provinces, including remote Yunnan.
The temple in Mangdao 芒岛, built in 1899, is one of few surviving examples of Dai Buddhist temples having survived the Cultural Revolution by being converted into grain storage.
Jim Goodman: The Terrace Builders: The Hani and their Neighbors in Yunnan's Ailao Mountains
Abstract: The rice terraces of the Ailao Mountains in southern Yunnan province, China, are some of the oldest terraced farms in Asia. First mentioned in Tang Dynasty records, these farms, 80% of which are irrigated, with water running through them all year round, have been in continuous use for over a thousand years. In 2013 UNESCO declared the heartland of this area a World Heritage Site. The Terrace Builders is a detailed account of how these farms are made and used, the cities and mountains of Honghe Prefecture and the far north of Vietnam, as well as the various ethnic minorities who live there. The book pays special attention to the Hani people, the largest ethnic group in the area, and includes summaries of the culture and clothing of their neighbors the Yi, Miao, Yao, Zhuang and Dai. The book includes 300 photos of the land and its people.
A number of Chinese historic texts covering life and politics in Yunnan have survived over the centuries. I have translated a few of them.
A Lahu Church
With its well-preserved architecture and tranquil atmosphere, Weishan's capital is Yunnan's most beautiful county town.
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.
The biggest country fair in Yunnan.
Upcoming Festivals
| Name | Date |
|---|---|
| Benzhu Worship | 28 Jul |
| Full Moon Ritual | 28 Jul |
| Close Door Festival | 28 Jul |
| Bai Yi New Year | 28 Jul |
| Benzhu Worship | 28 Jul |
| Benzhu Worship | 28 Jul |
| Benzhu Worship | 28 Jul |
| Circling Jianhu | 28 Jul |
| Eighteen Altar Temple Fair | 28 Jul |
| Black Dragon Fair | 29 Jul |
| Benzhu Worship (Jianchuan Area) | 31 Jul |
| Benzhu Worship (Jianchuan Area) | 31 Jul |
Markets this Wednesday
| Dali | 大理 |
|---|---|
| Longjie | 龙街 |
| Xintun | 辛屯 |
| Shunbi | 順濞 |
| Songgui | 松桂 |
| Shaba | 沙坝 |
| Caicun | 才村 |
| Dali | 大理 |
| Longjie | 龙街 |
| Huangping | 黄平镇 |
| Zhongying | 种英 |
| Shanglan | 上兰 |
| Zhouguanying | 周官营 |
| Gongguoqiao | 功果桥镇 |
| Puping | 普淜镇 |
| Shangcang | 上沧 |
| 顺荡 | |
| 龙街 | |
| 寅街村 | |
| Midian | 米甸镇 |
| 西庄 |
| Lijiang | 丽江 |
|---|---|
| Shigu | 石鼓镇 |
| Honghe | 红河 |
|---|---|
| Zhicun | 芷村镇 |
| Daheigong | 大黑公 |
| Sankeshu | 三棵树 |
| Wuwan | 乌弯 |
| Xinjie | 新街 |
| Baiyun | 白云乡 |
| Dixibei | 地西北 |
| Yongning | 永宁乡 |
| Tutai | 土台 |
| Hongtian | 红田 |
| Qujing | 曲靖市 |
|---|---|
| Baiwu | 白雾 |
| Daba | 大坝 |
| Daqiao | 大桥乡 |
| Jiache | 驾车乡 |
| Leye | 乐业镇 |
| Malu | 马路乡 |
| Sandao | 三道 |
| Zhehai | 者海镇 |
| Zhichang | 纸厂乡 |
| Diqing | 迪庆 |
|---|---|
| Kaifaqu | 开发区 |