On the Statelets between Nanzhao and the Dali Kingdom
After the demise of Nanzhao 南诏, the Buddhist kingdom that integrated the tribes of the Erhai region in the second half of the first millennium, local strongmen proclaimed a succession of short-lived statelets before Duan Siping 段思平 in 937 CE established the Dali Kingdom 大理国.
Hand-made giant sparklers, called "Fire Flowers" 火花, are part of the firework displays for temple fairs in Menglian county.
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.
A number of Chinese historic texts covering life and politics in Yunnan have survived over the centuries. I have translated a few of them.
Traditional toys in Jianchuan county.
Yunnan's only Shui-Township with stunning karst scenery.
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.
Small Benzhu shrine, used for rituals on the third day of Raosanling.
A spectacularly narrow canyon high above the Jinsha River.
Upcoming Festivals
| Name | Date |
|---|---|
| Walnut Festival | 01 Sep |
| Fishpond Fair | 25 Sep |
| Confucius Sacrifice | 28 Sep |
| Fenghuan Mountain Music Festival | 01 Oct |
| National Day | 01 Oct |
| Baobo Festival | 02 Oct |
| Benzhu Worship (Jianchuan Area) | 03 Oct |
| Benzhu Worship (Fengyu Area) | 03 Oct |
| Sky Lantern Festival | 03 Oct |
| Benzhu Worship (Dengchuan Area) | 03 Oct |
| Benzhu Worship | 03 Oct |
| Benzhu Worship | 03 Oct |
Markets this Wednesday
| Dali | 大理 |
|---|---|
| Haidong | 海东 |
| Shunbi | 順濞 |
| Fengyi | 凤仪 |
| Shaba | 沙坝 |
| Weishan | 巍山彝族回族自治县 |
| Qinghua | 清华 |
| Yinqiao | 银桥 |
| Niujie | 牛街 |
| Zhongying | 种英 |
| Dianzhong | 甸中 |
| Shanglan | 上兰 |
| Wase | 挖色 |
| Zhouguanying | 周官营 |
| Hongyan | 红岩镇 |
| Shidongcun | 石洞村 |
| Gongguoqiao | 功果桥镇 |
| Luming | 鹿鸣乡 |
| Shundang | 顺荡 |
| 妙姑村 | |
| Shangcang | 上沧 |
| Qinghaiying | 青海营 |
| Hedian | 禾甸镇 |
| 北桥 | |
| 田口 | |
| 龙街 | |
| Puping | 普淜镇 |
| Honghe | 红河 |
|---|---|
| Shengcun | 生村 |
| Zhicun | 芷村镇 |
| Nafa | 那发 |
| Jiache | 架车 |
| Baiyun | 白云乡 |
| Zhongzhai | 中寨 |
| Yongning | 永宁乡 |
| Tutai | 土台 |
| Shiping Guanyin Temple Alley | 石屏观音寺巷 |
| Hongtian | 红田 |
| Chezhi | 扯直 |
| Yuxi | 玉溪 |
|---|---|
| Fuliangpeng | 富良棚 |
| Puer | 普洱 |
|---|---|
| Jiangcheng | 江城哈尼族彝族自治县 |
| Nuofu | 糯福 |
| Dashan | 大山乡 |
| Mengma | 孟马镇 |
| Kangping | 康平乡 |
| Dehua | 德化镇 |
| Mengxian | 勐先镇 |
| Liming | 黎明乡 |
| 把边 |
| Diqing | 迪庆 |
|---|---|
| Kaifaqu | 开发区 |