Yunnan - China's most beautiful province


Watersplashing in Yongping

Watersplashing in Yongping
Ask for the Watersplashing Festival, or Poshuijie 泼水节, and everyone will tell you to go to Jinghong, capital of Yunnan's Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Region: the 'biggest and best' Dai celebrations to mark their New Year are taking place there. And big it is. Thousands of Han Chinese and foreign tourist flock to Jinghong every year. Jinghong's Poshuijie certainly is big -- and very commercial. If big crowds and big events are your thing, go to Jinghong.



Early 20th century murals at Mangzhong Temple near Menglian


Jim Goodman: The Akha: Guardians of the Forest

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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.

With its well-preserved architecture and tranquil atmosphere, Weishan's capital is Yunnan's most beautiful county town.


John Israel: Lianda: A Chinese University in War and Revolution

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Everyone knows about the Mao's Long March, but a few years later another long march took place: that of Chinese students leaving their cushy campuses on the east coast, trekking all the way to Yunnan where their universities reformed as Lianda, the united university. Kunming, then a total backwater, became a hotbed for new ideas, not just scientific. We liked the section of east coast girls scampering around Mengzi in their latest fashion.


Raw pork skin, together with raw pork meat and sometimes even raw pork liver are traditional delicacies in Dali.



The old border crossing to Guizhou.

Markets this Saturday

Kunming 昆明
Jijie 鸡街乡
Fazhe 法者镇
Shilin 石林彝族自治县
Tangdan 汤丹镇

Dali 大理
Junhua 均化
Zhoucheng 州城
Duomei 朵美
Shanyang 衫阳
Yongping 永平县
Lijiao 力角
Paiying 排营
Shijing 师井
Diannan 甸南
Liuhe 六合
Heqing 鹤庆县
Jiangwei 江尾镇
Caojian 漕间
Dacang 大仓镇
Junhuacun 均华村
Hedian 禾甸镇
桥街
Hongyan 红岩镇
Changyi 长邑村
Deju 德苴乡

Lijiang 丽江
Jiuhe 九河
Liming 黎明

Dehong 德宏
Husa 户撒乡
Nangsong 曩宋阿昌族乡

Honghe 红河
Shengcun 生村
Xinansuo 新安所镇
Leyu 乐育
Daheishan 大黑山乡
Shalatuo 沙拉托
Xinxian 新现乡
Panzihua 攀枝花
Tongchang 铜厂
Zhemi 者米拉祜族乡

Wenshan 文山
Babu 八布乡
Tiechang 铁厂镇
Pingba 坪坝镇
Matang 马塘镇
Zhuanjiao 篆角乡
Mulun 睦伦乡

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

Baoshan 保山市
Manglong 芒龙

Lincang 临沧
Cangyuan 沧源佤族自治县
Wumulong 乌木龙乡
Quannei 圈内
Shuangjiang 双江拉祜族佤族布朗族傣族自治县
Zhenkang 镇康县
Junsai 军赛乡

Qujing 曲靖市
干海子
Kuangshan 矿山镇
Laochang 老厂乡
Wuxing 五星乡
Xinjie 新街回族乡
Yangmeishan 杨梅山
Yema 野马林场
Yulu 雨碌乡

Zhaotong 昭通
Shuanghe 双河
Menggu 蒙姑镇

Yuxi 玉溪
Mosha 漠沙镇
Tadian 塔甸
Jiasa 戛洒镇
Xingmeng 兴蒙
Hexi 河西

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

Puer 普洱
Jiangcheng 江城哈尼族彝族自治县
Lancang 澜沧县
Fuyan 富岩

Diqing 迪庆
Xiaoweixi 小维西
Kaifaqu 开发区
岩瓦