Yunnan - China's most beautiful province


Kiss of Life for an Old Caravan Market

Until the middle of last century, Shaxi was a flourishing village on the caravan road to Tibet. The following decades made it a place that history forgot. Now Shaxi is undergoing an award-winning restoration.



Hand-made giant sparklers, called "Fire Flowers" 火花, are part of the firework displays for temple fairs in Menglian county.


Jim Goodman: The Terrace Builders: The Hani and their Neighbors in Yunnan's Ailao Mountains

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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.

Brenda McLean: George Forrest, Plant Hunter

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George Forrest, perhaps the most successful plant collector of his time, left little written about his numerous journeys to Yunnan, so this well-illustrated book fills in much needed detail about his life.


The turn of the Yangzi made Chinese civilization possible and was the location of many important battles.

Markets this Sunday

Kunming 昆明
Zhuanlong 转龙镇
Jijie 鸡街乡
Xundian 寻甸回族彝族自治县

Dali 大理
Jiuzhou 旧州
Sanying 三营
Yunlong 云龙县
Beitou 北头
Liantie 炼铁
Binchuan 宾川县
Dali 大理
Caicun 才村
Lawu 拉乌
Jianchuan 剑川县
Changxin 长新
Pingpo 平坡
Eryuan 洱源县
Hongyan 红岩镇
青苗
Niujie 牛街彝族乡
Hedian 禾甸镇
Minjian 民建乡

Lijiang 丽江
Hongyan 红岩

Xishuangbanna 西双版纳
Menghun 勐混
Mengman 勐满拉祜族哈尼族布朗族镇

Dehong 德宏
Kachang 卡场镇
Lianghe 梁河县

Honghe 红河
Pingbian 屏边苗族自治县
Shengcun 生村
Diema 垤玛
Mengzi 蒙自县
Shalatuo 沙拉托
Jiayin 甲寅
Azhahe 阿扎河
Liangdi 浪堤
Chake 岔科
Wuwan 乌弯
Daheigong 大黑公
Baohua 宝华
Luoen 洛恩
Yongning 永宁乡
Tongchang 铜厂
Laomeng 老勐
Zhemi 者米拉祜族乡
Panzihua 攀枝花

Wenshan 文山
Tiechang 铁厂镇
Babu 八布乡
Guangnan 广南县
Zhuanjiao 篆角乡
Pingyuan 平远
Zhesang 者桑乡
Babao 八宝镇
Mulun 睦伦乡

Chuxiong 楚雄
Dayao 大姚县
Nanhua 南华县
Bailu 白路
Guanglu 光路镇
Yaoan 姚安县

Baoshan 保山市
Wafang 瓦房彝族白族乡
Mangbang 芒棒

Lincang 临沧
Yongde 永德县
Luodang 洛党
Danjia 单甲乡
Wumulong 乌木龙乡
Mengdui 孟堆乡
Fuhe 复合

Qujing 曲靖市
Baiwu 白雾
Daqiao 大桥乡
Leye 乐业镇
Malu 马路乡
Sandao 三道
Yema 野马林场
Zhichang 纸厂乡

Nujiang 怒江
Liuku 六库
Tongdian 通甸

Puer 普洱
Lancang 澜沧拉祜族自治县
Nanling 南岭乡
Jiangcheng 江城哈尼族彝族自治县
Mangxin 芒信镇
Qiannuo 千糯