Marco Polo in Yunnan?
Did the great Venetian traveller reach Yunnan? Almost certainly not, but still his accounts are the first words Europeans heard about this far-away region.
The firing of self-made rockets is one of the fun parts of the Dai Watersplashing Festival 泼水节.
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.
Rattlestick Dance is a traditional dance of the Bai minority, specifically in Jianchuan county.
Hometown of many Bai merchants, Xizhou boast some impressive architecture.
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.
Nuodeng is an ancient Bai salt producing village in Yunlong.
The Danxia, or red sandstore, cliffs around Liming are a hikers' and climbers' paradise that is just now being discovered.
Upcoming Festivals
| Name | Date |
|---|---|
| Moerduo Temple Fair | 22 Aug |
| Bullfighting | 28 Aug |
| Men's Festival | 29 Aug |
| Benzhu Worship | 29 Aug |
| Benzhu Worship | 30 Aug |
| Walnut Festival | 01 Sep |
| Benzhu Worship | 02 Sep |
| Caishen Birthday | 03 Sep |
| Songgui Temple Fair | 03 Sep |
| Lanterns on the Lake | 03 Sep |
| Benzhu Worship | 03 Sep |
| Benzhu Worship | 04 Sep |
Markets this Sunday
| Dali | 大理 |
|---|---|
| Jiuzhou | 旧州 |
| Sanying | 三营 |
| Wanqiao | 湾桥 |
| Shuixie | 水泄 |
| Weishan | 巍山彝族回族自治县 |
| Fengyi | 凤仪 |
| Yunlong | 云龙县 |
| Wase | 挖色 |
| Binchuan | 宾川县 |
| Beitou | 北头 |
| Liantie | 炼铁 |
| Lawu | 拉乌 |
| Changxin | 长新 |
| Jianchuan | 剑川县 |
| Gonglang | 公郎镇 |
| Dianzhong | 甸中 |
| Pingpo | 平坡 |
| Eryuan | 洱源县 |
| 北桥 | |
| Midian | 米甸镇 |
| 西庄 | |
| Minjian | 民建乡 |
| 云南驿村 | |
| Shidongcun | 石洞村 |
| Luming | 鹿鸣乡 |
| 青苗 | |
| 寅街村 | |
| Niujie | 牛街彝族乡 |
| 妙姑村 | |
| 前所 | |
| 田口 |
| Lijiang | 丽江 |
|---|---|
| Hongyan | 红岩 |
| Honghe | 红河 |
|---|---|
| Pingbian | 屏边苗族自治县 |
| Diema | 垤玛 |
| Mengzi | 蒙自县 |
| Lvchun | 绿春县 |
| Majie | 马街 |
| Liangdi | 浪堤 |
| Chake | 岔科 |
| Jiayin | 甲寅 |
| Azhahe | 阿扎河 |
| Nanke | 南科 |
| Baohua | 宝华 |
| Xinjie | 新街 |
| Luoen | 洛恩 |
| Jinping | 金平苗族瑶族傣族自治县 |
| Yongning | 永宁乡 |
| Mengqiao | 勐桥乡 |
| Laomeng | 老勐 |
| Wenshan | 文山 |
|---|---|
| Pingzhai | 平寨乡 |
| Guangnan | 广南县 |
| Pingyuan | 平远 |
| Zhesang | 者桑乡 |
| Muyang | 木央镇 |
| Banggu | 蚌谷乡 |
| Babao | 八宝镇 |
| Nanping (Majie) | 南屏镇 (马街） |
| Yuxi | 玉溪 |
|---|---|
| Fuliangpeng | 富良棚 |
| Puer | 普洱 |
|---|---|
| Lancang | 澜沧拉祜族自治县 |
| Nanling | 南岭乡 |
| Donghui | 东回镇 |
| Menglian | 孟连傣族拉祜族佤族自治县 |
| Minle | 民乐 |
| Xuelin | 雪林佤族乡 |
| Kangping | 康平乡 |
| Dehua | 德化镇 |
| Mengsuo | 勐梭镇 |
| Puyi | 普义乡 |
| Liming | 黎明乡 |
| 把边 |