The Red Soil of Dongchuan
The Wumeng Mountains' bright red soil, the buckwheat's yellow and Yunnan's dramatic skies make the region around Dongchuan a paradise for photographers.
In Huize, the old capital of copper in Yunnan, many splendid guildhalls survive.
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.
A number of Chinese historic texts covering life and politics in Yunnan have survived over the centuries. I have translated a few of them.
Benzhu is the native believe system of the Bai peole.
Fog swirling on a cold winter morning over endless rice-terraces, the red of the
early morning sun reflected in the flooded paddies: this is the classic view of the
Hani Rice Terraces of Yuanyang, now of UNESCO World Heritage status.
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.
Dali has its own Torch Festival related customs.
Unspoiled Weishan boast Yunnan's most beautiful county town, an important Taoist mountain and areas of strong Muslim and Yi tradition.
Upcoming Festivals
| Name | Date |
|---|---|
| Pear Flower Festival | 17 Mar |
| Men's Festival | 17 Mar |
| New Moon Ritual | 19 Mar |
| Aluowuluo | 19 Mar |
| Madeng Trade Fair | 19 Mar |
| Weibaoshan Pilgrimage | 19 Mar |
| Kaixinjie | 19 Mar |
| Benzhu Worship (Fengyu) | 19 Mar |
| Wrestling Festival | 20 Mar |
| Dragon Worship | 20 Mar |
| Dragon Worship | 20 Mar |
| Benzhu Festival | 20 Mar |
Markets this Wednesday
| Dali | 大理 |
|---|---|
| Shunbi | 順濞 |
| Shaba | 沙坝 |
| Dacang | 大仓镇 |
| Huangping | 黄平镇 |
| Zhongying | 种英 |
| Zhongjiang | 中江 |
| Shanglan | 上兰 |
| Zhouguanying | 周官营 |
| Caifeng | 财丰 |
| Jindunjiecun | 金墩街村 |
| Miaojie | 庙街镇 |
| Shangcang | 上沧 |
| Gongguoqiao | 功果桥镇 |
| 顺荡 | |
| 三鹤 | |
| Qinghaiying | 青海营 |
| 龙街 | |
| Houshancun | 后山村 |
| Hongyan | 红岩镇 |
| 三胜 | |
| Hedian | 禾甸镇 |
| Honghe | 红河 |
|---|---|
| Shengcun | 生村 |
| Zhicun | 芷村镇 |
| Shalatuo | 沙拉托 |
| Baiyun | 白云乡 |
| Shaochong | 哨冲镇 |
| Yongning | 永宁乡 |
| Niujie | 牛街镇 |
| Zhemi | 者米拉祜族乡 |
| Tutai | 土台 |
| Panzihua | 攀枝花 |
| Tongchang | 铜厂 |
| Hongtian | 红田 |