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.
An important Dai festival traditionally marking the beginning of the summer retreat for monks.
John Israel: Lianda: A Chinese University in War and Revolution
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.
A number of Chinese historic texts covering life and politics in Yunnan have survived over the centuries. I have translated a few of them.
Nuodeng is an ancient Bai salt producing village in Yunlong.
A spectacularly narrow canyon high above the Jinsha River.
Liao Yiwu: God is Red: The Secret Story of How Christianity Survived and Flourished in Communist China
Liao Yiwu, one of China's most prominent dissidents, was driven out of China, but not before he used a period of internal exile to research Christian groups, mainly in Yunnan. In this book he tells the stories of the Christians of Dali and of Wuding county.
Yunnan's best preserved historic town.
With its well-preserved architecture and tranquil atmosphere, Weishan's capital is Yunnan's most beautiful county town.
Upcoming Festivals
| Name | Date |
|---|---|
| Ghost Month | 13 Aug |
| Longkan Ghost Festival | 13 Aug |
| Ghost Month Ritual | 14 Aug |
| Dicang Fair | 15 Aug |
| Wild Mushroom Festival | 16 Aug |
| Benzhu Worship (Fengyu Area) | 17 Aug |
| Mule Fair | 17 Aug |
| Qixi Festival | 19 Aug |
| Benzhu Worship | 19 Aug |
| Benzhu Worship | 21 Aug |
| Moerduo Temple Fair | 22 Aug |
| Playing the Fragrant Dragon | 23 Aug |
Markets this Saturday
| Dali | 大理 |
|---|---|
| Zhoucheng | 州城 |
| Yongping | 永平县 |
| Lijiao | 力角 |
| Paiying | 排营 |
| Shijing | 师井 |
| Fengyi | 凤仪 |
| Wase | 挖色 |
| Diannan | 甸南 |
| Yongjian | 永连 |
| Dacang | 大仓镇 |
| Jiangwei | 江尾镇 |
| Huangping | 黄平镇 |
| Zhongjiang | 中江 |
| 桥街 | |
| Liuchang | 刘厂镇 |
| 蛇街 | |
| Deju | 德苴乡 |
| Changyi | 长邑村 |
| Jindunjiecun | 金墩街村 |
| Shidongcun | 石洞村 |
| 果城村 | |
| Luming | 鹿鸣乡 |
| Xinjie | 新街镇 |
| Mizhi | 密祉镇 |
| 妙姑村 |
| Honghe | 红河 |
|---|---|
| Xinansuo | 新安所镇 |
| Daheishan | 大黑山乡 |
| Leyu | 乐育 |
| Shalatuo | 沙拉托 |
| Xinxian | 新现乡 |
| Tongchang | 铜厂 |
| Zhemi | 者米拉祜族乡 |
| Panzihua | 攀枝花 |
| Yuxi | 玉溪 |
|---|---|
| Mosha | 漠沙镇 |
| Xingmeng | 兴蒙 |
| Hexi | 河西 |
| Fuliangpeng | 富良棚 |
| Puer | 普洱 |
|---|---|
| Lancang | 澜沧县 |
| Donghui | 东回镇 |
| Fubang | 富邦乡 |
| Xuelin | 雪林佤族乡 |
| Menglian | 孟连傣族拉祜族佤族自治县 |
| Mengsuo | 勐梭镇 |
| Mujia | 木戛乡 |
| Ankang | 安康佤族乡 |
| Wendong | 文东佤族乡 |