1875: Death of a British Diplomat
After Britain's 1852 annexation of lower Burma lucrative trade with China through its back-door seemed more than a distant possibility. But after a successful first mission up the Irrawaddy and into Yunnan in 1868, the second British mission six years later ended in tragedy.
The temple in Mangdao 芒岛, built in 1899, is one of few surviving examples of Dai Buddhist temples having survived the Cultural Revolution by being converted into grain storage.
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.
Extremely beautiful Wenchang Temple, created in part by national level Intangible Cultural Heritage transmitter Li Yunyi.
Yunnan's only Shui-Township with stunning karst scenery.
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.
Upcoming Festivals
| Name | Date |
|---|---|
| Bai Yi New Year | 25 Jul |
| Benzhu Worship (Jianchuan Area) | 26 Jul |
| Nuodeng Dragon King Temple Fair | 26 Jul |
| Qingyuan Cave Festival | 26 Jul |
| Benzhu Worship | 27 Jul |
| Circling Jianhu | 28 Jul |
| Benzhu Worship | 28 Jul |
| Full Moon Ritual | 28 Jul |
| Benzhu Worship | 28 Jul |
| Close Door Festival | 28 Jul |
| Benzhu Worship | 28 Jul |
| Eighteen Altar Temple Fair | 28 Jul |
Markets this Monday
| Kunming | 昆明 |
|---|---|
| Kedu | 柯渡镇 |
| Dali | 大理 |
|---|---|
| Junhua | 均化 |
| Duomei | 朵美 |
| Biaocun | 表村 |
| Jizushan | 鸡足山 |
| Liuhe | 六合 |
| Tuanjie | 团结 |
| Heqing | 鹤庆县 |
| Misha | 弥沙 |
| Baishi | 白石 |
| Shaping | 沙平村 |
| Shuanglang | 双廊镇 |
| Xiazhuang | 下庄镇 |
| 龙洞村 | |
| Longjie | 龙街 |
| Shalong | 沙龙镇 |
| Miaowei | 苗尾傈僳族乡 |
| Taiping | 太平乡 |
| Beiya | 北衙 |
| Lijiang | 丽江 |
|---|---|
| Shunzhou | 顺州 |
| Honghe | 红河 |
|---|---|
| Niujiaozhai | 牛角寨 |
| Mengla | 勐拉 |
| Laozhai | 老寨苗族乡 |
| Chemalong | 车玛龙 |
| Longwu | 龙武镇 |
| Puxiong | 普雄 |
| Baihe | 白河乡 |
| Maandi | 马鞍底 |
| Qujing | 曲靖市 |
|---|---|
| Daibu | 待补镇 |
| 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 |
| Yulu | 雨碌乡 |