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.
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.
Ronald G. Knapp: China's Old Dwellings
Few people know as much about Chinese architecture as Knapp: from palaces to humble homes he explains important building principles; the connection between environment and housing styles and the development of style over time. A section on minority housing styles complements the book.
A number of Chinese historic texts covering life and politics in Yunnan have survived over the centuries. I have translated a few of them.
Bai architecture style.
This old caravan town on the Jinsha River is Yunnan's gateway to Tibet.
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.
Bai vernacular architecture is very ornate, the style of painting is recognised as national level intangible heritage.
Upcoming Festivals
| Name | Date |
|---|---|
| Wild Mushroom Trade Fair | 20 Jul |
| Ongkor Festival | 23 Jul |
| Great Heat | 23 Jul |
| Benzhu Worship (Eryuan Area) | 25 Jul |
| Bai Yi New Year | 25 Jul |
| Benzhu Worship (Jianchuan Area) | 26 Jul |
| Qingyuan Cave Festival | 26 Jul |
| Nuodeng Dragon King Temple Fair | 26 Jul |
| Benzhu Worship | 27 Jul |
| Full Moon Ritual | 28 Jul |
| Benzhu Worship | 28 Jul |
| Benzhu Worship | 28 Jul |
Markets this Thursday
| Kunming | 昆明 |
|---|---|
| Jiulong | 九龙乡 |
| Dali | 大理 |
|---|---|
| Nanxin | 南新 |
| Niujie | 牛街 |
| Yangcen | 羊岑 |
| Maidi | 脉地 |
| Longjie | 龙街 |
| Xintun | 辛屯 |
| Songgui | 松桂 |
| Gudi | 古底 |
| Longjie | 龙街 |
| Qiaohou | 乔后 |
| Daying | 大营 |
| Taiyi | 太邑彝族乡 |
| Huangping | 黄平镇 |
| 三胜 | |
| 鲁庄 | |
| 太和社区 | |
| Puping | 普淜镇 |
| Caifeng | 财丰 |
| Miaojie | 庙街镇 |
| Qinghaiying | 青海营 |
| Houshancun | 后山村 |
| Qiaodian | 乔甸镇 |
| Xishuangbanna | 西双版纳 |
|---|---|
| Xiding | 西定哈尼族乡 |
| Honghe | 红河 |
|---|---|
| Niujiaozhai | 牛角寨 |
| Dianwei | 甸尾乡 |
| Heping | 和平乡 |
| Sankeshu | 三棵树 |
| Shaochong | 哨冲镇 |
| Dixibei | 地西北 |
| Baixian | 白显 |
| Niujie | 牛街镇 |
| Baoshan | 保山市 |
|---|---|
| Xiaopingtian | 小平田 |
| Wama | 瓦马彝族白族乡 |
| Tengchong | 腾冲县 |
| Diqing | 迪庆 |
|---|---|
| Jiagetu | 价格土 |
| 岩瓦 |