Yunnan - China's most beautiful province


Black Well, White Gold

Black Well, White Gold
Heijing is a small town in the northern Chuxiong mountains. Salt once made Heijing one of Yunnan's richest towns. Now its architectural splendours are being rediscovered.



The watermills in Fengqing's Gumo village operate just like a thousand years ago.


Ronald G. Knapp: China's Old Dwellings

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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.

Jim Goodman: The Akha: Guardians of the Forest

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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.


Remote temple on mountain top, site of religious gathering at the end of the New Year period.



A pretty lake area south of Eryuan.

Markets this Wednesday

Kunming 昆明
Shilin 石林彝族自治县
Longtou 龙头街

Dali 大理
Shuixie 水泄
Shunbi 順濞
Wanqiao 湾桥
Fengyi 凤仪
Weishan 巍山彝族回族自治县
Shaba 沙坝
Wase 挖色
Gonglang 公郎镇
Dianzhong 甸中
Zhongying 种英
Shanglan 上兰
Zhouguanying 周官营
龙街
前所
Shangcang 上沧
云南驿村
田口
北桥
Shidongcun 石洞村
Luming 鹿鸣乡
Gongguoqiao 功果桥镇
顺荡
妙姑村

Dehong 德宏
Kachang 卡场镇
Lianghe 梁河县

Honghe 红河
Zhicun 芷村镇
Niujiaozhai 牛角寨
Majie 马街
Lvchun 绿春县
Daheigong 大黑公
Wuwan 乌弯
Nanke 南科
Baiyun 白云乡
Jinping 金平苗族瑶族傣族自治县
Yongning 永宁乡
Mengqiao 勐桥乡
Tutai 土台
Hongtian 红田

Wenshan 文山
Pingzhai 平寨乡
Banggu 蚌谷乡
Muyang 木央镇
Nanping (Majie) 南屏镇 (马街)

Chuxiong 楚雄
Maojie 猫街镇
Yaoan 姚安县

Baoshan 保山市
Wafang 瓦房彝族白族乡
Mangbang 芒棒

Lincang 临沧
Yongde 永德县
Danjia 单甲乡
Xinhua 新华彝族苗族乡
Fuhe 复合
Mengdui 孟堆乡

Qujing 曲靖市
干海子
Kuangshan 矿山镇
Laochang 老厂乡
Luna 鲁纳乡
Sandao 三道
Shangcun 上村乡
Wuxing 五星乡
Xinjie 新街回族乡
Yangmeishan 杨梅山
Yulu 雨碌乡

Zhaotong 昭通
Menggu 蒙姑镇

Yuxi 玉溪
Fuliangpeng 富良棚

Nujiang 怒江
Lazan 腊咱
Lumadeng 鹿马登乡
Fugong 福贡

Puer 普洱
Mangxin 芒信镇
Qiannuo 千糯
Minle 民乐
Dehua 德化镇
Kangping 康平乡
Mengxian 勐先镇
Puyi 普义乡
Liming 黎明乡
把边

Diqing 迪庆
Kaifaqu 开发区