Early Maps of Yunnan
The history of maps in Yunnan began more than a thousand years ago. But it was the Jesuits who revolutionised mapping in China, producing the first accurate maps of the provinces, including remote Yunnan.
Early 20th century murals at Mangzhong Temple near Menglian
Jim Goodman: Living in Shangrila: Tibetans and Mosuo in Northwest Yunnan
Abstract: When Diqing Prefecture, opened its doors to foreign visitors in 1992, tourist agencies and government officials promoted Zhongdian County as the Shangrila of James Hilton’s novel Lost Horizon. In 2001 the city officially changed its name to Shangrila. On a high plateau of over 3200 meters, surrounded by snow covered mountain peaks, inhabited mainly by relatively prosperous, friendly and contented Tibetans, with beautiful monasteries, lakes, forests and summer flowers, the county’s scenery and lifestyle certainly bore a strong resemblance to that in the novel. Living in Shangrila describes the life and environment of the Tibetan people throughout Diqing Prefecture. It also examines their neighbors the Mosuo, a branch of the Naxi nationality, who adopted Tibetan Buddhism as their religion, but are still mainly a matrilineal society, unique to Yunnan, living around Lugu Lake, the most picturesque body of water in the province. The book includes over 200 photographs.
A number of Chinese historic texts covering life and politics in Yunnan have survived over the centuries. I have translated a few of them.
An ancient burial mountain.
The Danxia, or red sandstore, cliffs around Liming are a hikers' and climbers' paradise that is just now being discovered.
Jim Goodman: Xishuangbanna: The Tropics of Yunnan
For most of its history Xishuangbanna existed as an autonomous state on the remote southern periphery of China, run by the same Dai family since the 12th century. Lying in the tropical zone, on the northern rim of Southeast Asia, with flora and fauna not only unlike the rest of China, but even unique in Yunnan province, it has had close ethnic and cultural relations with its neighbors in Myanmar, Thailand and Laos. The valleys are home to the Dai nationality, while several ethnic minorities inhabit the hills. Xishuangbanna: the Tropics of Yunnan narrates the history and development of the Dai people, their culture, society and religion, from ancient times through the period of incorporation into the Chinese state. It also covers the characteristics of the lifestyle, culture and celebrations of the peoples of the mountains, as well as the economic and political changes of recent times and their effects on both hill and plain.
Historic ancestral hall north of Pingchuan.
Upcoming Festivals
| Name | Date |
|---|---|
| Buddha Relic Worship | 17 Apr |
| Buddha Relic Worship | 18 Apr |
| Buddha Relic Worship | 19 Apr |
| Hanna Temple Worship | 20 Apr |
| Ximu Buddha Print | 21 Apr |
| Zhefang Buddha Print | 22 Apr |
| Manluo Temple Fair | 23 Apr |
| Mangdao Temple Fair | 24 Apr |
| Fumeng Bada | 24 Apr |
| Mangha Bada | 25 Apr |
| Mangpan Temple Fair | 25 Apr |
| Manggong Temple Fair | 26 Apr |
Markets this Tuesday
| Kunming | 昆明 |
|---|---|
| Kedu | 柯渡镇 |
| Dali | 大理 |
|---|---|
| Zhongsuo | 中所 |
| Fuheng | 富恒 |
| Fengyu | 风羽 |
| Liandong | 炼洞 |
| Yongping | 永平县 |
| Guanping | 关平 |
| Baofeng | 宝丰乡 |
| Madeng | 马镫 |
| Binju | 宾居 |
| Shuijing | 水井 |
| Dacang | 大仓镇 |
| Shuanglang | 双廊镇 |
| Huangping | 黄平镇 |
| Zuòyì | 作邑 |
| Zhongjiang | 中江 |
| Shalong | 沙龙镇 |
| Longjie | 龙街 |
| 寅街村 | |
| Houshancun | 后山村 |
| Jindunjiecun | 金墩街村 |
| 三胜 | |
| Deju | 德苴乡 |
| Caifeng | 财丰 |
| Xiazhuang | 下庄镇 |
| Miaojie | 庙街镇 |
| Midian | 米甸镇 |
| 龙洞村 | |
| 三鹤 | |
| 西庄 |
| Honghe | 红河 |
|---|---|
| Mengla | 勐拉 |
| Sancun | 三村 |
| Mingjiu | 鸣鹫镇 |
| Caoba | 草坝镇 |
| Wantang | 湾塘乡 |
| Xinjie | 新街 |
| Shaochong | 哨冲镇 |
| Dayangjie | 大羊街 |
| Niujie | 牛街镇 |
| Maandi | 马鞍底 |
| Nujiang | 怒江 |
|---|---|
| Gudeng | 古登 |
| Bingzhongluo | 丙中洛 |
| Lishadi | 利沙底乡 |
| Diqing | 迪庆 |
|---|---|
| Kangpu | 康普 |