What About the Elephants?
The use of elephants in Chinese agriculture remains a source of fascination -- but was it real?
In Huize, the old capital of copper in Yunnan, many splendid guildhalls survive.
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.
A number of Chinese historic texts covering life and politics in Yunnan have survived over the centuries. I have translated a few of them.
The biggest country fair in Yunnan.
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.
Raw pork skin, together with raw pork meat and sometimes even raw pork liver are traditional delicacies in Dali.
The Danxia, or red sandstore, cliffs around Liming are a hikers' and climbers' paradise that is just now being discovered.
Upcoming Festivals
| Name | Date |
|---|---|
| Bai Opera | 21 Feb |
| Benzhu Festival | 23 Feb |
| Miluoqimi Fair | 23 Feb |
| Lantern Festival | 24 Feb |
| Benzhu Festival | 24 Feb |
| Yi Benzhu Festival | 24 Feb |
| Welcoming the Benzhu | 24 Feb |
| Benzhu Worship | 24 Feb |
| Welcoming the Benzhu | 24 Feb |
| Welcoming the Benzhu | 24 Feb |
| Big Incense Festival | 24 Feb |
| Benzhu Festival | 24 Feb |
Markets this Wednesday
| Dali | 大理 |
|---|---|
| Shuixie | 水泄 |
| Shunbi | 順濞 |
| Shaba | 沙坝 |
| Fengyi | 凤仪 |
| Wase | 挖色 |
| Dali | 大理 |
| Yongjian | 永连 |
| Caicun | 才村 |
| Zuòyì | 作邑 |
| Dacang | 大仓镇 |
| Huangping | 黄平镇 |
| Zhongying | 种英 |
| Zhongjiang | 中江 |
| Gonglang | 公郎镇 |
| Shanglan | 上兰 |
| Zhouguanying | 周官营 |
| 蛇街 | |
| Luming | 鹿鸣乡 |
| 前所 | |
| Shangcang | 上沧 |
| Gongguoqiao | 功果桥镇 |
| 顺荡 | |
| Jindunjiecun | 金墩街村 |
| 云南驿村 | |
| Shidongcun | 石洞村 |
| 龙街 | |
| 妙姑村 |
| Lijiang | 丽江 |
|---|---|
| Judian | 巨甸镇 |
| Honghe | 红河 |
|---|---|
| Zhicun | 芷村镇 |
| Niujiaozhai | 牛角寨 |
| Majie | 马街 |
| Lvchun | 绿春县 |
| 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 |
| Muyang | 木央镇 |
| Banggu | 蚌谷乡 |
| Nanping (Majie) | 南屏镇 (马街） |
| Baoshan | 保山市 |
|---|---|
| Manglong | 芒龙 |
| Lincang | 临沧 |
|---|---|
| Cangyuan | 沧源佤族自治县 |
| Guoda | 郭大彝族白族乡 |
| Xinhua | 新华彝族苗族乡 |
| Shuangjiang | 双江拉祜族佤族布朗族傣族自治县 |
| Quannei | 圈内 |
| Junsai | 军赛乡 |
| Zhenkang | 镇康县 |
| Qujing | 曲靖市 |
|---|---|
| Baiwu | 白雾 |
| Daqiao | 大桥乡 |
| Leye | 乐业镇 |
| Luna | 鲁纳乡 |
| Malu | 马路乡 |
| Sandao | 三道 |
| Shangcun | 上村乡 |
| Yulu | 雨碌乡 |
| Zhichang | 纸厂乡 |
| Yuxi | 玉溪 |
|---|---|
| Xingmeng | 兴蒙 |
| Fuliangpeng | 富良棚 |
| Hexi | 河西 |