古镇: Death-knell for Yunnan's Historic Towns
In China even the 'old towns' are new. Under the 古镇, or ancient town, moniker old towns are razed and their population driven out to make space for sanitized versions of Chinese history that drive the tourist dollar.
Early 20th century murals at Mangzhong Temple near Menglian
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.
Traditional toys in Jianchuan county.
A history trading post on the upper reaches of the Yangzi.
Fei Hsiao-Tung and Chang Chih-I: Earthbound China: A Study of Rural Economy in Yunnan
Fei is the father of modern sociology in China: western-trained, he came to Yunnan at the end of the 1930s when China's eastern universities relocated west. In "Earthbound China" he applied modern empirical techniques that he had pioneered around Shanghai to the Chinese hinterland. The economical development, and subsequent societal changes, of three un-named, but typical villages in Yunnan is analyzed in great detail in this fascinating study.
The biggest country fair in Yunnan.
Yunnan's only Shui-Township with stunning karst scenery.
Upcoming Festivals
| Name | Date |
|---|---|
| Watersplashing Festival | 13 Apr |
| Watersplashing Festival | 13 Apr |
| Shankang Tea Ancestor Festival | 14 Apr |
| Water Splashing Festival | 15 Apr |
| Water Splashing Festival | 16 Apr |
| Yongping Watersplashing Festival | 16 Apr |
| Mengzhun Watersplashing Festival | 16 Apr |
| Gutianshi Temple Fair | 17 Apr |
| Mengdui Bada | 17 Apr |
| Mengdui Daba | 17 Apr |
| New Moon Ritual | 17 Apr |
| Xu Xiake Memorial Event | 17 Apr |
Markets this Wednesday
| Dali | 大理 |
|---|---|
| Shunbi | 順濞 |
| Fengyi | 凤仪 |
| Qinghua | 清华 |
| Shaba | 沙坝 |
| Yongjian | 永连 |
| Yinqiao | 银桥 |
| Wase | 挖色 |
| Huangping | 黄平镇 |
| Niujie | 牛街 |
| Dacang | 大仓镇 |
| Zhongying | 种英 |
| Zhongjiang | 中江 |
| Shanglan | 上兰 |
| Zhouguanying | 周官营 |
| Puping | 普淜镇 |
| Gongguoqiao | 功果桥镇 |
| Shidongcun | 石洞村 |
| 顺荡 | |
| Hedian | 禾甸镇 |
| Luming | 鹿鸣乡 |
| 妙姑村 | |
| 龙街 | |
| 蛇街 | |
| Jindunjiecun | 金墩街村 |
| Hongyan | 红岩镇 |
| Shangcang | 上沧 |
| Lijiang | 丽江 |
|---|---|
| Judian | 巨甸镇 |
| Honghe | 红河 |
|---|---|
| Zhicun | 芷村镇 |
| Shengcun | 生村 |
| Nafa | 那发 |
| Daheigong | 大黑公 |
| Jiache | 架车 |
| Wuwan | 乌弯 |
| Baiyun | 白云乡 |
| Yongning | 永宁乡 |
| Zhongzhai | 中寨 |
| Tutai | 土台 |
| Hongtian | 红田 |
| Yuxi | 玉溪 |
|---|---|
| Xingmeng | 兴蒙 |
| Fuliangpeng | 富良棚 |
| Hexi | 河西 |
| Puer | 普洱 |
|---|---|
| Jiangcheng | 江城哈尼族彝族自治县 |
| Mangxin | 芒信镇 |
| Qiannuo | 千糯 |
| Mengxian | 勐先镇 |