The Old Salt Roads in Yunnan
The Tea Horse Road 茶马古道 into Tibet has become a romantic moniker for Yunnan, but economically more important were the old salt roads.
Early 20th century murals at Mangzhong Temple near Menglian
Jim Goodman: The Terrace Builders: The Hani and their Neighbors in Yunnan's Ailao Mountains
Abstract: The rice terraces of the Ailao Mountains in southern Yunnan province, China, are some of the oldest terraced farms in Asia. First mentioned in Tang Dynasty records, these farms, 80% of which are irrigated, with water running through them all year round, have been in continuous use for over a thousand years. In 2013 UNESCO declared the heartland of this area a World Heritage Site. The Terrace Builders is a detailed account of how these farms are made and used, the cities and mountains of Honghe Prefecture and the far north of Vietnam, as well as the various ethnic minorities who live there. The book pays special attention to the Hani people, the largest ethnic group in the area, and includes summaries of the culture and clothing of their neighbors the Yi, Miao, Yao, Zhuang and Dai. The book includes 300 photos of the land and its people.
A number of Chinese historic texts covering life and politics in Yunnan have survived over the centuries. I have translated a few of them.
Upper Benzhu Temple in Wase.
This old caravan town on the Jinsha River is Yunnan's gateway to Tibet.
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 clan temple on the slopes of a burial hill near Xizhou.
This old caravan town on the Jinsha River is Yunnan's gateway to Tibet.
Upcoming Festivals
| Name | Date |
|---|---|
| Benzhu Worship | 24 Mar |
| Benzhu Worship | 27 Mar |
| Benzhu Worship | 27 Mar |
| Receiving Jingu | 27 Mar |
| Yaba Festival | 28 Mar |
| Receiving Jingu | 28 Mar |
| Dragon Festival | 29 Mar |
| Receiving Jingu | 30 Mar |
| Weibaoshan Songfest | 31 Mar |
| Sangongzhu Temple Fair | 31 Mar |
| Receiving Jingu | 31 Mar |
| Ani Mountain Songfest | 01 Apr |
Markets this Saturday
| Dali | 大理 |
|---|---|
| Zhoucheng | 州城 |
| Yongping | 永平县 |
| Paiying | 排营 |
| Lijiao | 力角 |
| Shijing | 师井 |
| Qinghua | 清华 |
| Diannan | 甸南 |
| Niujie | 牛街 |
| Huangping | 黄平镇 |
| Jiangwei | 江尾镇 |
| Dacang | 大仓镇 |
| Zhongjiang | 中江 |
| Deju | 德苴乡 |
| Miaojie | 庙街镇 |
| Liuchang | 刘厂镇 |
| 三鹤 | |
| Qinghaiying | 青海营 |
| Xinjie | 新街镇 |
| Mizhi | 密祉镇 |
| 果城村 | |
| Houshancun | 后山村 |
| 三胜 | |
| 桥街 | |
| Puping | 普淜镇 |
| Jindunjiecun | 金墩街村 |
| Caifeng | 财丰 |
| Changyi | 长邑村 |
| Honghe | 红河 |
|---|---|
| Xinansuo | 新安所镇 |
| Nafa | 那发 |
| Leyu | 乐育 |
| Daheishan | 大黑山乡 |
| Jiache | 架车 |
| Xinxian | 新现乡 |
| Shaochong | 哨冲镇 |
| Zhongzhai | 中寨 |
| Niujie | 牛街镇 |
| Lincang | 临沧 |
|---|---|
| Menglai | 勐来乡 |
| Puer | 普洱 |
|---|---|
| Lancang | 澜沧县 |
| Donghui | 东回镇 |
| Qushui | 曲水乡 |
| Fubang | 富邦乡 |
| Xuelin | 雪林佤族乡 |
| Menglian | 孟连傣族拉祜族佤族自治县 |
| Mengsuo | 勐梭镇 |
| Mujia | 木戛乡 |
| Ankang | 安康佤族乡 |
| Wendong | 文东佤族乡 |