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.
An old water-powered rice mill is still in operation near Fengyu 凤羽 in Eryuan county 洱源县.
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.
Yunlong's famous bridges.
Hometown of many Bai merchants, Xizhou boast some impressive architecture.
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.
Yi embroidery.
The Danxia, or red sandstore, cliffs around Liming are a hikers' and climbers' paradise that is just now being discovered.
Upcoming Festivals
| Name | Date |
|---|---|
| Xu Xiake Memorial Event | 29 Mar |
| New Moon Ritual | 29 Mar |
| Gutianshi Temple Fair | 29 Mar |
| Seeing off the Emperor's Son in Law | 30 Mar |
| Seeing off the Emperor's Son in Law Ritual | 30 Mar |
| Third of March | 31 Mar |
| Eid al-Fitr | 31 Mar |
| Baohe Temple Songfest | 31 Mar |
| Yu An Hall Temple Fair | 31 Mar |
| Benzhu Worship | 31 Mar |
| Benzhu Worship | 31 Mar |
| Chenghuang Temple Fair | 31 Mar |
Markets this Thursday
| Kunming | 昆明 |
|---|---|
| Banqiao | 板桥乡 |
| Dali | 大理 |
|---|---|
| Nanxin | 南新 |
| Junhua | 均化 |
| Duomei | 朵美 |
| Niujie | 牛街 |
| Yangcen | 羊岑 |
| Maidi | 脉地 |
| Qinghua | 清华 |
| Gudi | 古底 |
| Yinqiao | 银桥 |
| Liuhe | 六合 |
| Heqing | 鹤庆县 |
| Niujie | 牛街 |
| Taiyi | 太邑彝族乡 |
| Daying | 大营 |
| Qiaohou | 乔后 |
| 太和社区 | |
| Beiya | 北衙 |
| Hongyan | 红岩镇 |
| 鲁庄 | |
| Qiaodian | 乔甸镇 |
| Hedian | 禾甸镇 |
| Puping | 普淜镇 |
| Lijiang | 丽江 |
|---|---|
| Shunzhou | 顺州 |
| Xishuangbanna | 西双版纳 |
|---|---|
| Xiding | 西定哈尼族乡 |
| Baoshan | 保山市 |
|---|---|
| Manglong | 芒龙 |
| Lincang | 临沧 |
|---|---|
| Luodang | 洛党 |
| Cangyuan | 沧源佤族自治县 |
| Quannei | 圈内 |
| Shuangjiang | 双江拉祜族佤族布朗族傣族自治县 |
| Zhenkang | 镇康县 |
| Junsai | 军赛乡 |
| Zhaotong | 昭通 |
|---|---|
| Shuanghe | 双河 |
| Puer | 普洱 |
|---|---|
| Jiangcheng | 江城哈尼族彝族自治县 |
| Fuyan | 富岩 |