Yunnan - China's most beautiful province


1875: Death of a British Diplomat

After Britain's 1852 annexation of lower Burma lucrative trade with China through its back-door seemed more than a distant possibility. But after a successful first mission up the Irrawaddy and into Yunnan in 1868, the second British mission six years later ended in tragedy.



The archery competition is an integral part of the Dali Third Month Fair.


马健雄 (Ma Jianxiong): The Lahu Minority in Southwest China: A Response to Ethnic Marginalization on the Frontier

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The Lahu, with a population of around 470,000, inhabit the mountainous country in Yunnan Province bordering on Burma, Laos and northern Thailand. Buddhists, with a long history of resistance to the Chinese Han majority, the Lahu are currently facing a serious collapse of their traditional social system, with the highest suicide rate in the world, large scale human trafficking of their women, alcoholism and poverty. This book, based on extensive original research including long-term anthropological research among the Lahu, provides an overview of the traditional way of life of the Lahu, their social system, culture and beliefs, and discusses the ways in which these are changing. It shows how the Lahu are especially vulnerable because of their lack of political representatives and a state educated elite which can engage with, and be part of, the government administrative system. The Lahu are one of many relatively small ethnic minorities in China – overall the book provides an example of how the Chinese government approaches these relatively small ethnic minorities.


A number of Chinese historic texts covering life and politics in Yunnan have survived over the centuries. I have translated a few of them.

With its well-preserved architecture and tranquil atmosphere, Weishan's capital is Yunnan's most beautiful county town.


Jim Goodman: Xishuangbanna: The Tropics of Yunnan

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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.


Unspoiled Weishan boast Yunnan's most beautiful county town, an important Taoist mountain and areas of strong Muslim and Yi tradition.

Markets this Friday

Kunming 昆明
Jinsuo 金所乡

Dali 大理
Hecun 萂村
Nanxin 南新
Gunipen 沽泥盆
Jiancao 捡槽
Haidong 海东
Shuixie 水泄
Gudi 古底
Wuxing 五星
Pingchuan 平川
Yangbi 漾濞彝族自治县
Baidangping 白荡坪
Huangping 黄平镇
Shaxi 沙溪
Caojian 漕间
Zhongjiang 中江
Gonglang 公郎镇
Yousuo 右所镇

Lijiang 丽江
Yongsheng 永胜县
Banqiao 板桥

Honghe 红河
Xinhua 新华乡
Lengquan 冷泉镇
Lengdun 冷墩
Dongshan 东山镇
Majie 马街
Lvchun 绿春县
Shitouzhai 石头寨
Xinjie 新街
Nanke 南科
Shaochong 哨冲镇
Jinping 金平苗族瑶族傣族自治县
Niujie 牛街镇
Mengqiao 勐桥乡

Wenshan 文山
Pingzhai 平寨乡
Banggu 蚌谷乡
Muyang 木央镇
Nanping (Majie) 南屏镇 (马街)

Chuxiong 楚雄
Qianchang 前场镇
Dalongkou 大龙口乡
Jiuchang 九厂
Guihua 桂花乡

Baoshan 保山市
Zhonghe 中和
Bawan 坝湾镇
Mangkuan 芒宽彝族傣族乡

Lincang 临沧
Luodang 洛党
Menglai 勐来乡
Xinhua 新华彝族苗族乡

Zhaotong 昭通
Shuitian 水田
Linfeng 麟风

Yuxi 玉溪
Yangjie 羊街乡
Xingmeng 兴蒙
Dianzhong 甸中
Hexi 河西

Nujiang 怒江
Chenggan 称杆
Daxingdi 大兴地乡
Zilijia 子里甲乡

Puer 普洱
Qushui 曲水乡
Menglian 孟连傣族拉祜族佤族自治县
Minle 民乐
Mengsuo 勐梭镇

Diqing 迪庆
Kangpu 康普