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.
The wetlands in the quiet Fengyu Basin 凤羽坝子 are slowly being restored as a tourist attraction.
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.
A big festival on the 15th day of the first lunar month.
Unspoiled Weishan boast Yunnan's most beautiful county town, an important Taoist mountain and areas of strong Muslim and Yi tradition.
Brenda McLean: George Forrest, Plant Hunter
George Forrest, perhaps the most successful plant collector of his time, left little written about his numerous journeys to Yunnan, so this well-illustrated book fills in much needed detail about his life.
Biggest festival in the Dali region, once Bai New Year.
Once an important salt-mining town, now the second largest town along the Heihui River north of Yangbi.
Upcoming Festivals
| Name | Date |
|---|---|
| Benzhu Worship | 24 Apr |
| Yi Costume Festival | 25 Apr |
| Beggars' Convention | 25 Apr |
| Master Earth | 25 Apr |
| Mouding March Fair | 25 Apr |
| Baimakou Village Festival | 25 Apr |
| Donghuangdadi Birthday | 25 Apr |
| Benzhu Worship | 26 Apr |
| New Moon Ritual | 28 Apr |
| Damo Temple Fair | 28 Apr |
| Kunming Cultural Tourism Festival | 29 Apr |
| Luban Festival | 29 Apr |
Markets this Friday
| Kunming | 昆明 |
|---|---|
| Jinsuo | 金所乡 |
| Dali | 大理 |
|---|---|
| Xiangtu | 象图乡 |
| Hecun | 萂村 |
| Gunipen | 沽泥盆 |
| Jiancao | 捡槽 |
| Waxi | 瓦溪 |
| Shuixie | 水泄 |
| Fengyi | 凤仪 |
| Wuxing | 五星 |
| Pingchuan | 平川 |
| Wase | 挖色 |
| Yinqiao | 银桥 |
| Yongjian | 永连 |
| Baidangping | 白荡坪 |
| Yangbi | 漾濞彝族自治县 |
| Shaxi | 沙溪 |
| Huangping | 黄平镇 |
| Dacang | 大仓镇 |
| Yousuo | 右所镇 |
| Gonglang | 公郎镇 |
| Zhongjiang | 中江 |
| 寅街村 | |
| Luming | 鹿鸣乡 |
| 妙姑村 | |
| Midian | 米甸镇 |
| 云南驿村 | |
| 蛇街 | |
| 前所 | |
| 大栗树 | |
| Jindunjiecun | 金墩街村 |
| Wachang | 瓦厂乡 |
| 西庄 | |
| Shidongcun | 石洞村 |
| 汤涧 | |
| Jijie | 鸡街乡 |
| Xishan | 西山乡 |
| Lijiang | 丽江 |
|---|---|
| Judian | 巨甸镇 |
| 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 |
| Daheigong | 大黑公 |
| Wuwan | 乌弯 |
| Nanke | 南科 |
| Xinjie | 新街 |
| Jinping | 金平苗族瑶族傣族自治县 |
| 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） |
| Yuxi | 玉溪 |
|---|---|
| Xingmeng | 兴蒙 |
| Fuliangpeng | 富良棚 |
| Hexi | 河西 |
| Diqing | 迪庆 |
|---|---|
| Weideng | 维登 |
| 岩瓦 |