Yunnan - China's most beautiful province


From Niujiaozhai to Yuanyang

Yuanyang county, south of the Red River in the province's southeast, is famous for its Hani rice-terraces. With its splendid vistas and ethnic mix it is also a great area for hiking. Here we describe a moderate day-hike starting at the market-town of Niujiaozhai, passing through Yi and Hani villages and ending with stunning sunset vistas over the rice-terraces of Longshuba.



A Lahu minority Christian service in a hill village near Menglian.


Jim Goodman: The Akha: Guardians of the Forest

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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.


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

Judith Shapiro: Mao's War Against Nature: Politics and the Environment in Revolutionary China

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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.


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

Markets this Saturday

Kunming 昆明
Jijie 鸡街乡
Fazhe 法者镇
Shilin 石林彝族自治县
Wumeng 乌蒙乡
Tangdan 汤丹镇

Dali 大理
Zhoucheng 州城
Yongping 永平县
Shanyang 衫阳
Paiying 排营
Lijiao 力角
Xintun 辛屯
Shijing 师井
Songgui 松桂
Diannan 甸南
Jiangwei 江尾镇
Caojian 漕间
Huangping 黄平镇
Mizhi 密祉镇
Xinjie 新街镇
Liuchang 刘厂镇
Junhuacun 均华村
Deju 德苴乡
Changyi 长邑村
桥街
果城村

Lijiang 丽江
Shigu 石鼓镇
Jiuhe 九河

Dehong 德宏
Lianghe 梁河县
Kachang 卡场镇

Honghe 红河
Xinansuo 新安所镇
Sancun 三村
Daheishan 大黑山乡
Leyu 乐育
Shalatuo 沙拉托
Daheigong 大黑公
Xinxian 新现乡
Wuwan 乌弯
Panzihua 攀枝花
Tongchang 铜厂
Zhemi 者米拉祜族乡

Wenshan 文山
Babu 八布乡
Tiechang 铁厂镇
Matang 马塘镇
Pingba 坪坝镇
Zhuanjiao 篆角乡
Funing 富宁县
Mulun 睦伦乡
Jiumo 旧莫乡

Chuxiong 楚雄
Shizhong 适中乡
Wanyaoshu 弯腰树
Dahekou 大河口乡

Baoshan 保山市
Wafang 瓦房彝族白族乡
Mangbang 芒棒

Lincang 临沧
Yongde 永德县
Danjia 单甲乡
Wumulong 乌木龙乡
Mengdui 孟堆乡
Fuhe 复合

Qujing 曲靖市
Fenghuang 凤凰
干海子
Laochang 老厂乡
Wuxing 五星乡
Xinjie 新街回族乡
Yema 野马林场

Zhaotong 昭通
Shikan 石坎
Jiucheng 旧城
Weixin 威信
Changan 长安
Menggu 蒙姑镇

Yuxi 玉溪
Jiasa 戛洒镇
Tadian 塔甸
Mosha 漠沙镇

Nujiang 怒江
Hexi 河西
Puladi 普拉底乡
Laowo 老窝
Aludi 阿路底

Puer 普洱
Lancang 澜沧县
Mangxin 芒信镇
Baozang 宝藏乡
Qiannuo 千糯
Fubang 富邦乡
Mujia 木戛乡
Ankang 安康佤族乡
Wendong 文东佤族乡

Diqing 迪庆
Shangjiang 上江
Xiaoweixi 小维西
Kaifaqu 开发区