Early Maps of Yunnan
The history of maps in Yunnan began more than a thousand years ago. But it was the Jesuits who revolutionised mapping in China, producing the first accurate maps of the provinces, including remote Yunnan.
The annual fair at Shaba, called the Fishpond Fair 渔潭会, starts every year on the day of the Midautumn Festival 中秋节, and runs for a week. Attracting a local crowd, it remains a much more rustic fair than the massive Third Month Fair 三月街 and livestock is still traded here.
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.
Remote temple on mountain top, site of religious gathering at the end of the New Year period.
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.
Way of making ham in Nuodeng, Yunlong.
Upcoming Festivals
| Name | Date |
|---|---|
| Hat Festival | 03 Dec |
| Great Snow | 06 Dec |
| Festival of Lights | 07 Dec |
| Atai Birthday | 08 Dec |
| Mizhi Festival | 10 Dec |
| Geminid Meteor Shower | 13 Dec |
| Full Moon Ritual | 15 Dec |
| Yi New Year | 16 Dec |
| Birthday of the Sun | 19 Dec |
| Birthday of the Sun | 19 Dec |
| Kuoshi | 20 Dec |
| Winter Solstice | 21 Dec |
Markets this Wednesday
| Dali | 大理 |
|---|---|
| Duomei | 朵美 |
| Junhua | 均化 |
| Wanqiao | 湾桥 |
| Shunbi | 順濞 |
| Shaba | 沙坝 |
| Liuhe | 六合 |
| Heqing | 鹤庆县 |
| Shuanglang | 双廊镇 |
| Zhongying | 种英 |
| Shanglan | 上兰 |
| Zhouguanying | 周官营 |
| Gongguoqiao | 功果桥镇 |
| 顺荡 | |
| 龙洞村 | |
| Shangcang | 上沧 |
| Longjie | 龙街 |
| Xiazhuang | 下庄镇 |
| Shalong | 沙龙镇 |
| 龙街 |
| Honghe | 红河 |
|---|---|
| Zhicun | 芷村镇 |
| Mengla | 勐拉 |
| Niujiaozhai | 牛角寨 |
| Baiyun | 白云乡 |
| Yongning | 永宁乡 |
| Tutai | 土台 |
| Maandi | 马鞍底 |
| Hongtian | 红田 |
| Zhaotong | 昭通 |
|---|---|
| Shuanghe | 双河 |