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.
Rare Silver Pheasants 白鹇 can be seen roaming the woods of Tonghai's Xiushan Temple Mountain 通海秀山.
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.
A number of Chinese historic texts covering life and politics in Yunnan have survived over the centuries. I have translated a few of them.
Central point of the activities of the third day of Raosanling.
This old caravan town on the Jinsha River is Yunnan's gateway to Tibet.
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.
Dali's dragon boat races were held on the day of the Torch Festival.
Unspoiled Weishan boast Yunnan's most beautiful county town, an important Taoist mountain and areas of strong Muslim and Yi tradition.
Upcoming Festivals
| Name | Date |
|---|---|
| Yangmei Festival | 01 May |
| Benzhu Worship | 13 May |
| Guniangjie | 15 May |
| Rice Transplanting | 15 May |
| Benzhu Worship | 15 May |
| Yanguang Birthday | 17 May |
| Praying for Rain | 17 May |
| Start of Raosanling | 19 May |
| Yu An Ceremonies | 19 May |
| Raosanling | 19 May |
| Benzhu Worship | 20 May |
| Raosanling | 20 May |
Markets this Wednesday
| Dali | 大理 |
|---|---|
| Duomei | 朵美 |
| Junhua | 均化 |
| Shunbi | 順濞 |
| Qinghua | 清华 |
| Shaba | 沙坝 |
| Liuhe | 六合 |
| Heqing | 鹤庆县 |
| Niujie | 牛街 |
| Zhongying | 种英 |
| Shanglan | 上兰 |
| Zhouguanying | 周官营 |
| 龙街 | |
| Gongguoqiao | 功果桥镇 |
| Shangcang | 上沧 |
| 顺荡 | |
| Puping | 普淜镇 |
| Hedian | 禾甸镇 |
| Hongyan | 红岩镇 |
| Honghe | 红河 |
|---|---|
| Zhicun | 芷村镇 |
| Shengcun | 生村 |
| Nafa | 那发 |
| Sancun | 三村 |
| Jiache | 架车 |
| Baiyun | 白云乡 |
| Zhongzhai | 中寨 |
| Yongning | 永宁乡 |
| Tutai | 土台 |
| Hongtian | 红田 |
| Baoshan | 保山市 |
|---|---|
| Xiaopingtian | 小平田 |
| Tengchong | 腾冲县 |
| Wama | 瓦马彝族白族乡 |
| Puer | 普洱 |
|---|---|
| Jiangcheng | 江城哈尼族彝族自治县 |
| Yongping | 永平镇 |
| Meng'a | 孟啊 |