Yunnan - China's most beautiful province


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.



Hand-made giant sparklers, called "Fire Flowers" 火花, are part of the firework displays for temple fairs in Menglian county.


C. Patterson Giersch: Asian Borderlands: The Transformation of Qing China's Yunnan Frontier

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Yunnan was not always China: indeed not so long ago large parts of Yunnan were only nominally part of the empire. To make Yunnan, outside the main Han cities, a Chinese province required significant effort. Here Giersch's study on Yunnan's hinterland makes an interesting if academic read.


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

Brenda McLean: George Forrest, Plant Hunter

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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.


Once an important salt-mining town, now the second largest town along the Heihui River north of Yangbi.

Markets this Tuesday

Kunming 昆明
Banqiao 板桥乡

Dali 大理
Zhongsuo 中所
Fuheng 富恒
Fengyu 风羽
Yongping 永平县
Shanyang 衫阳
Liandong 炼洞
Haidong 海东
Wanqiao 湾桥
Xintun 辛屯
Qinghua 清华
Songgui 松桂
Guanping 关平
Baofeng 宝丰乡
Madeng 马镫
Binju 宾居
Shuijing 水井
Niujie 牛街
Caojian 漕间
Huangping 黄平镇
Deju 德苴乡
Mizhi 密祉镇
Liuchang 刘厂镇
Xinjie 新街镇
果城村
Junhuacun 均华村
Puping 普淜镇

Lijiang 丽江
Shigu 石鼓镇

Honghe 红河
Longpeng 龙朋镇
Daqiao 大桥乡
Nafa 那发
Mingjiu 鸣鹫镇
Wantang 湾塘乡
Caoba 草坝镇
Jiache 架车
Dayangjie 大羊街
Zhongzhai 中寨

Wenshan 文山
Jiayi 稼依镇
Puyang 普阳
Shupi 树皮彝族乡
Funing 富宁县
Xichou 西畴县

Chuxiong 楚雄
Gaoqiao 高桥镇
Dalongkou 大龙口乡
Shizhong 适中乡

Baoshan 保山市
Xiaopingtian 小平田
Tengchong 腾冲县
Wama 瓦马彝族白族乡

Lincang 临沧
Mangka 芒卡镇
Fengqing 凤庆县
Fengwei 风尾镇
Boshang 博商
Mengjiao 勐角乡

Qujing 曲靖市
Wopo 窝坡
Baiwu 白雾
Daqiao 大桥乡
Leye 乐业镇
Malu 马路乡
Zhehai 者海镇
Zhichang 纸厂乡

Zhaotong 昭通
Shikan 石坎
Jiucheng 旧城
Weixin 威信
Changan 长安

Yuxi 玉溪
Tadian 塔甸
Jiasa 戛洒镇
Mosha 漠沙镇

Nujiang 怒江
Gudeng 古登
Bingzhongluo 丙中洛
Lishadi 利沙底乡

Puer 普洱
Baozang 宝藏乡
Meizi 梅子镇
Fubang 富邦乡
Yongping 永平镇
Mujia 木戛乡
Ankang 安康佤族乡
Meng'a 孟啊
Wendong 文东佤族乡
Wenggake 翁嘎科镇

Diqing 迪庆
Shangjiang 上江