1875: Death of a British Diplomat
After Britain's 1852 annexation of lower Burma lucrative trade with China through its back-door seemed more than a distant possibility. But after a successful first mission up the Irrawaddy and into Yunnan in 1868, the second British mission six years later ended in tragedy.
Early 20th century murals at Mangzhong Temple near Menglian
Fei Hsiao-Tung and Chang Chih-I: Earthbound China: A Study of Rural Economy in Yunnan
Fei is the father of modern sociology in China: western-trained, he came to Yunnan at the end of the 1930s when China's eastern universities relocated west. In "Earthbound China" he applied modern empirical techniques that he had pioneered around Shanghai to the Chinese hinterland. The economical development, and subsequent societal changes, of three un-named, but typical villages in Yunnan is analyzed in great detail in this fascinating study.
A number of Chinese historic texts covering life and politics in Yunnan have survived over the centuries. I have translated a few of them.
Shaxi is the most complete historic ensemble of a caravan town in Yunnan.
Largest Miao village in the Kunming area with a large Christian community and a nationally-acclaimed church-choir.
Jim Goodman: The Terrace Builders: The Hani and their Neighbors in Yunnan's Ailao Mountains
Abstract: The rice terraces of the Ailao Mountains in southern Yunnan province, China, are some of the oldest terraced farms in Asia. First mentioned in Tang Dynasty records, these farms, 80% of which are irrigated, with water running through them all year round, have been in continuous use for over a thousand years. In 2013 UNESCO declared the heartland of this area a World Heritage Site. The Terrace Builders is a detailed account of how these farms are made and used, the cities and mountains of Honghe Prefecture and the far north of Vietnam, as well as the various ethnic minorities who live there. The book pays special attention to the Hani people, the largest ethnic group in the area, and includes summaries of the culture and clothing of their neighbors the Yi, Miao, Yao, Zhuang and Dai. The book includes 300 photos of the land and its people.
Bai wedding customs.
Upcoming Festivals
| Name | Date |
|---|---|
| Bijia Mountain Festival | 02 Apr |
| Enlightenment Ritual | 02 Apr |
| Bath Festival | 02 Apr |
| Temple Fair | 02 Apr |
| Tianfeng Mountain Song Festival | 02 Apr |
| Full Moon Ritual | 02 Apr |
| Wutai Songfest | 02 Apr |
| Laojun Birthday | 02 Apr |
| Laojun Temple Fair | 02 Apr |
| Receiving Jingu | 02 Apr |
| Sanying Farm Fair | 02 Apr |
| Mangnai Cave Fair | 02 Apr |
Markets this Friday
| Dali | 大理 |
|---|---|
| Xiangtu | 象图乡 |
| Hecun | 萂村 |
| Jiancao | 捡槽 |
| Gunipen | 沽泥盆 |
| Xintun | 辛屯 |
| Waxi | 瓦溪 |
| Songgui | 松桂 |
| Pingchuan | 平川 |
| Qinghua | 清华 |
| Wuxing | 五星 |
| Dali | 大理 |
| Caicun | 才村 |
| Yangbi | 漾濞彝族自治县 |
| Baidangping | 白荡坪 |
| Shaxi | 沙溪 |
| Niujie | 牛街 |
| Huangping | 黄平镇 |
| Yousuo | 右所镇 |
| Miaojie | 庙街镇 |
| Jijie | 鸡街乡 |
| Hongyan | 红岩镇 |
| Wachang | 瓦厂乡 |
| 汤涧 | |
| Hedian | 禾甸镇 |
| Puping | 普淜镇 |
| Houshancun | 后山村 |
| 三胜 | |
| Xishan | 西山乡 |
| 大栗树 | |
| Caifeng | 财丰 |
| Honghe | 红河 |
|---|---|
| Xinhua | 新华乡 |
| Shengcun | 生村 |
| Nafa | 那发 |
| Lengquan | 冷泉镇 |
| Lengdun | 冷墩 |
| Dongshan | 东山镇 |
| Shitouzhai | 石头寨 |
| Jiache | 架车 |
| Shaochong | 哨冲镇 |
| Zhongzhai | 中寨 |
| Niujie | 牛街镇 |
| Puer | 普洱 |
|---|---|
| Jiangcheng | 江城哈尼族彝族自治县 |
| Nuofu | 糯福 |
| Dashan | 大山乡 |
| Mengma | 孟马镇 |
| Diqing | 迪庆 |
|---|---|
| Jiagetu | 价格土 |
| 岩瓦 |