Protecting Erhai: The Seven Big Activities
When in April 2017 guesthouses and restaurants around western Yunnan's Erhai Lake were suddenly summarily ordered closed until further notice, big character slogans also began proclaiming: "Protecting Erhai: The Seven Big Activities" 保护洱海七大行动. The slogan suggests that the closure of tourist facilities is just one part of a wider campaign to clean up the Erhai environment.
Early 20th century murals at Mangzhong Temple near Menglian
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.
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.
Largest Miao village in the Kunming area with a large Christian community and a nationally-acclaimed church-choir.
Jim Goodman: Living in Shangrila: Tibetans and Mosuo in Northwest Yunnan
Abstract: When Diqing Prefecture, opened its doors to foreign visitors in 1992, tourist agencies and government officials promoted Zhongdian County as the Shangrila of James Hilton’s novel Lost Horizon. In 2001 the city officially changed its name to Shangrila. On a high plateau of over 3200 meters, surrounded by snow covered mountain peaks, inhabited mainly by relatively prosperous, friendly and contented Tibetans, with beautiful monasteries, lakes, forests and summer flowers, the county’s scenery and lifestyle certainly bore a strong resemblance to that in the novel. Living in Shangrila describes the life and environment of the Tibetan people throughout Diqing Prefecture. It also examines their neighbors the Mosuo, a branch of the Naxi nationality, who adopted Tibetan Buddhism as their religion, but are still mainly a matrilineal society, unique to Yunnan, living around Lugu Lake, the most picturesque body of water in the province. The book includes over 200 photographs.
Large Wenmiao and Wumiao complex.
The turn of the Yangzi made Chinese civilization possible and was the location of many important battles.
Upcoming Festivals
| Name | Date |
|---|---|
| Water Splashing Festival | 15 Apr |
| Yongping Watersplashing Festival | 16 Apr |
| Water Splashing Festival | 16 Apr |
| Mengdui Bada | 17 Apr |
| Buddha Relic Worship | 17 Apr |
| Xu Xiake Memorial Event | 17 Apr |
| Gutianshi Temple Fair | 17 Apr |
| New Moon Ritual | 17 Apr |
| Mengdui Daba | 17 Apr |
| Seeing off the Emperor's Son in Law Ritual | 18 Apr |
| Seeing off the Emperor's Son in Law | 18 Apr |
| Buddha Relic Worship | 18 Apr |
Markets this Saturday
| Dali | 大理 |
|---|---|
| Zhoucheng | 州城 |
| Yongping | 永平县 |
| Lijiao | 力角 |
| Longjie | 龙街 |
| Paiying | 排营 |
| Shijing | 师井 |
| Diannan | 甸南 |
| Dali | 大理 |
| Caicun | 才村 |
| Longjie | 龙街 |
| Huangping | 黄平镇 |
| Zuòyì | 作邑 |
| Dacang | 大仓镇 |
| Jiangwei | 江尾镇 |
| Zhongjiang | 中江 |
| 三鹤 | |
| 桥街 | |
| Houshancun | 后山村 |
| 三胜 | |
| Caifeng | 财丰 |
| Jindunjiecun | 金墩街村 |
| Deju | 德苴乡 |
| Changyi | 长邑村 |
| Miaojie | 庙街镇 |
| Puping | 普淜镇 |
| Honghe | 红河 |
|---|---|
| Niujiaozhai | 牛角寨 |
| Xinansuo | 新安所镇 |
| Leyu | 乐育 |
| Daheishan | 大黑山乡 |
| Sancun | 三村 |
| Xinxian | 新现乡 |
| Sankeshu | 三棵树 |
| Dixibei | 地西北 |
| Shaochong | 哨冲镇 |
| Niujie | 牛街镇 |