Slideshows Yunnan Province 云南

The Buddhist ritual release of live animals has a great tradition in Gusheng village, even giving the village its name.

Members of the Dongjing Ancient Music Association perform at the Benzhu Festival in Zhonghe village, on the slopes of Cangshan

Benzhu, the patron saints of Bai villages, have intricate family relationships, just like people. Here, a Benzhu is carried from the lake side village of Majiuyi all the way to Shangyangxi on the slopes of Cangshan.

Weishan town has the best preserved collection of Qing architecture in all of Yunnan province, including a recently restored complex including a Temple for the Yellow Emperor 玉皇阁.

Every year on the first day of the second lunar month, the statues of the Benzhu are brought into Fengyu to "inspect" the old town.

Erzige 耳子歌 is an ancient folk play that is still performed in some Bai village of Yunlong county.

The various Lisu groups in Xiangyun county receive government money to maintain their customs, resulting in an eclectic mix of activities, that are nevertheless good fun. In Lilame 立腊么 village in Xiangyun 祥云 on the second day of the second month Dragon Worship is conducted to pray for sufficient water.

So many old bridges still span Yunlong's Bi River and its tributaries that the county has been called a 'Museum of Bridges'

石洞寺 is an old temple along the trade route between Dali and Puer.

Early morning shots in Weishan's center.

Dressed in the garb of the Weishan Yi, a girl poses for some autumnal shots.

Golden Light Temple 金光寺 sits on top of Baotaishan 宝台山 near the old Bonan caravan road 博南古道 in Yongping county.