Yunnan_ South of Clouds Province_ 八。零七去云南 _ collaberative assignment

Yunnan (云南 Yúnnán）: 

Yunnan ( 云南 Yúnnán ） The “South of Clouds” Province

Intro – The People and Geography that put the Yún(云) in 云南 Yúnnán: 

Intro – The People and Geography that put the Yún ( 云 ) in 云南 Yúnnán The Yunnan Province is the most ethnically diverse in China being populated by the Yi, Bai , Hani, Zhuang , Dai, Miao (these are the major ethnic groups) and many others. Yunnan borders Myanmar(Burma), Laos, and Vietnam. It is a mountainous province with over 600 rivers and lakes. Yunan’s climate varies depending on where you choose to go. Basically, you have temperate, tropical, and subtropical zones. There is an old saying about Yunnan Province “here, You can enjoy all four seasons on the same mountain, where each of these four seasons is only a few miles distant from the others.” Yangtze River in Western Yunnan. Wild Asian Elephants in Xishuangbanna , the southern tip of Yunnan.

Six Major Yunnan Ethnic Groups – Yi : 

Six Major Yunnan Ethnic Groups – Yi The Yi are part of The Sino-Tibetan Tibeto-Burman ethno linguistic group. Their origins can be traced back to the Qiang people in northwest China ; The characters of the Yi language were the earliest recorded syllabic script in China formed in the 13 th Century and are still used today.

Bai Ethnic Group （白族Báizú）: 

Bai Ethnic Group （白族 Báizú ） The Bai are also apart of the Sino-Tibetan Tibeto-Burman ethno linguistic group. They have a close affiliation with the Han. In the 7 th century the Bai ruled a kingdom by the name of Nanzhao which allied with the Han against Tibet which increased the kingdom’s power. In the 8 th century the Bai kingdom defeated the Tang armies. The Dai kingdom replaced the Bai in the 10 th century until the Mongols conquered the Dai in the mid-thirteenth century.

Hani Ethnic Group (哈尼族 Hāní zú): 

Hani Ethnic Group ( 哈尼族 Hāní zú ) Like the Yi people, the Hani( a.k.a Akha in neighboring countries) also have roots in the ancient Qiang . They have their own language that consists of three dialects belonging to the Tibetan-Burmese Chinese-Tibetan family. The Hani have had no written language prior to 1957 and used to keep records by carving notches on sticks; the central government created a system based on the Roma alphabet however, it’s not popular. Hani women commonly sport headdresses made of coins, feathers, beads, and silver rings.

Zhuang Ethnic Group (壮族 Zhuàngzú): 

The Zhuang are integrated with the Han and speak a language related to Thai. They are part of the Sino-Tibetan Thai ethno linguistic group. They also share roots with the Dai and love festival singing and dancing. Their religions include Buddhism, Christianity, ancestor worship, and Daoism. Even though the Zhuang have their own language the Chinese script was used until 1955 when a Zhuang written language based on Latin letters was created. Zhuang Ethnic Group ( 壮族 Zhuàngzú )

Dai Ethnic Group (傣族Dǎizú): 

Dai Ethnic Group ( 傣族 Dǎizú ) The Dai have roots going back to the Thai people. They are part of the Sino-Tibetan Thai ethno linguistic group and practice Hinayana Buddhism. The Dai mostly occupy the 西双版纳 (Xīshuāngbǎnnà) Region South of Yunnan. It is said that the Dai and people in this area in general don’t respect borders and authority. Personally, this sounds like my type of community. The Water-Splashing Festival is usually held around the 13 th to 15 th of April. On the first day of the festival a giant market is engaged. The second day features swimming races, rocket launching, and dragon boat racing. On the third day be prepared to get soaked; this ritual is rumored to wash away the sorrows, demons, and dirt of the old year and bring in the happiness of the new year. Remember the wetter you get the more luck you receive. So make sure flooded, saturated, and sopping to the bone!

Miao/Hmong Ethnic Group (苗族Miáozú): 

Miao/Hmong Ethnic Group ( 苗族 Miáozú ) The Miao/Hmong are part of the Hmong-Yao language family linguistic group; they practice Christianity, ancestor and nature worship. The Miao language has 3 main dialects but a unified script was nonexistent until 1956. The Miao were forced southward into China by exploitation from the Han. They are concentrated in more mountainous terrain. While about 752,000 live in the Yunnan Province( here the Hmong are well known for their craftsmanship, they are good at weaving, embroidery, and Batik) the Miao are also found in Guangdong, Guizhou, Hunan, Hainan, Sichuan, Hubei, Gansu, Qinghai, and Guangxi. In the town of Kaili(Kaili is about 195 km east of Guiyang over 130 minority festivals annually take place there) the Hmong/Miao celebrate the Lusheng Festival from the 11 th – 18 th of the first lunar month. Horse racing, dancing, drumming, bull fighting, and playing the lusheng ( a traditional Miao reed instrument) are common activities.

Yunnan Cuisine (云南菜 还是 滇菜Yúnnáncài háishì{or} Diāncài)  : 

Yunnan Cuisine ( 云南菜 还是 滇菜 Yúnnáncài háishì {or} Diāncài ) Steam Pot Chicken one of Yunnan’s signature and most famous dishes is made in a special squat, round, and lidded ceramic steam pot. The pot has an internal spout or chimney that allows steam to enter and disperse evenly; thoroughly cooking the food without any air escaping. Natural medicinal herbs are added to the soup both for their flavor and beneficial properties. Five main ingredients are Himalayan caterpillars/Chinese caterpillar fungus?, ginseng, dried wolf berries( a.k.a goji berries, gouqizi , 枸杞子 ) , tianma ( gastrodia root), and Sichuan peppercorns. This dish became famous during the reign of Emperor Qian Long of the Qing Dynasty. A craftsman named Yang Li is accredited with the steam pot’s creation.

Yunnan Steam Pot : 

Yunnan Steam Pot In use as early as 2,000 years ago, the Yunnan Steam Pot is one of the most popular Jianshui Violet Pottery pieces in the Province. Because it was noted that food stored in Jianshui Violet Pottery lasted longer. To use an Yunnan Steam Pot put an ordinary pot of water to boil and place all your ingredients in the Steam Pot than once the other pot of water is boiling place the Steam Pot over it and let the steam cook your meal. This method of cooking for a long time has been producing tender meat.

Lijiang: 

Lijiang Lijiang is a small city in the northwest corner of Yunnan Province (at least by Chinese standards) with some of the most well preserved ancient buildings, beautiful streams and greenery all throughout the city. Which is very suitable for me I don’t like places that are either too crowded or too desolate. Lijiang is a valley situated at the bottom of the Himalayas and the Qinghai-Tibet plateau. The terrain contains many great crisscrossing snowcapped mountains, lakes, springs, and rivers. Lijiang is home to the Naxi ethnic group; their language Dongba is a completely functional hieroglyphic script.

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain: 

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Jade Dragon Snow Mountain gets its name from the illusion the mountain gives resembling a jade dragon lying in the clouds; if you’re looking south from Lijiang Old Town about 15 kilometers (nine miles) away. The meadows on Jade Dragon Snow Mountain each have different landscapes. The mountain has 13 peaks. The kind of animals and plant life you see as you’re moving down from the mountaintop depends on the altitude. One of the most well known peaks is Yak Meadow. Yak Meadow is where yaks graze in the spring and summer hence the name. You can even go to the summit via cable car and have a Tibetan style breakfast at the mountaintop and taste hot yak milk.

Credits/Acknowledgements: 

Credits/Acknowledgements All photos of ethnic groups: ( http://www.paulnoll.com/China/Minorities/min-Yi.html ) Water Splashing Festival Photo: Yunnanadventure.com Photo of Steamed Pot Chicken: Yunnanadventure.com Photo of Yunnan steam pot: http://www.littleepottery.com/Yunnan.html (you can actually purchase this pot here) Jade Dragon Snow Mountain 1 : by Ken Driese taoism.about.com Yak Meadow 1: chinatourguide.com Lijiang Old Town at night: blog.zhangjingna.com Lijiang Old Town daytime: A fine art print by Kevin Reitz at fineartamerica.com Tiger Leaping Gorge ( Background picture on the first slide): bicycle-adventures.com Wild Asian Elephants in Xishuangbanna : funnyanimalworld.net Yangtze River: extremewallpapers.net Yunnan Stone forest (Background on this slide): drben.net Yunnan Village (Background on References/last slide): china.ynptravel.com

References : 

References Yunnanadventure.com http://www.littleepottery.com/Yunnan.html http://gl-pc.com/china/Lijiang.html . http://english.china.com/zh_cn/gourmet/food/11020891/20040930/11901175.html http://www.ynppb.gov.cn/bofcom_en/5190402968591007744/20061114/83898.html http://www.travelchinaguide.com/cityguides/lijiang.htm http://welcometochina.com.au/welcome-to-lijiang-of-yunnan-province-76.html http://www.topchinatours.net/Cities/lijiang/lijiang.htm http://www.gnccs.org/china.html http://www.travelchinaguide.com/attraction/yunnan/lijiang/jade_dragon.htm http://www.chinavista.com/travel/virtualtours.html http://www.chinadiscover.net/china-tour/yunnanguide/yunnan-lijiang-yulong-yakmeadow.htm