WHERE IN THE WORLD IS XISHUANGBANNA?

Why would anybody be going to Xishuangbanna?  It's almost as crazy as going to Timbuktu (a place I'd love to visit too).

Kunming in Southwest China

                                             The province of Yunnan with its capital Kunming.  

              Directly south of Kunming on the very southern border of the  province is Xishuangbanna  with its capital labeled Jinghong.

Yunnan Province.   Central Southern Region is Xishuangbanna - Land of the Dai

          Xishuangbanna...is a tropical region of Southwest China just north of Burma, Laos and Thailand.  We are traveling there to visit a variety of ethnic villages and observe their unique way of life, clothing, and foods. 


 The name Xishuangbanna comes from the Thai language that means "12  Rice-Growing Districts".  


     This prefecture has the densest collection of minority groups of Yunnan and most of China.  Within the prefecture of Xishuangbanna are 13 minority groups which include: Dai, Hani (Akha), Aini, Yi, Lahu, Bulang, Jinuo, Yao (Mien), Miao (Hmong), Hui, Wa, Zhuang, and Jingpo ( Kachin).  They represent 60% of the 900,000 population with the Dai at 30% of total population and the Han at 30%.
  

   1.  YUNNAN  China South of the Clouds by Jim Goodman    


Detailed description of Yunnan ethnic groups but the organization of book creates difficulty in finding topics.    






  




    2.  CHINA'S SOUTHWEST  Lonely Planet 


The standard source of our journey with great help in overviews of important sights and fine selection of  lodging, restaurants, local contacts and transportation.  








 3.  Yunnan, South of the Clouds: My Life in Southwest China from 1939-1951 by Gladys Muir


  
    A very enjoyable read by a young Canadian woman who went to Yunnan to marry and work with as a missionary.  The description of the Cultural Revolution in the villages of Southern China is most fascinating as well as the description of the living standard.  

      In addition to studying the region, I have been trying to find  a local contact to help us with lodging and local exploration.  After one month of searching, I finally found someone who returned my email with helpful information.  Sara of Forest Cafe in Jinghong, the capital of Xishuangbanna.  We have arranged guest house lodging and village and market journeys with her. 


     We are always looking for suggestions so please send us any information that you might have.    Thanks, nomadsally