Yunnan's South-East
to Yunnan's
South-West
to Yunnan's
North-West
to Sichuan and Qinghai: Kham
back to main New
Destinations page
This must be China's most fascinating minority area. The diversity of tribes is stunning, their traditional dress turns each market into a shock of colour. Besides the region boasts Daweishan Primeval Forest Park.
Jinping
Go market hopping in this exotic county, and meet the Yao, Hani, Hmong, Dai and others. And ethnic diversity is even bigger, as the Red, Black and 'Sha' Yao are very different from each other. The same goes for the Hani from Adebo, Tongcan and Nafa. Landscapes meanwhile are dominated by rice terraces and forest in the north and rubber and banana plantations in the south.
Zhemi
Zhemi is on the road from Jinping to Lüchun, near the Vietnamese border. Add the Lahu to the ethnic mix here. At the market the Alu (a branch of the Yi) and Hani make up the majority. Rural walks take you to traditional Dai and Lahu villages.
Yunnan's most beautiful minority market
It arguably even ranks first among all of China's minority markets. It is big, busy, diverse. Colourful Yi, Alu with their embroidered head covers, Black Yao with their distinctive hats, Flower Hmong in their bright dress, Black Dai with tattoed hands and betelnut affected mouths, and several types of Hani gather here. As this market is held on a fixed day of the week, it is easy to make it part of tours. Contact me for its time and place.
Pingbian
Pingbian boasts beautiful Daweishan Primeval Forest Park. Unmarked on my map, it was a great surprise to find it. I had come this way because of the Flower Hmong who inhabit the region. The park is home to the rare tree fern 'Cyathea spinulosa' that exists for 180 million years already. It is assumed it served as food for dinosaurs.
