Eighteen Oddities in Yunnan
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Eighteen Oddities in Yunnan (Chinese: 云南十八怪; pinyin: Yúnnán Shíbā Guài; sometimes called Eighteen Wonders of Yunnan) are eighteen unique traits of the Yunnan province of southwest China. The oddities, which are as follows, are generally presented in the form of a list, which is promulgated in promotional materials advertising the province to foreign and domestic tourists.
- Eggs are tied up sold in rope-like clusters[1]
- Bamboo hats are used as wok lids
- Three mosquitoes make up a dish - mosquitoes are so large that it is said that just three are large enough to make a meal
- Bamboo is used to make water pipes for smoking
- Erkuai - a local culinary specialty made of rice, whose name translates literally as "ear piece" (called zi ba, 糍粑 in Mandarin)
- The same dress is worn for all four seasons - clothing for all four seasons may be seen on a single day in Yunnan, as climatic conditions may vary widely according to altitude and region
- Young girls are called "Old Lady"
- Automobiles move faster than trains
- Toes are exposed all year round
- Rain here but sunshine there - the weather is often variable between areas just a few kilometers apart
- Girls wear flowers in all four seasons
- Girls carry tobacco bags
- Green vegetables are called "bitter vegetables"
- Grannies climb mountains faster than monkeys
- Trains go abroad but not inland
- Monks can have love affairs[citation needed]
- Children are raised by men - Yunnan women have a reputation for being hard-working, thus many men stay home to take care of their children
- Automobiles move in the clouds - many roads are high in the mountains
The items on the list are not fixed, so other versions of the list may include other oddities, including:
- Stone grows in the clouds - Yunnan's Shilin, or Stone Forest resembles stalagmites growing out of the ground
- Locusts or grasshoppers are eaten as a delicacy
- Fresh flowers are served as a vegetable
- Water and fire are worshipped as gods
- People sing rather than speak
- Tea leaves are sold in piles
- Non-slanting walls are built with cobblestones
- Keys are hung on waist belts
- Small, lean horses are hard-working
- Fresh fruits and vegetables are available in all four seasons
References
[edit]- Li Kunwu (李昆武, 2004). Yunnan Shiba Guai (云南十八怪; Eighteen Wonders of Yunnan Province). China: Yunnan University Press. ISBN 7-81068-749-2.
