Eighteen Oddities in Yunnan

Eighteen Oddities in Yunnan (Chinese: ; 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 ^{[http://www.flickr.com/photos/evenpay/263019568/ photo]}
#Bamboo hats are used as wok lids
#Three mosquitoes make up a dish - mosquitoes are so large that it is said that just three mosquitoes 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", 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 vegetable is called "bitter vegetable"
#Grannies climb mountains faster than monkeys
#Trains go abroad but not inland
#Monks can have love affairs
#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, as follows:

#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 worshiped 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

*Li Kunwu (李昆武, 2004). "Yunnan Shiba Guai" (云南十八怪; Eighteen Wonders of Yunnan Province). China: Yunnan University Press. ISBN 7810687492.

External links

* [http://www.import.net.cn/e/guide/1/b7edc9e6.html Eighteen Oddities in Yunnan page]
* [http://www.lifeofguangzhou.com/node_10/node_36/node_88/2007/02/13/117134312015249.shtml Eighteen Oddities in Yunnan page]
* [http://www.xanadutour.com/Eighteen%20Oddities.htm Eighteen Oddities in Yunnan page]
* [http://community.travelchinaguide.com/forum2.asp?i=37160 Illustrated Eighteen Oddities in Yunnan page]
* [http://english.yunnan.cn/content/his/18.htm Illustrated Eighteen Oddities in Yunnan page]
* [http://www.echinaromance.com/customs/18_odds.htm Eighteen Oddities in Yunnan page]