The Colors of Yunnan

The province of Yunnan is situated in Southwest China. Lying on the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, and bordering Vietnam, Laos and Myanmar, Yunnan is a mysterious land endowed with fascinating natural beauty. It covers an area of 394,000 square kilometers, and has a population of over 40,000,000.

Yunnan is home to one of the most diverse and colorful landscapes in the world. These includes evergreen mountains and glaciers snow-capped all year round, blue lakes and hot springs, temperate woodland, and tropical rain forests where elephants and monkeys roam. And together with all these God-created nature, live 25 ethnic minorities – each of which could boast their colorful and fascinating costumes.

The 25 ethnic minority groups give a rich diversity and color to the cultural and traditions of Yunnan. Their colorful ethnic costumes, their traditional songs and dances, the age-old villages, the busy market fairs and the traditional festivals all add colors to the everyday lives of the people.

The people in the countryside are mostly farmers and their life can be very dull and grey. Perhaps, colors in their traditional clothing and their artwork are their natural expression of their hope of a better life. They are also their expression of their love for beauty and tradition.

Kaleo Pistis is here to spread the appreciation of the beauty and culture of these ethnic minorities. It is our desire that through this website and the sales of the minorities’ crafts, these minorities would gain attention from all of you with regards to their cultures, their beautiful mountains and valleys home and their crafts.

We hope that the colors of Yunnan would wow you, as much as they have to us.