Yunnan Shiba Guai 云南十八怪;

Eighteen Wonders of Yunnan Province

Every where I went in Yunnan, people would easily find out that I am from outside and they would be curious to know where I came from.

They would know Malaysia quite well and then they would comment that my Pu Tung Hua was not bad. Passable Mandarin made it easier for me to communicate.

Immediately they would be very proud to tell me all about Yunnan. I think the most unique trait in Yunnan is the people who are just so willing to talk about their province and about their own tourist
spots.


Bamboos are used to make pipes.

1. Eggs are tied up sold in rope-like clusters
2. Bamboo hats are used as wok lids
3. Three mosquitoes make up a dish - mosquitoes are so large that it is said that just three are large enough to make a meal
4. Bamboo is used to make water pipes for smoking
5. Erkuai - a local culinary specialty made of rice, whose name translates literally as "ear piece" (called zi ba, 糍粑 in Mandarin)
6. 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
7. Young girls are called "Old Lady"
8. Automobiles move faster than trains
9. Toes are exposed all year round
10. Rain here but sunshine there - the weather is often variable between areas just a few kilometers apart
11. Girls wear flowers in all four seasons
12. Girls carry tobacco bags
13. Green vegetables are called "bitter vegetables"
14. Grannies climb mountains faster than monkeys
15. Trains go abroad but not inland
16. Monks can have love affairs^[
17. 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
18. Automobiles move in the clouds - many roads are high in the mountains

The list may change from time to time.

Toes are exposed throughout the year.

Women work outside, men stay at home to raise children.