Mountains and rivers in Yunnan Province are so beautiful.Those great and imposing mountains,vigorous and fast-running rivers,colourful ethnic cultures and rich humanistic scenes have all supplied us with ample resources for aesthetic creation .Mountain peaks in Yunnan are always more magnificent than the modem high—rises,and lakes here are always the most limpid in the world.
The twenty.five nationalities living in Yunnan have been multiplying,developing and working on this beautiful and fertile land from generation to
generation.They all possess unique history and culture,have different social customs and colourful artistic styles.They have constructed a simple,distinctive and bright characteristic on Yunnan Plateau which is rarely seen in other areas.Hence Yunnan is such a place seldom found in other parts of our
country that has combined the oldest societies,cultures and economies with those of the modern time.
In other places,we can rarely see such magnificent mountains and rivers.such unique history and culture and such communities where more than twenty ethnic groups live harmoniously together .Yunnan is also a rare nature museum and ethnic museunl.In many areas of this province.we can still see old and even primitive—like emnic customs and styles.
I had spent my childhood on Awa Mountain,so every time I think about the mountains,rivers,forests and grasses there,I always feel at home.People
often tend to be nostalgic,especially for those experiences they had undergone in their early days they always keep a sharp memory.The great Russian poet Pushkin ever said.allis instantaneous.all will be gone,but what is gone will probably be turned into a chershed memory.
Later,I had conducted many hard but pleasant travels and explorations on this 390--thousand--square—kilometer land ofYunnan Plateau.Therefore,
I can boldly say,the amazing natural scenic spots,the unique ethnic areas and the four-thousand-kilometer-long border line,all have had my footptints.
Not long ago,1 went back to Awa Mountain in Ximeng where Wa Nationality live together.I find all is kept unchanged.The great and imposing mountains are the same,the extensive bamboo bushes are the same,the limpid and deep Heaven
Pond on the mountain is the same,the people’s songs,dances and their hospitality are all the same.I feel.between this piece of land and me.there is a connection of mind and sentiment,which cannot be cut off and which touches the deep of my heart.As a result,those mountain peaks,those mountain
people are just like a colourful cloud,always floating into my dream.
The folk custom photos collected here are all shot by me when l tramped over mountains and visited ethnic villages in recent years on holiday The pity is that I could only manage to shoot photos on a cursory observation and a superficial understanding of those people because of the limitation of time on my each journey.Therefore,these photos cannot be considered to have portrayed all the aspects of the colourful lives of those ethnic groups inYunnan.Forthe same reason.it is hard for me to focus on a certain specific theme.However,What I am trying to do is not to create a new style,but to present a real picture of Yunnan ethnic groups
Now,we are marching forward to the new century.While we march faster and faster,we see more and more new views and scenes.As a result,we have forgotten the good time of our childhood and ignored our early homeland.We are getting more and more unrestful and fretful.However,I do believe,from this amazing and colourful land,and from these simple,honest and hard-working people,we can,at least,find a piece of tranquility and ease in our mind.