A girl in Chengdu sparked a "mass incident" this week when she appealed for a boyfriend on a campus message board at the University of Electronic Science and Technology. Potential suitors were to call out her name outside her apartment, but it seems she got more than she bargained for when over 1,000 guys turned up below her window; EastSouthWestNorth provides the details.

Southwest art: eCitiesChina has a post this week about the North Village Art District in Chengdu's suburban Xindu.

Although Peter Hessler has "postponed" his scheduled appearances at this year's China-based literary festivals, including the Chengdu Bookworm's Literary Festival, he wrote a long post about how snapping away with a digital camera has aided his writing, with examples from his new book, Country Driving.

It was Lei Feng day last week, and it seems like the man himself came back to life to talk about how to do good deeds in the 21st century. Danwei translates the micro-blog parodies. (Requires proxy.)

Finally, back to EastSouthWestNorth, which transcribes an interview with artist Ou Zhihang, a Guangzhou TV host who has won a prize at the World Press Photo (WPP) competition for his photography series depicting himself doing naked push-ups around China. The artist discloses how he manages to avoid arrest while photographing himself in front of Chinese landmarks and the locations of major social events as well as his motivations for his nude photography.

Friday: Movie screening at TCG Nordica
TCG Nordica will be showing the film "Das Weisse Band" (The White Ribbon) by filmmaker Michael Haneke tonight at 5pm. Entry to the screening is free.

Friday: DJs at Uprock
DJs Mong and Yosof will be presiding tonight at Uprock. The free music starts at 10pm.

Saturday: Live music at Laowo Bar
Metal band Ensay (扣弦乐队) will perform at Laowo Bar on Saturday at 9:30pm. Tickets cost 25 yuan.

Saturday: "Cock Rock" at The Hump Bar
The music will start at 10pm on Saturday at The Hump Bar.

Sunday: Brunch at Sandra's
Sandra's is holding a Sunday brunch from 11am to 4pm. The 85 yuan spread includes cheeses, meats, homemade bread, Swedish cinnamon rolls, German apple pancakes, pizza and bloody Marys. Call 15825267010 for reservations.

Crime boss invokes coal mining alibi
Alleged Kunming gang leader Shen Chao (沈超) started his criminal trial yesterday in a Kunming court along with 32 other members of his gang, according to a Kunming Information Hub report.

Shen stands accused of committing a number of serious crimes between 2006 and 2009, including organizing illegal gambling, leading a criminal gang, possession of an illegal firearm, and murder.

The story quotes Shen as denying the crimes by explaining that he was, "too busy investing in coal mines in Zhaotong to commit the crimes."

The trial is expected to conclude today.

Kunming bombards clouds with no result
Kunming meteorologists fired 40 cloud seeding rockets from March 9 to 10 in an attempt to draw rainfall from the clouds covering the city earlier this week.

A Kunming Information Hub article on the operation reports that a light drizzle did fall in some areas around the city, but that the maximum recorded rainfall was just 0.7 millimeters.

As Yunnan's worst drought on record intensifies, government officials are under increasing pressure to appear to be taking action to address the widespread water shortages, crop failures, and wildfires that have been a result of the drought.

According to the article, as of March 9, 3,326 rockets and 3,019 shells had been fired in cloud seeding operations in southwestern China. There has been no mention of what substances are being used, although silver iodide is widely used around the world.

Kunming has an average annual rainfall of 1,040 millimeters, but the total for 2009 was just 571 millimeters.

Water management official commits suicide
The drought in Yunnan appears to have claimed its first fatality – Chinese media is reporting that a water management official in Lufeng county jumped from his office window on March 3, apparently due to mounting work pressures.

In addition to dealing with the drought, Lufeng water management bureau director Li Jianrong (李建荣) was also coping with the aftermath of a magnitude 5.1 earthquake that struck the area on February 25.

Li's colleagues told reporters that he was facing enormous work pressure from addressing both the drought and the earthquake.

For the last decade, the elephant in the living room of China's relationships with the countries through which the Mekong River flows has been the growing number of dams built on and planned for the Lancang River – as the Mekong's headwaters in Yunnan are known.

The river - which in February was at half its normal level for that month - is a source of food and livelihood for the 65 million people living in its basin in Yunnan, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia.

On Monday, Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva met with Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Hu Zhengyue, telling Hu that residents of the lower Mekong region were concerned about the river's recent low water levels and were uneasy regarding the lack of clear information about China's dams on the Lancang, according to a Nation report.

Despite Abhisit's polite request for better information, Thai officials came to China's defense, saying that the recent low levels in the lower Mekong basin – the lowest in half a century – were primarily due to a drought in Laos. Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said that rain in Laos normally accounts for 35 percent of the Mekong's water supply and that only four percent of the river's total water was held behind Chinese dams.

China currently has three dams operating on the Lancang, with a fourth at Xiaowan scheduled to commence operation in 2012. If completed, the Xiaowan hydropower station will be the world's tallest dam, rising almost 300 meters and capable of retaining 15 billion cubic meters of water.

Plans for a protest outside the Chinese embassy in Bangkok next month by residents of the northern Thai city of Chiang Rai suggest that residents of China's neighbors downstream may become increasingly vocal about the impact they feel Chinese dams are having on the river.

The Bangkok protest will be timed to coincide with the first Mekong River Summit, organized by the Mekong River Commission (MRC) and scheduled to be held in the Thai beach town of Hua Hin from April 2 to April 5.

The conference's theme, "Transboundary water resources management in a changing world" is slightly undermined by the fact that the MRC's membership only includes Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia, with Myanmar and China only participating as "dialogue partners".

It is difficult to imagine China making concessions to protestors, governments or anyone else for the time being. The Bangkok Post is reporting that a letter sent last month to Yunnan Governor Qin Guangrong by the Chiang Rai provincial government demanding the release of water from Lancang River dams was rebuked by Qin, who said the water was needed in Yunnan for agriculture during the dry season.

In addition to the protest related to the Mekong's current low levels, some Thai villagers will also attempt to deliver a petition to China seeking compensation for flooding in 2008:


In May 2009, the United Nations said China's plans to eventually build eight dams on the Lancang "may pose the single greatest threat to the river". China, however, is not the only country building dams on the river. Laos has plans for 23 dams on Mekong tributaries and the Mekong itself to be finished in the coming year, with Vietnam and Cambodia also planning dams of their own.

Lancang River image: news.china.com.cn

Kunming resident Colin Flahive recently drove from the Spring City to Luang Prabang, Laos. His trip—through Mengla and the Mohan/Boten border crossing—provided culinary surprises on both sides of the border. If you have a story to share with GoKunming readers, please get in touch with us via our contact form.

The drive from Kunming to Luang Prabang takes about 16 to 20 hours under normal circumstances, so it is best divided into two days.

The border crossing, which lies about eight to 10 hours from Kunming, closes to foreigners at 5pm. Therefore, travelers planning on making it into Laos on the first day will need to get an early start.

There is, however, no need to rush across the border. The city of Mengla (勐腊) in Xishuangbanna prefecture, a 25-minute drive north of the border, is a great overnight stopping point.

Mengla's major draw is its Dai minority cuisine. One of the more adventurous culinary experiences can be had at Xiaomaocao (小猫草), a small family-owned, back-alley operation.

Some of Xiaomaocao's signature dishes include raw heirloom eggplant salad (凉拌茄子), banana flower pork soup (芭蕉花红烧肉) and sapie, a local specialty of seasoned ground beef eaten with raw greens (撒撇).

After crossing the border at Mohan (see more information about procedure and visas below) the drive to Luang Prabang is between eight and 10 hours.

After arriving in Luang Prabang and working one's way close to the banks of the Mekong River, the city's UNESCO World Heritage status becomes evident.

Quality accommodation options are plentiful and the city has some of South Asia's best shopping. The night market teems with interesting snacks, art and all sorts of souvenirs.

Luang Prabang has many Western dining options and it's easy to make the mistake of missing out on local delicacies. One of the best spots for eating and drinking is the elevated banks of the river, a beautiful spot to catch the sunset while sipping on cocktails.

Along the river, visitors will also find a row of restaurants with Lao hotpot, a unique hybrid of the Chinese style with open flames to grill seafood and meat. Ask the servers for help as the techniques involved take a bit of practice.

Other highlights in Luang Prabang include sunrise atop Wat Phu Si, a massage at one of the many spas, and hiking the Kouang Si Waterfalls 30 minutes south of town. For Kouang Si, be sure to pack a lunch, bring your swimsuit and be prepared for water fights.

Spending a day or two in Luang Namtha, located one and a half hours southwest of Mohan, is a pleasant stopover on the return trip to China. The road to Luang Namtha is in excellent condition because the Chinese government recently paid to have the route to Thailand repaved. It's a beautiful drive and a place where the benefits of having one's own vehicle are evident.

We parked our car at the Zuela Guesthouse just off of the main road, where the staff can provide visitors with a map of sites in and around Luang Namtha. Motorbikes are also available for rent.

The town of Luang Namtha has built a new town square just across the street from the guesthouse. It bustles at night and offers some of the finest delicacies in Laos.

This is the last chance to fill up on Lao food before the long drive back to Kunming. Along with a sampling of the unique cold dishes sold be street vendors, the whole rotisserie duck is not to be missed.

Travel information:
Roads: The highways in Yunnan are in good condition, but watch out for the speed cameras dotting the median—a 200 yuan fine awaits speeders. The road to Luang Prabang is in poor shape in some sections, but appears to be under repair.

Visa: Travelers from many countries can get a visa at the Mohan border crossing, but those wanting to err on the side of caution can get a visa ahead of time from the Laos consulate in Kunming, which has recently moved from inside the Camellia Hotel to Caiyun Bei Lu.

Border crossing: Travelers driving their own vehicle must register the vehicle on the second floor of the customs building where Chinese vehicle registrations are exchanged for temporary Lao ones. Chinese citizens are required to purchase malaria medication and mosquito repellent at the border.

Yuxi fights fire with fire
Last week, firefighters in Yuxi used their "long-range intelligent forest fire extinguishing system" (远距智能森林灭火系统) for the first time, according to a Yunnan Info Daily report.

The system consists of a truck-mounted launcher that fires rockets filled with an unspecified fire-extinguishing substance. It is intended to keep firefighters out of harm's way and fight fires on steep hillsides that are difficult to access on foot.

According to the report, firefighters were initially planning on firing rockets at a mountaintop where a forest fire was encroaching on high-voltage power line towers, but were seemingly foiled because they were afraid of destroying the very power lines that they were trying to protect.

Several hours later in another area firefighters succeeded in firing ten rockets at a fire burning near a highway.

As Yunnan continues to suffer from the worst drought on record there have been a large number of forest fires across the province. Kunming alone reported 81 forest fires between November 10 of last year and February 7 of this year.

Cloud seeding in Yunnan
Kunming Information Hub is reporting that the rain and snow that fell last week across Shangri-La County, Deqin County and Weixi Lisu Nationality Autonomous County were artificially triggered.

During the drought, the Yunnan government has been occasionally claiming that snow and rain in the province were artificially triggered, but such claims are difficult to prove because the precipitation may have occurred anyway without human intervention.

CCTV has an interesting video of cloud seeding in action in Qujing.

Water shortage continues
Water is selling for 100 yuan a cubic meter, or 10 yuan a liter, in some parts of Yunnan according to an article in Kunming Information Hub.

Fear of water shortages has prompted the Qujing government to shut down businesses such as car washes and saunas that rely on intensive use of water. Additionally, Kunming has raised its fines for businesses discovered to be wasting water.

Images: Yunnan Info Daily (rocket), CCTV (cloud seeding)

The biggest story on the Chinese Internet this week seems to be the not-so-secret diary of Guangxi Tobacco Bureau chief Han Feng, who rather stupidly kept a detailed log of his daily activities, including taking bribes and bedding girlfriends, but most of the time, it seems, playing with electronics. The diary was, of course, later uploaded to the Internet, provoking much mirth. EastSouthWestNorth has the full translation, ChinaSMACK has netizen comments, and ChinaHush translates a Han Han post that claims that Han Feng is in fact one of the good officials.

New China blog china/divide, powered by some of the more prolific China bloggers on the scene, has been desperately trying to get your attention this week with some controversial topics and sex-related posts: see "Pornography should be legal in China" for a case in point.

The CPCC (that's the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference) started this week, and Chinayouren has a round up of the stories coming out: Free laptops for delegates, thundering proposals, and the sly placing of a grass mud horse on one newspaper front page. Meanwhile, China Media Project provides a more detailed analysis of the tax-payer laptop giveaway.

Finally, how Confucian should a daughter be these days? Does it extend to doing as your parents say and paying for a younger brother's wedding to avoid being disowned? Netizens seem split on this moral conundrum. Little Red Book and ChinaSMACK have the goods.

Friday: Kunming Hat registration party at Chapter One
Players in the 2010 Kunming Hat ultimate frisbee tournament will be gathering at Chapter One tonight to meet and mix. Late registrations will be accepted at the party for anybody wanting to play in the tournament. There will be drink specials for registered tournament players.

Friday: Exhibition opening at TCG Nordica
The exhibition "Four Seasons·Spring," a showcase of female artists in Yunnan, opens tonight at 8pm at TCG Nordica.

Friday: Ska band The Trouble at Camel Bar
Chengdu-based band The Trouble (热超波乐队) is back in town following a well-received show last weekend. They will be playing tonight at Camel Bar at 9:30pm. The 10 yuan entry fee includes a free shot of Jameson or a gin and tonic.

Friday: Yang Meng at On We Go
Yang Meng, the lead singer of the Beijing-based band Spring & Autumn (春秋) plays tonight at On We Go. Tickets for the 9pm show cost 40 yuan.

Friday: Yun871 at Uprock
The Yun 871 DJ crew will perform tonight to celebrate Uprock's second birthday party. The event starts at 8pm with free entry.

Saturday: Ultimate frisbee party at Speakeasy
Participants in the Kunming hat tournament will be partying at Speakeasy Bar on Saturday starting at 9pm. Tournament players will receive free beer. The party is jungle-themed and costumes are encouraged; there will be costume and dance competitions. Entry is free and everyone is welcome to join regardless of whether they are playing.

Saturday: Ska band The Trouble at On We Go
The Trouble will take the stage Saturday at 9pm at On We Go. Tickets are 40 yuan at the door or 30 yuan in advance.

Saturday: AK-47 at Laowo Bar
Punk band AK-47 will play at Laowo Bar at 9pm on Saturday. Tickets cost 40 yuan with 30 yuan student tickets available.

Saturday: Yankadi music at The Hump Bar
The International Kunming Drum Circle will be performing traditional African percussions at The Hump Bar on Saturday. The free, 9:30pm show will also serve as a farewell to Martin Bancroft.

Saturday: Ladies night at Uprock
The event, celebrating International Women's Day, will start at 10pm on Saturday with free entry and selected free drinks for women.

Weekend specials
Aomai's kitchen is holding a special from Saturday until March 26 to celebrate International Women's Day. Customers who order a main course at the Aocheng Mall or Zhengyi Mall locations can enjoy a range of sides, desserts, and drinks for 3.8 yuan each.

The Box has dessert specials on mousse, pudding and cakes until 7pm on Saturday and Sunday.

Sunday is Super Sunday at Gingko Tree Massage with 2-for-1 aroma oil massages or buy one hour of aroma oil massage, get the second hour free.