I don't remember mmkunming writing anything about race at all, much less about any conceptual absurdities of racial purity.
@mmkunming: I know what you're on about, but I still think the term 'cultural colonialism' to describe the attitudes of numerous foreigners in Kunming is misplaced. Colonialism, I think, implies either the possibility or the reality of taking over, and foreigners in Kunming are in no position to do so. I've suggested 'cultural arrogance', which I think is sufficiently descriptive and sufficiently annoying and obviously present (and not only among foreigners, but that's irrelevant, unless one has some 'THEY do it so we should too' type of attitude). 'Willful cultural ignorance', which likely leads to cultural arrogance, might be another one - the elimination of such ignorance requiring learning through experience, not just some kind of academic thing.
Ruling groups, in government, massive private corporations, the media, are of course all about cultural hegemony, and always have been - these people can back up their efforts with law, cops, education, money, tourist sites and museums etc., and do so in their own interests. Very frequently nationalistic. Some call this progress, even some kind of social evolutionary progress - I have my doubts - but all indisputably involved in cultural change (as is the groundroot resistance & necessary adaptation that rises from below).
I also think it's worthwhile to consider the concept of expat culture, a kind of offshoot of globalizing culture which is not necessarily monolithic and not necessarily 'good' or 'bad' and which develops in some autonomy from national cultures, including both the one that surrounds it ('Chinese', here) and the ones from which its members originate, has its own internal conflicts, compromises & cross-fertilization, within which, thanks to numerous accidents of history, the English language might be considered to represent cultural colonialism, as it tends to dominate expat communities...hey, I can go on like this.


Getting Away: A return to Shaxi
Posted byMost of the villages in the valley are Bai, an official minority. There are also supposedly Lisu in the hills to the east - I haven't gone up there, but they shouldn't be more than a few hours' hike at most.
Getting Away: A return to Shaxi
Posted byOn its way to becoming overly touristified, like many other places that have already gone too far in that direction - but still very much a great place. Thing is, the town of Sideng is only one point in the Shaxi Valley, & with a bicycle you can ride up & down the valley for a very long way.
The Shaxi Cultural Center & Guest House in Sideng is a very nice place to stay in an old courtyard house - very comfortable & friendly but not over commercialized.
Yunnan GDP third fastest-growing in China
Posted byAll good, except for the income distribution problem, which gets worse just about everywhere.
China moves to lessen air pollution, Yunnan excluded
Posted by@Willie Gee, I think a lot of it may be going to make the city fancier & more 'modern'; and, through that effort, into the pockets of those who live on profits and/or their friends in government.
The last Mongols of Yunnan
Posted by@Alex: I think Kubilai Khan, Genghis Khan's grandson, commanded the troops - was your ancestor, youngest son of Genghis Khan, with them? Possible, but it seems odd - would like to hear more about this.