Word: yunnan
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...From Yunnan eastward through Sichuan, Guizhou and Guangxi, parts of the country have not had rain since October and approximately 24 million residents are short of water. In March, Wen Jiabao, China's Premier, toured Yunnan for three days, pledging governmental aid and advocating water-conservation efforts. Chances are that the arrival of summer showers will give the land respite in the next month. But until then, Vice Minister of Water Resources, Liu Ning, confirmed less than two weeks ago, about 30,000 sq. mi. (78,000 sq km) of soil are too dry to bear crops, which has resulted...
...spell has also sparked controversy within China with regard to whether or not the Dai people should hold Songkran, the New Year's festival celebrated in parts of East and Southeast Asia, in which lively water-splashing is a prominent feature. Duan Jinhua, head of the information office in Yunnan's Xishuangbanna Dai autonomous prefecture, announced that the fete would not be canceled, but that the sprinkling spree would be cut down from five hours to two. The government of the Dehong Dai and Jingpo autonomous prefecture, on the other hand, has decided to cancel official festivities and leave citizens...
...unexpected effects of the drought in Yunnan has been to give the Dai this opportunity to return to the roots of a festival that has been largely co-opted by visitors to the province. Traditionally, Cable explains, water-splashing was not as essential to the New Year as other rituals like the slaughtering of buffalo. "But," she says, "animal sacrifice isn't great for tourism." What's more, the Dai did not always engage in unruly street battles using buckets filled to the icy brim and unforgiving water pistols. Writes Thai folklorist Phya Anuman Rajadhon: "The water-throwing later degenerated...
...This time around, Yunnan is expected to receive far fewer visitors than usual for the celebration. Chinese travel agencies report that hotel bookings in Dai-populated areas have tapered off. Candy Wei, a travel adviser at China Highlights, which offers customized tours and cruises in the region, says that she has had relatively few inquiries about participating in the event. "We suspect that the drought has severely affected our customers' itineraries in Yunnan." Those places accustomed to welcoming hordes of tourists, like Xishuangbanna's capital city of Jinghong, have previously been characterized by the most boisterous water-splashing celebrations; there...
...forgotten in the disorder of the holiday. Perhaps not this year, though. "When it rains during the New Year's festival, it's particularly auspicious," says Cable. "It's supposed to mean that the Dai will have a bountiful harvest in the coming year." The drought-hit people of Yunnan could use some good luck. But before bounty, they will have to make a fresh start...