Rural Yunnan in the 21st century

Learning area

History, Geography: Years 9–10

Outline

Students examine aspects of the question: ‘With China undergoing rapid change, how will rural areas of Yunnan face the 21st century?’ These activities could stand alone as an area of study or could complement other studies of potential continuity and change in the future.

Materials required

The following resources may be helpful though not all of these resources focus specifically on Yunnan:

• Brundall, J 1997, China: The people and the place, User Friendly Resource
  Enterprises, Christchurch, NZ.
• Brundall, J 1998, China: A glimpse of the new China, User Friendly Resource
  Enterprises, Christchurch, NZ.
• Bloomfield, R 1993,China: Tradition and change,
  Longman Paul, Auckland, NZ.
• Wikipedia: Rural society in China
• NPR podcasts about rural China
• A wedding in Rural Yunnan

• A day on the farm in Shigu in rural Yunnan, China

• You Tube: Children left behind

• You Tube:E-revolution transforms rural China (PRC): ADB GMS

• Article in LA Times: In rural China, a bumper crop of new car owners 

• Film: Not One Less

  Activities

1. Students use the resources above (or others) to research the existing situation in rural Yunnan in relation to one or more of the following:
   • the nature of rural villages and dwellings
   • mud-brick building techniques
   • how and where crops are grown
   • farming techniques
   • village markets and their functions
   • village life for children: games, school
   • earning a living
   • the role of ethnic minorities (‘nationalities’)
   • prevalence and occurrence of flora and fauna.
2. Students then research the impact of one or more of the following:
   • ‘Western’ influences on young people
   • deforestation for building timbers and firewood
   • satellite TV
   • rural modes of transport and the Kunming – Bangkok ‘freeway’
   • rural infrastructure: the provision of clean water and sanitation
   • population drift to urban areas: push and pull factors
   • availability of fast foods and international brands
   • reduction of numbers of jobs in state-owned industries.