Tales of Tomb Raiding in Southern Yunnan

Tomb raiding, grave robbing, antiques, cultural relics, adventure, and treasure hunting.

Set in the early days of reform and opening up in the 1980s, the story focuses on a unique period in southern Yunnan: the rise of small private businesses, a chaotic antiques market, and ethnic minority cultures not yet fully commercialized. It explores the bargaining on the stalls of Panjiawan Antique Street, with traps involving fake artifacts and farmers selling treasures; the “untouched folk customs” of Yi Mountain and Miao villages, where Bimo officiate funerals and witchcraft traditions are presented without sensationalism; and the government cultural relics department’s “passive involvement,” relying on tip-offs from the public rather than proactive inspections. It fills a gap in tomb-raiding novels, which are usually set either in ancient times or the present, with few covering the transition period of reform and opening up, while combining a strong sense of historical authenticity with nostalgia.