Abstract: Ma Yulin started his officialdom in Yunnan in the fourth year, and left in the ninth, of the reign of Emperor Daoguang (1824). During his six years’ stay there he wrote travel notes and poems which are collected in Hong Ni Notes and Wan Li Yin respectively. Wan Li Yin contains more than 130 of his poems, composed after he heft Beijing for Yunnan and before he left Yunnan, that record his activities, express his political ambition, portray the local custom, scenery and people, describe his interaction with the local celebrities and scholars, and state his views on historical events. This anthology provides valuable information regarding political life of Yunnan, social realities, geography and transportation of northwest Yunnan as well as local custom of Lijiang in the Qing Dynasty (1644–1911).

Key words: Qing Dynasty, Ma Yulin, Wan Li Yin