Abstract: Spread of use of zhu or kuaizi (originally bamboo or wood sticks used for eating) in Yunnan is a long story dating back more than two thousand years when opening of roads in Sichuan made Yunnan the linking hub between the Chinese and Indian civilizations, which in return made it easier and faster for zhu and kuaizi to spread. Central Yunnan, where the north-west route converges with the east-west one, thus saw emergence of bronze zhu, a fact verified by physical evidence dating back to the Warring States Period (476-221 B.C.) unearthed in Danabo Village, Xiangyun County. This explains why the ancient word zhu is still used in some local tribes today. Either from bronze, gold, silver, bamboo, wood or ivory, zhu is made with techniques and procedures showing wisdom and industry of the Yunnan local people and its use is inseparably related to their gene of local food culture, which can help foster their sense of community for the Chinese food culture in general.

Key words: kuaizi, people of Yunnan, border area of China, culinary culture zone, sense of community