Zhedong Kucong Ethnic Cultural Tourism Business Town in Zhenyuan County, Puer

📍 Zhedong Kusuong Ethnic Cultural & Tourism Town (者东苦聪民族文化旅游商贸小集镇)

Located in the heart of the Ailao Mountains (哀牢山) in eastern Zhenyuan County (镇沅县), Pu’er City (普洱市), this is one of China’s most concentrated settlements of the Kusuong people (a sub-group of the Lahu ethnic minority). Recognized as one of Yunnan’s 60 key characteristic tourism towns, Zhedong blends rich Kusuong culture, ancient mule caravan history, and pristine mountain ecology. It is now a destination integrating culture, festivals, eco-tourism, commerce, and leisure.

🌿 1. Identity & Core Features

🎯 Cultural Roots

• Birthplace of Kusuong Culture – Home to over 9,000 Kusuong people, preserving unique intangible heritage such as crossbow shooting, bee-drum dancing (蜂筒鼓舞), and bark clothing making. The Shepa Festival (畲葩节) on the 8th day of the 2nd lunar month celebrates the renewal of all things.

• Living Heritage Hub – The Ethnic Culture Square features Kusuong totems, ceremonial altars, and performance stages, showcasing local beliefs and artistry year-round.

🏞️ Location & Ecology

• Gateway to the Ailao Mountains – Situated on the Ailao Mountain Tourist Loop, with access to virgin forests and the Zhegan River (者干河) valley. Conveniently reached via the Mo-Lin Expressway (墨临高速) with a dedicated exit.

• Model of Agri-Tourism – Connects ginseng fruit orchards, cool-climate vegetable farms, and tea plantations, forming the “Crossing Ailao” (穿越哀牢) scenic route that blends rural landscapes with cultural experiences.

🎉 2. Must-Experience Cultural Highlights

🪘 Shepa Festival (畲葩节) – Annual Ethnic Celebration

When: 8th day of the 2nd lunar month (often moved to weekends for visitors)

Key Events:

• Welcoming Rituals – Gate-side rice wine toasts, bee-drum processions, and sanxian dancing to greet guests.

• Intangible Heritage Competitions – Crossbow and blowpipe contests (echoing hunting traditions), bare-handed fish catching, and bonfire sheng dances.

• Shepa Banquet – Local specialties like wild yam pork stew, tea-fried eggs, and buckwheat cakes with honey.

Impact: In 2025, the festival attracted 30,000 visitors and generated over RMB 30 million in tourism revenue.

🏡 Everyday Cultural Encounters

• Kusuong Homestays – Stay in themed farmhouses and join workshops in palm weaving (shoes, hats, pillows) and san-jian-jiao baba (三尖角粑粑) making.

• Nanlao River Eco-Corridor (南老河) – Riverside boardwalks paired with seasonal fruit picking (ginseng fruit, tea leaves) and sandy riverside camping.

🛍️ 3. Specialty Products & Trade Highlights

🥗 Agricultural & Handicraft Treasures

• Star Products – Wild honey, laoshuya rice (老鼠牙米, heritage rice at RMB 20/kg), Madeng tea (马邓茶), and walnut oil.

• Intangible Heritage Crafts – “Golden Mountain Palm” (金山棕) series (palm shoes, hats) developed by Yunnan Kusuong Impression Palm Industry, empowering 8,000 palm growers.

🏮 Commerce Platforms

• Festival Markets – During the Shepa Festival, streets become open-air trade fairs for Ailao herbal medicine, coffee, and mountain goods.

• Year-Round Retail – The planned Ethnic Culture Square will feature specialty shops promoting Kusuong crafts and cultural products on a daily basis.

🚗 4. Getting There & Travel Routes

📍 How to Reach

• By Car – From Kunming (昆明): Mo-Lin Expressway → Zhedong Exit (~4 hrs); from Pu’er City (普洱市区): ~2 hrs.

• By Public Transport – Bus from Kunming South Bus Station to Zhenyuan County, then local minibus (check schedules in advance).

🗺️ Suggested Itineraries

• 1-Day Tour – Zhedong Town (Shepa culture) → Qianjiazhai Ancient Tea Tree King (千家寨茶树王) → Ailao Mountain trekking.

• 2–3 Day Loop – Combine with Jiujia Town (九甲镇) cave exploration and Heping Town (和平镇) mule caravan trails for a full Ailao circuit.

⚠️ 5. Travel Tips

💎 Final Impression – A New Chapter in the Ailao Story

With “Kusuong culture as its soul, and Ailao’s landscapes as its lifeline,” Zhedong awakens the heartbeat of an ancient people through festival drums, and paints the vitality of modern rural life in the smoke of farmhouse kitchens.

🌾 For those who wish to witness the transformation of a once-isolated ethnic group from primal traditions to vibrant modernity,
🛤️ Or to seek a hidden gem beyond the Tea-Horse Road in Southwest Yunnan,
Zhedong awaits—under the name “Graceful Zhedong” (灵秀者东)—offering a journey where culture goes far beyond the scenery. ✨