Bamei Village in Guangnan County, Wenshan

Why is Bamei Village So Special?

Located in Guangnan County of Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, 30 kilometers from county seat, Bamei village is hard to find because of its unique location. It is surrounded by hills, and visitors have to travel by small boat through a long and dark limestone tunnel. 

Because of the remoteness and inconvenient transportation, it is very difficult to communicate with the outside world. Bamei village is isolated from the outside world for a long time and is in semi-closed status, therefore it is known as Xanadu.

Features of Bamei Village

Bamei village of Bamei Town, Guangnan County is surrounded by mountains. Because of its unique karst landforms, caves, rivers and villages, people in and out of the village must sail through the cave. The land in front of the village is flat and open and behind the house there are green bamboos, which are similar to the Jin Dynasty litterateur Tao Yuanming陶渊明 described the Peach Blossom Spring桃花源, so it is called "The Last Xanadu."

Traditional Zhuang culture and customs 

The inhabitants at Bamei Village belong to Zhuang minority. Bamei means 'cave in the forest' in Zhuang language. It is said that the ancestors of Bamei residents are a Zhuang family of Guangdong Province. 600 years ago, they escaped from brutal outlaws and found the cave by chance. They believed it was a perfect place to hide, so later they invited some friends to live with them. Since then, Bamei Village had become a Peach Blossom Spring for these virtuous and amicable Zhuang people. Life is simple and easy for them. They can do everything for themselves. They plant rice paddies and cotton, spin and weave their own clothes, make bean curd with stone grinders, and even produce their own cooking oil. As long as they have enough salt, they can stay in the village without contacting with the outside world.

The traditional Zhuang culture and customs are still maintained at Bamei Village. Every year, the village holds festivals to sacrifice dragons, worship ancestors, sing folk songs, celebrate colorful glutinous rice festival, fight roosters, play lion dance, kick leaf ball, kick shuttlecock and other activities; Marriage and funeral are strictly carried out according to the rules of custom and etiquette; the traditional festivals are held according to the time, such as the off year (worshiping Yang Liulang), the third day of the third lunar month. The unique folklore activities preach the ancient symbols of Zhuang culture.

Nearby Attractions

1. Babao Scenic Area八宝风景区

Babao of Guangnan county广南八宝, also known as "Little Guilin", is composed of four areas including Babao八宝, Heye河野, Tangna Karst Cave汤纳溶洞 and Sanla Falls三腊瀑布. There are winding stream, standing peak jungle, flying waterfalls, karst caves and village farmhouses, with beautiful scenery. You can sit on a bamboo raft, drift along the Babao River to downstream, along the way you can see karst peak forest, 10,000 mu of rice fields and a dozen Zhuang villages, beautiful scenery as fairyland.

2. Puzhehei 普者黑

The Puzhehei Scenic Area is in Qiubei County of Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, 13 kilometers away from county seat. It is a charming fairyland boasting beautiful karst landscapes, lakes and the unique cultures of the Zhuang, Miao, Yi and Bai ethnic groups.

How to Get there

You have two ways to get to Bamei Village of Guangnan County, Wenshan.

1. By Long-distance Bus

Long-distance route is Kunming-Wenshan-Guangnan-Bamei, you need to transfer three times. After arriving in Guangnan County, you can directly take the No. 3 tour bus to Bamei, about 1-1.5 hours.

Kunming East Bus Station-Wenshan Bus Terminal

Departure Time: 7:20-20:10

Price: 126 or 117 or 140 CNY

Distance: 317 kilometers

Consume Time: 4-4.5 hours

Wenshan Bus Terminal-Guangnan Bus Terminal

Departure Time: 6:20-17:40

Price: 47 CNY

Distance: 178 kilometers

Consume Time: 2.5-3 hours

2. By Railway

Now, train is more convenient and faster than long-distance bus from Kunming to Bamei. After arriving in Guangnan county, you can take the shuttle bus to Bamei.

Kunming Station-Guangnan County Station

Departure Time: 10:36, 12:00, 12:19, 13:35, 13:52, 17:12

Price: 119.5 CNY

Distance: 424 kilometers

Consume Time: About 2.5 hours

Kunming South Station-Guangnan County Station

Departure Time: 7:30-17:40

Price: 109 CNY

Distance: 417 kilometers

Consume Time: About 2 hours

Accommodation at Bamei Village

If you want to enjoy the journey, it is recommended to return to Guangnan County for overnight. If you want to experience farmhouse life, you can choose to stay at Bamei. There are many guesthouse at Bamei village.

1. Guangnan TeAnNa Hotel广南特安呐酒店

Address: No.255, Beining Road, Guangnan County, Wenshan文山壮族苗族自治州广南县北宁路255号

Tel: 0876-5151299

Starting Price: 260 CNY

2. Di Bei Gui Yuan Boutique Hotel广南坝美帝贝归园特色大酒店

Address: No.103, Bamei Scenic Area, Guangnan County, Wenshan文山壮族苗族自治州广南县坝美景区内103号

Tel: 0876-5956588

Starting Price: 420 CNY

3. Bamei Da Rong Shu Xia Farmhouse广南坝美大榕树下农家乐

Address: Bamei Scenic Area, Guangnan County, Wenshan文山壮族苗族自治州广南县景区内

Tel: 15969065768

Starting Price: 118 CNY

Best Time to Visit

The most beautiful season of Bamei village is in the early spring of each year. At this time, the river valley is full of pink peach blossoms, accompanied by the wild rape flowers, which is the real pastoral scenery.

Useful Travel Tips

1. Zhuang People live there. So you are supposed to learn some culture and custom of Zhuang minority in advance, respect Zhuang minority culture.

2. In highland area, temperature difference is large between daytime and night, you must bring sun cream, sunhat, sun glasses, umbrella, coats and some medicines that protect from heatstroke.

Tours including Bamei Village

2 Days Bamei Xanadu Village Tour from Kunming by Speed Train

3 Days Puzhehei Lotus Flowers Tour and Bamei Xanadu Discovery By Speed Train(June,July,August)

6 Days Yunnan Ancient Villages Tour with Puzhehei Scenic Area and Bamei Xanadu Village

8 Days Yunnan-Guizhou Karst Landform Tour and Ethnic Minorities Discovery

11 Days Yunnan Spring Photograph Tour with Luoping Rapeseed Flowers Festival,Bamei Xanadu Village and Yuanyang Hani Rice Terrace Field