Taowa Village of Xunjiansi Town in Mile City, Honghe

? Taowa Village (陶瓦村) – The Hidden Land of the A-Zhe People

Where the thousand-year echo of the Women’s Dragon Festival still lingers

Nestled in the southwest of Xunjiansi Town (巡检司镇), Mile City (弥勒市), Taowa Village is home to the A-Zhe branch of the Yi ethnic group. Perched at an altitude of about 1,700 meters, it is famed for China’s only Women’s Dragon Festival, a three-day ritual blending fertility worship, reverence for nature, and agrarian culture — a living treasure of Yunnan’s intangible heritage.

? The Cultural Heartbeat: Women’s Dragon Festival

? The Only Women-Led Dragon Ritual in the World

Unlike other Yi villages where men dominate ceremonies, here women lead the entire process, with men playing only partial roles. The festival takes place from the 29th day of the first lunar month to the 2nd day of the second month. Over twenty distinct rituals are performed to pray for favorable weather and community prosperity.

⚡ Raw Power & Striking Imagery

• Men’s Painted Warrior Look ?: Young men wear palm-fiber hats and skirts, with bodies painted in scorpion, centipede, and wild boar motifs — recreating the “straight-eyed, wide-toothed” ancestors described in ancient Bimo scriptures.

• Fertility Symbols ?: Rituals feature bold imagery, such as single-log phallic carvings and gourd-lined banquet routes symbolizing the womb, expressing the community’s reverence for life’s continuation.

? The Three Core Rituals

• Hunting & Fire-Making: Men use flint to create new fire and hunt in the mountains for offerings.

• Evil-Spirit Banishing: Youth in “skull-face” makeup, led by the Bimo priest, sweep away misfortune from each home.

• Welcoming the Dragon Maiden: All women dress in their finest, greet the Dragon Maiden at the village gate, share songs, dances, and laughter — ending in a joyous “black face” smearing celebration.

? Immersive A-Zhe Cultural Experiences

? Costume Beauty

Women wear embroidered triangular “mantis hats” (symbolizing diligence), blue cross-collar tops adorned with silver beads, and light-blue trousers. During festivals, bougainvillea and banana flowers decorate their headpieces.

? Song, Dance & Craft

• Braided Ribbon Dance: Women weave thick red-and-white cords, demonstrating the unique A-Zhe threadwork used in raised embroidery patterns.

• Epic Love Songs: Throughout rituals, ancient ballads such as “Ai Zuo Ai Sha” are sung in tender, flowing melodies.

? Flavors of Ceremony

• Hundred-Family Feast: Villagers contribute dishes for a long-table banquet, with pine needles spread beneath to symbolize lush mountains and clear waters.

• Little Lamb Porridge: Children dressed as lambs eat porridge cooked from rice contributed by every household, symbolizing health and growth.

?️ Village Landscape & Nearby Adventures

? Village Charm

Taowa’s 68 households mix traditional earth homes with modern buildings. Murals of the Women’s Dragon Festival adorn the walls, and the streets are well-kept.

? Accolades

Recognized as a Provincial Intangible Heritage Village, a Yunnan Minority Characteristic Village, and a Municipal Ethnic Unity Demonstration Village.

? Nearby Attractions in Xunjiansi Town (巡检司镇)

• Yunnan–Vietnam Railway Nostalgia ?: Visit the abandoned French-style station and water tower for vintage photography.

• Nanpan River Rafting ?: Drift through kapok forests, past Guanyin Temple and the historic Xiao Family Mansion.

• Yezhe Gorge Hiking ?: Explore untouched waterfalls and emerald pools, just a short trip from the town center.

⚠️ Traveler’s Guide

• Best Time to Visit: During the Women’s Dragon Festival (around early March in 2026) for the full spectacle, or any time for embroidery workshops and tranquil village life.

• Getting There: Drive from Kunming via Kunshi and Guangkun expressways to Xunjiansi exit (about 2.5 hours). Free parking in the village.

• Stay: No lodging in the village — accommodations available in Xunjiansi Town or Mile City (including hot spring hotels).

• Etiquette: Photography of certain ritual objects (like phallic totems) is prohibited; the Dragon Mountain is off-limits to women.

• Photography Tips ?: Bring a telephoto lens for body-paint details, a wide-angle lens for the long-table feast, and warm layers for cool evenings.

? Final Words: Where Wildness Meets Grace

The magic of Taowa lies in its fearless embrace of primal energy, stitched together with the delicate threads of tradition.
? When painted warriors dance through fire, you feel the ancestors breathe across centuries.
? When A-Zhe women sing beneath flower crowns, you hear the gentlest epic of the Ailao Mountains (哀牢山).

“Three days at the Dragon Festival are worth ten years of Yi scriptures.”
Here, if you lay down modern restraint, you may just receive a soul-cleansing carnival of the spirit.