Zhiziluo Old Town in Fugong County, Nujiang

Why is Zhiziluo village So Special?

Zhiziluo was the government seat of Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture before 1974. In history, Zhiziluo was a pivot along the Nujiang River and an important courier station on the Tea and Horse Road which connected Nujiang with central China in the past. Nowadays, it is often called "the city of memory". It is a place where old architectures are well preserved and maintained which could give you a vintage tour back to the 1980s.

Where is Zhiziluo village - Location

Zhiziluo village is under jurisdiction of Pihe Nu Township(匹河怒族乡) of Fugong County of Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture, which is located in the east of Pihe township, adjacent to Lanping Bai Pumi Autonomous County(兰坪白族普米族自治县) in the east, Puluo village(普洛村) in the south, Jiajiu village(架究村) in the west and Shava village(沙瓦村) in the north, 44 kilometers away from Fugong county.

History and Culture

Zhiziluo, means "a good place" in Lisu language. More than one thousand years ago, the descendants of one Wuman Tribe of Diqiang, crossed the Biluo snow mountain from the Lancang river and reached the "Zhiziluo" for settlement. In the past, it only took about 1 day from ancient Nanzhao Kingdom(Dali) to Gaoligong Mountain via Zhiziluo and Biluo Snow Mountain, then Zhiziluo became an important post and market on the ancient tea horse road. 

Due to its special location, it was once the core city of the Nujiang basin. The seat of Nujiang prefecture and Bijiang county were located here, becoming the most prosperous political and economic center of nujiang state. On December 25, 1986, the Bijiang county, with a newly built building on a hillside was abruptly abandoned because it had been analysed by experts from the geology department that extensive landslides were possible in this area. So the name "Bijiang county" disappeared from the map of China forever. 

Features

Zhiziluo is a small village located in northwest Yunnan’s Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture. What makes Zhiziluo unique is its old-fashioned look which arouses people’s nostalgic feelings. The octagonal library is a must-see attraction in Zhiziluo. Today it sits unused, its doors propped open so random tourists can climb the stairs to reach its wrap-around balconies. The slogans in the 1980s and the images of Chairman Mao are still posted on the walls in the library, just like what old movies show. 

Much of the local populace are of the Lisu and Nu minorities and many of them practice Christianity. An old church is one of the few non-residential buildings put to use on a regular basis and is still a place of worship for those left in the village. In recent years, especially after the film “Zhiziluo” hit the screen, more and more tourists are attracted by its well-protected architectures. It is reported that there is a high-end tourism project under construction in Zhiziluo now.

How to Get there

There is no direct long-distance bus to Zhiziluo from Kunming and Dali. Tourists can only transfer to at Liuku. There is direct night bus from Kunming to Fugong. For the last leg of the journey you will need to arrange a ride in a minibus from one of the Liuku locals. Bargain hard, this should be very inexpensive. Keep in mind the final push from Liuku to Zhiziluo is another 108 kilometers and depending on road and weather conditions, can easily take four or more hours.

Accommodate at Zhiziluo Village

There are several agritainments which can provide accommodation for tourists.

Useful Travel Tips

▪ Do take a camera. The scenery is extremely beautiful there
▪ Respect the customs of ethnic minorities and avoid disturbing the lives of local people. 
▪ Grab your rain gear. There's a lot of rain during the rainy season from May to August.