Mangdao Dai Ethnic Culture Protection Area in Jinggu County, Puer
普洱市景谷傣族彝族自治县永平镇茂密村民委员会芒岛村民小组

http://www.ynich.cn/view-ml-11114-1690.html

Mandanzhai Achang Ethnic Culture Protection Area in Longling County, Baoshan

http://www.ynich.cn/view-ml-11114-1689.html

Geographical Location

The Zhuang Ethnic Cultural Reserve is located in Malipo County, Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province. Nestled in southeastern Yunnan near the China-Vietnam border, this region is characterized by rolling hills, lush forests, and a subtropical climate. Key nearby areas include:

• Tianbao Port (天保口岸): A major Sino-Vietnamese border crossing, 34 km from Malipo town1.
• Guangnan County (广南县): To the northwest, known for its traditional Zhuang villages.
• Funing County (富宁县): To the east, another hub of Zhuang culture.

Cultural History

The Zhuang people have inhabited Malipo for centuries, preserving unique traditions despite modernization. Historically, the area was part of ancient trade routes between China and Vietnam, influencing local customs. The reserve was officially recognized to protect:

• Traditional stilt-house (Ganlan-style) architecture (杆栏式建筑), where homes are built on wooden pillars.
• Zhuang embroidery (壮族刺绣技艺), a delicate handicraft passed down through generations3.
• “Nong Ya Wai” (弄娅歪), a ceremonial dance performed during festivals.

Folk Culture

The reserve safeguards several intangible cultural heritages:

• “Horse Hoof” Rice Dumplings (马脚杆肉粽): A Zhuang delicacy made with glutinous rice and smoked pork, shaped like a horse’s hoof6.
• “March 3rd Flower Street Festival” (三月三花街节): A vibrant event where young Zhuang sing and dance to find love3.
• Bronze Drum Dance (铜鼓舞): A UNESCO-listed ritual dance performed in Guangnan and Malipo1.

Climate & Best Time to Visit

• Climate: Subtropical monsoon, with mild winters (avg. 16°C) and warm, rainy summers.
• Best Seasons: Spring (March-May) and Autumn (September-November) for comfortable weather and festivals.
• Avoid the rainy season (June-August), as some roads may become muddy4.

Recommended Attractions

Transportation

• From Kunming: Take a 5-6 hr bus (¥100) to Malipo, then a local van to the reserve5.
• From Wenshan City: 2-hour bus ride (¥40) to Malipo.
• Local Travel: Shared vans (¥10-20) or taxis available for short trips.

Local Cuisine

• “Horse Hoof” Rice Dumplings (马脚杆肉粽) – A must-try Zhuang specialty6.
• Sour Fish Hotpot (酸汤鱼) – A tangy, spicy dish influenced by Vietnamese flavors.
• Sticky Rice Cakes (糯米糍粑) – Sweet or savory, often served during festivals.

Shopping

• Handmade Zhuang Embroidery – Intricate patterns on clothing and accessories.
• Local Tea (底圩茶) – A fragrant brew from nearby Dixu Township.
• Bronze Drum Replicas – Symbolic souvenirs of Zhuang heritage.

Accommodation

• Malipo Town: Budget hotels (¥100-200/night).
• Homestays in Zhuang Villages – Experience traditional hospitality (¥80-150/night).

Travel Tips

✔ Respect local customs (e.g., ask before photographing rituals).
✔ Carry cash – Some villages lack ATMs.
✔ Pack layers – Mountainous areas can be cool at night.

Sample Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Malipo → Explore Cizhuba Sea of Clouds → Stay in town.
Day 2: Visit Qingshui River Canyon → Lunch at a Zhuang village.
Day 3: Tour Tianbao Port → Return to Kunming.

Malipo’s Zhuang Cultural Reserve offers a rare glimpse into China’s ethnic heritage, blending stunning landscapes with living traditions. Whether witnessing a Bronze Drum Dance or tasting handmade rice dumplings, visitors leave with a deeper appreciation of this vibrant culture.

For Chinese version please go to:
http://www.ynich.cn/view-ml-11114-1688.html

Fengyu Town Bai Ethnic Culture Protection Area in Eryuan County, Dali

http://www.ynich.cn/view-ml-11114-1687.html

Dinglai Wa Ethnic Culture Protection Area in Cangyuan County, Lincang

http://www.ynich.cn/view-ml-11114-1686.html

Dananzhi Bulang Ethnic Culture Protection Area in Shuangjiang County, Lincang

http://www.ynich.cn/view-ml-11114-1685.html

Geographical Location

Chengzhai Village (程寨村) is located in Donggan Town (董干镇), Malipo County, Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province. It sits at the junction of Malipo, Funing (富宁县), and Guangnan (广南县), approximately 134 km from Malipo’s county seat.

Adjacent Areas:

• East: Muyang Township (木央乡), Funing County
• South: Huilong Village Committee (回龙村委会), Donggan Town
• West: Xinzhai Village Group (新寨村小组)
• North: Heizhiguo Township (黑支果乡), Guangnan County, separated by a river

Cultural History

Chengzhai is home to the Bai Luo (白倮), a unique Yi ethnic subgroup with distinct cultural practices differing from other Yi communities. Historical records mention them as early as the Ming Dynasty’s Tianqi era (1621-1627), where they were referred to as Bai Luoluo in Dian Zhi (滇志).

Key Historical Notes:

• Maintained closed clan marriages and minimal external interaction.
• Preserved ancient stilt-house (Ganlan-style) architecture and bronze drum culture.
• Listed in Yunnan’s 2nd Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Catalog (2009) as a Traditional Ethnic Cultural Reserve.

Folk Culture

The Bai Luo people retain primitive customs, unique clothing, and traditional craftsmanship:

1. Traditional Architecture

Multi-Pillar Stilt Houses (多柱形杆栏式建筑): Built with 52, 56, or 66 wooden pillars, arranged in 8 rows.

Three levels:

• Ground floor: Livestock
• Second floor: Living quarters
• Third floor: Storage

2. Festivals & Rituals

Buckwheat Festival (荞菜节):

• Held on the first Dragon Day of April (lunar calendar).
• A thanksgiving ritual where villagers worship ancestors for providing buckwheat during famine.
• Features bronze drum dances, chants, and divination ceremonies.

3. Traditional Crafts

Wax Dyeing (蜡染):

• Uses beeswax and indigo to create geometric patterns.
• Steps: Wax application, dyeing, soaking, and wax removal.

Handmade Textiles:

• Women spin cotton, weave cloth, and embroider intricate designs.

Weather & Best Time to Visit

Climate: Subtropical highland monsoon (avg. 16–24°C).

Best Seasons:

• Spring (March–May): Mild weather, ideal for festivals.
• Autumn (September–November): Clear skies, comfortable temperatures.

Avoid: June–August (rainy season) and January–February (cold, foggy).

Recommended Attractions

Transportation

From Kunming:

• Bus (6-7 hrs to Malipo, then transfer to Donggan Town).
• Self-drive: ~418 km via G80 Expressway5.

Local Travel: Shared vans or taxis from Malipo to Chengzhai (~3 hrs).

Local Cuisine

• Tuo Tuo Meat (坨坨肉): Chunky boiled pork with minimal seasoning.
• Buckwheat Dishes: Traditional staple during festivals.
• Yul’erbei Mineral Water (玉尔贝矿泉水): Sourced from pristine forests.

Shopping

• Handmade Wax-Dyed Fabric (unique Bai Luo patterns).
• Bronze Drum Replicas (symbolic souvenirs).

Accommodation

• Malipo Town: Budget hotels (¥100–200/night).
• Homestays in Chengzhai: Basic but immersive (¥80–150/night).

Travel Tips

✔ Respect local customs (e.g., ask before photographing rituals).
✔ Carry cash (limited ATMs in villages).
✔ Dress in layers (mountainous areas get chilly at night).

Sample Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Malipo → Explore Cizhuba Sea of Clouds → Overnight in town.
Day 2: Travel to Chengzhai Village → Experience Bai Luo culture.
Day 3: Visit Tianbao Port → Return to Kunming.

Chengzhai offers a rare glimpse into the Bai Luo people’s ancient traditions, from stilt houses to wax-dyeing artistry. Whether witnessing a Buckwheat Festival or trekking through misty highlands, visitors leave with a deeper appreciation of Yunnan’s ethnic heritage.

For Chinese version please  go to:
http://www.ynich.cn/view-ml-11114-1684.html

Daguokou Yi Ethnic Culture Protection Area in Chuxiong City, Chuxiong
http://www.ynich.cn/view-ml-11114-1680.html

Laifeng Mountain National Forest Park

Located in the south of the county seat, the Laifeng Mountain is regarded as the symbol of Tengchong. Though not very high, it is strategically situated and difficult of access and more beautiful than any other mountain in the area. The hill is covered with luxuriant green trees. The name of the hill came from the shape of the hill, which looks like a phoenix resting at the Tengchong Basin. Textual research has shown that the Laifeng Mountain was formed about 900,000 years ago when volcanoes erupted here. It is one of the oldest volcanoes in Tengchong. When the sun shines again after a rain, the mountain is shrouded in mist and clouds. So the Laifeng Mountain is famous for its mist and clouds when the weather becomes fine after a rain, and is one of the twelve scenic spots in Tengchong. The whole park has an area of 97,000 mu.

Laifeng Park lies at the foot of the Laifeng Mountain. It was built where the Laifeng Temple was built in the Qing Dynasty. Climbing on scores of steps, you will reach the gate of the Laifeng Temple, over which is a board engraved with “Laifeng Temple”, which was written by Zhao Puchu, president of the Chinese Buddhism Association. Everywhere you can see ponds, winding corridors, rockeries, little bridges and pavilions, which will remind you of the gardens in Jiangsu and Zhejiang. This Buddhist temple is well-known in the western part of yunnan and the northern part of Burma. In Laifeng Park there is an exhibition of historical relics and ethnic customs and cultures. The History and Nature Museum of Tengchong is also located inside the park.

Why is Laifeng Mountain National Park so special?

Due to its unique natural and cultural landscape, it is called a “green pearl” embedded in the first city of the extreme side. With over 90% plants coverage, it is the national forest park. It also offers the rich spicies, more than 300 species of wild birds and 50 species of mammals.

Where is Laifeng Mountain National Park?

Laifeng Mountain National Park is located at the foot of the Laifeng Mountain, 1 km south of the county seat. The forest coverage rate is over 90%, the highest altitude is 1912 meters, and the lowest altitude is 1640 meters.

How to get to Laifeng Mountain National Park?

It is 1 km from downtown of Tengchong. It is convenient for travelers to drive or cycle to Laifeng National Park.

Main Attractions

Laifeng Temple(来凤寺)

Laifeng Temple, Tengchong’s most famous Buddhist resort, was built in the Nanzhao period of the Tang Dynasty. It was originally called Longfeng Temple. It was renamed Laifeng Temple in the Ming Dynasty. It was later destroyed in the Qing Dynasty. The existing temple was rebuilt for the thirteenth year of Guangxu Period of Qing Dynasty(AD 1887).

The architecture of Laifeng Temple is elegant and exquisite. The Buddha statue of Daxiong Temple is compassionate and solemn. The Yufo Temple has white jade reclining Buddha and eighteen arhats. On the left front side of the Daxiong Hall, there is the Sakyamuni Buddha Temple, which is dedicated to the statue of Bai Yu Sakyamuni Buddha. On the left side, there are four high-rise buildings in the ancient city of Tengyue.

Baiyu Zushi Temple(白玉祖师殿)

Outside the garden on the right side of the Daxiong Hall, there is the Baiyuzu Shidian Temple, which was built in the first year of Daoguang of the Qing Dynasty (AD 1821). It is the place where the jeweler and jade industry colleagues are dedicated to the ancestors Baiyu real people and gatherings.

Fengling Tower(凤岭塔)

The Fengling Tower on the top of the mountain was built in the 7th year of the Qing Dynasty (AD 1827) and was destroyed during the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. The tower is on the central axis of the Confucian Temple, like a pen, and lotus pond is like an ink-slab. If there are enough writing tools, the talents come forth in large numbers. Therefore, the folks call the Fengling Tower Wenbi Tower, a writing tower. The writing tower has become a symbol of the Tengchong people’s literary grace.

Recommended Tours

8 Days Yunnan Gaoli Gongshan Mountain Birding Tour

10 Days West Yunnan Birding Tour with Gaoli Gongshan Mountain, Tongbiguan Nature Reserve and Ruili Tropical Forest

Nearby Attractions

Heshun Ancient Town

Heshun Ancient Town is located in 4 kilometers southwest of Tengchong County. ‘Heshun’ meas peaceful and great life of Heshun people. With a population of more than 6000, the overseas Heshun people total more than 12000 hence the frame ‘ The Home of Overseas Chinese’. Enjoying long history and civilization of more than 600 years, there is around 1000 traditional folk residences in Heshun, 100 of which is built in Qing Dynasty, known as the ‘Living Fossil of Chinese Ancient Architecture’. You can not only appreciate the romantic charm of Hui-style architecture but also find out some western elements in Heshun Ancient Town. The Chinese and Western style mix together and show a unique charm.

The Hot Sea and Hot Field

The Big Boiling Bowl is one of the main attractions in Tengchong County that is accessible from Heshun village. The temperature reaches up to 97 degrees in some of the springs. The locals even offer eggs cooked in the hot springs. The water contains high levels of minerals that provide a lot of benefits for the skin.

Useful Travel Tips

Best Time to Visit: Travelers had better to visit Laifeng Mountain from April to October, with fragrant grass and booming flowers. Relatively speaking, the summer is hot and rainy, the winter climate is cold, and the comfort is slightly inferior to the spring and autumn.

Opening Hours: Park opening time differs in terms of season, 6:30-18:30 in spring, autumn and winter, 8:00- 17:00 in winter.

The news was updated on May 19, 2019. 

China is arguably making the world’s biggest push to reduce the digital divide between rural and urban residents, with mobile carriers and telecom tower builders pouring tons of resources into ensuring that more people can access fast, affordable mobile communication and broadband network services.

The move is part of broader efforts launched by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the Ministry of Finance, which aims to cover 98 percent of China’s administrative villages with 4G mobile signals by 2020. Starting from the end of 2015, the central government, local governments and telecom carriers have invested more than 40 billion yuan ($5.8 billion) in total in its first three rounds of pilot projects to expand optical networks to 130,000 administrative villages, including 43,000 poor villages.

Ahead of this year’s World Telecommunication and Information Society Day which falls on Friday, China Daily reporter Ma Si visited a string of villages and cities across Yunnan province to see how local telecom companies are overcoming geographical barriers to expand network construction and how people in mountainous areas and ethnic groups are benefiting from the upgraded internet services.

Dulong ethnic minority group in Dulongjiang township, Gongshan county, Yunnan province

The Dulong, one of China’s smallest ethnic groups, live along the deep gorges of the Dulong River in Yunnan. This area, listed as one of the least developed regions in the country, did not bid farewell to the primitive life until the founding of New China in 1949.

One of the main reasons behind Dulong’s poverty lies in its geographical complexities. The Dulong River region is not only a mountainous area, but also frequently struck by snowstorms in winter as well as landslides and mudslides in summer. About 20 years ago, it took three days to walk from Dulongjiang township to its nearest county of Gongshan. The township, which did not have the connections to receive telephone calls until 2004, is the last ethnic minority area in China to access basic telephone services.

But in 2014, thanks to the efforts of telecom carriers including China Mobile and China Unicom, the Dulong became the first ethnic minority group to access 4G services in China. The process, however, was by no means easy. Ma Chunhai, deputy general manager of China Mobile’s Gongshan branch, recalled that every year, only two months offer a prime time for construction in Dulong township and, because of the geographical barriers, it was extremely difficult to transport all the materials needed to build base stations, making the transportation costs incredibly high.

Ma and his colleagues also had to frequently climb over Gongshan Mountain to find appropriate locations to build base stations, even in heavy wind and snow.

But finally, in June 2014, 4G services were commercialized across Dulong township. So far, it is covered by 34 base stations, allowing local residents to enjoy the information highway, even though there’s no geographical highway connecting the village with the outside world. In 2015, China Mobile also invested nearly 3 million yuan to send about 5,000 of its own-brand smartphones to villagers in Dulong township and help them learn how to use smartphones to sell agricultural products online, watch videos and gain opportunities to acquire more knowledge.

德宏芒市芒海镇  Manghai Town in Mangshi City, Dehong

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