Ximeng Va Autonomous County (西盟佤族自治县) is an autonomous county under the jurisdiction of Pu’er Prefecture, Yunnan Province, China. Wa/Va people is the main inhabitants here. Wa language is common here. The Ximeng (西盟) county seat is small and one runs out of things to do there quickly, especially when there is no festival. However, getting out of town and exploring the countryside provides plenty of interesting diversions.

Wa People History

According to Sir George Scott in the Wa origin myths the first Wa originated from two female ancestors Ya Htawm and Ya Htai who spent their early phase as tadpoles (rairoh) in a lake known as Nawng Hkaeo. Very little is known about the early history of the Wa. What is known is mostly made up of local legends telling that in the distant past the historical Wa States and all the territories of eastern Shan State, as well as large swathes of the adjacent areas of present-day China had belonged to the Wa. In the area of the former Kengtung State the Wa were displaced around 1229 and were later defeated by King Mangrai. At the time of British rule in Burma the Tai Yai people were the majority of the population in Kengtung state with other groups such as Akha and Lahu, forming sizeable communities. The Wa now form a minority of only about 10% in Kengtung District despite having been the original inhabitants.

The Wa originally had animist religious beliefs centered around ritual blood sacrifices. Villages had a spirit healer (Tax Cao Chai) and the traditional way of dealing with sickness or other problems was to sacrifice a chicken, a pig or a larger animal, depending from the magnitude of the affliction. According to local legend, the practice of cutting a human head was intended as a ritual sacrifice in order to improve the fertility of the rice fields. Traditional villages had also shrines (Nyiex Moeg) where a buffalo was sacrificed once every year at a special Y-shaped post named Khaox Si Gang with an offering of the blood, meat and skin performed at it. Animals were also sacrificed at celebrations such as marriages and funerary rituals among the traditional spirit-worshiping Wa, a practice that still endures among the Christian Wa. However, the Wa that were under Buddhist influence developed different traditions.

In the traditional Wa society monogamous marriage was the norm and there was sexual freedom for both men and women before marriage. The chewing of betel with areca nut was formerly also an important custom. The Wa have different kinds of traditional dances. One important dance in their culture is accompanied by the beating of a large hollow wooden drum. This way of dancing, among other Wa dances such as the hair dance and festivals, is being promoted as a tourist attraction by the Yunnan tourism authorities in China. The Wa people also have a well-engrained drinking culture, with large amounts of local moonshine being produced and are widely believed to on average consume the largest amount of alcohol in China.

Clubs & Bars & KTVs

Chunda Internet Club(春达网络休闲会所)

Address: Ximeng Wa Autonomous County(西盟佤族自治县)

KTV(盛世木鼓KTV)

Address: Ximeng Wa Autonomous County(西盟佤族自治县)

Tel: 13769098985

Jinshuipan KTV(金水畔KTV)

Address: Ximeng Wa Autonomous County(西盟佤族自治县)

Washanyedu KTV(佤山夜都KTV)

Address: Ximeng Wa Autonomous County(西盟佤族自治县)

Coffee & Tea & Ice Cream

Sunshine Coffee(一米阳光咖啡屋)

Address: Jiangning Road, Ximeng Wa Autonomous County(西盟佤族自治县疆宁路)

Washanyuan Tea House(佤山源茶庄)

Address: Longtan Road, Ximeng Wa Autonomous County(西盟佤族自治县龙潭路)

Licking Mouth Ice Cream(舔舔嘴冷饮)

Address: Xingmeng Road, Ximeng Wa Autonomous County(西盟佤族自治县兴盟路)

Zishile Cake and Ice Cream(滋士乐蛋糕冷饮)

Address: Xingmeng Road, Ximeng Wa Autonomous County(西盟佤族自治县兴盟路)

The Customs of Wa People

Every time there is great event or festival, the Wa people will hold the Piaoniu ceremony, In this ceremony, they kill an ox, divide its meat amongst all the families for sacrifice to their ancestors. The ox bone is given to the host of the ceremony and symbolizes wealth. This ceremony is symbolic of their wish for peace and great harvest.

The Culture of Wa People

According to Sir George Scott in the Wa origin myths the first Wa originated from two female ancestors Ya Htawm and Ya Htai who spent their early phase as tadpoles (rairoh) in a lake known as Nawng Hkaeo. Very little is known about the early history of the Wa. What is known is mostly made up of local legends telling that in the distant past the historical Wa States and all the territories of eastern Shan State, as well as large swathes of the adjacent areas of present-day China had belonged to the Wa. In the area of the former Kengtung State the Wa were displaced around 1229 and were later defeated by King Mangrai. At the time of British rule in Burma the Tai Yai people were the majority of the population in Kengtung state with other groups such as Akha and Lahu, forming sizeable communities. The Wa now form a minority of only about 10% in Kengtung District despite having been the original inhabitants.

The Wa originally had animist religious beliefs centered around ritual blood sacrifices. Villages had a spirit healer (Tax Cao Chai) and the traditional way of dealing with sickness or other problems was to sacrifice a chicken, a pig or a larger animal, depending from the magnitude of the affliction. According to local legend, the practice of cutting a human head was intended as a ritual sacrifice in order to improve the fertility of the rice fields. Traditional villages had also shrines (Nyiex Moeg) where a buffalo was sacrificed once every year at a special Y-shaped post named Khaox Si Gang with an offering of the blood, meat and skin performed at it. Animals were also sacrificed at celebrations such as marriages and funerary rituals among the traditional spirit-worshiping Wa, a practice that still endures among the Christian Wa. However, the Wa that were under Buddhist influence developed different traditions.

In the traditional Wa society monogamous marriage was the norm and there was sexual freedom for both men and women before marriage. The chewing of betel with areca nut was formerly also an important custom. The Wa have different kinds of traditional dances. One important dance in their culture is accompanied by the beating of a large hollow wooden drum. This way of dancing, among other Wa dances such as the hair dance and festivals, is being promoted as a tourist attraction by the Yunnan tourism authorities in China. The Wa people also have a well-engrained drinking culture, with large amounts of local moonshine being produced and are widely believed to on average consume the largest amount of alcohol in China.

Lancang Lahu Autonomous County (simplified Chinese: 澜沧拉祜族自治县; traditional Chinese: 瀾滄拉祜族自治縣; pinyin: Láncāng lāhùzú Zìzhìxiàn) is an autonomous county under the jurisdiction of Pu’er City, in southwestern Yunnan province, China. Lancang is the same as Lan Xang, and refers to the Mekong River (known in Chinese as the Lancang) on its eastern borders and adopted by modern Laos, a Tai word meaning Million Elephants. A large portion of the population are of Lahu ethnicity, and Lahu language is one of the official languages in the county. The Aciga 阿茨戛 people of Lancang County number about 50 individuals, and are located in Yakou Township 雅口乡 and Nanxian Township 南现乡 (You 2013:134). Their original language had become extinct, and the Aciga now speak Chinese and Yi. The Aciga are currently classified by the Chinese government as ethnic Yi.

Lahu People History

Legend says that the forbears of the Lahu people, who were hunters, began migrating southward to lush grassland which they discovered while pursuing a red deer. Some scholars hold that during the Western Han Dynasty more than 2,000 years ago, the “Kunmings,” the nomadic tribe pasturing in the Erhai area in western Yunnan, might be the forbears of certain ethnic groups, including the Lahus. Then, the “Kunming” people still lived in a primitive society “without common rulers.” They belonged to different clans engaged in hunting. The Lahu people once were known for their skill at hunting tigers. They roved over the lush slopes of the towering Ailao and Wuliang mountains.

In the 8th century, after the rise of the Nanzhao regime in Yunnan, the Lahu people were compelled to move south. By no later than the beginning of the 18th century they already had settled in their present-day places. Influenced by the feudal production methods of neighboring Han and Dai peoples, they turned to agriculture. With economic development, they gradually passed into a feudal system, and their life style and customs were more or less influenced by the Hans and Dais.

Clubs & Bars & KTVs

Come Bar(来吧)

Address: Minzu Street, Lancang Lahu Autonomous County(澜沧拉祜族自治县民族街)

Qingfeng Town(清风小镇)

Address: Jianshe Road, Menglang Town, Lancang Lahu Autonomous County(澜沧拉祜族自治县勐朗镇建设路)

11.6 Zhendi Bar(11.6阵地)

Address: Lusheng Road, Lancang Lahu Autonomous County(澜沧拉祜族自治县芦笙路)

20:30 Leisure Bar(20:30休闲酒吧)

Address: Lancang Lahu Autonomous County(澜沧拉祜族自治县芦笙路)

Qingfeng Night KTV(清风唱晚KTV)

Address: Lancang Lahu Autonomous County(澜沧拉祜族自治县)

Tel: 15125616592

Coffee & Tea & Ice Cream

Tea House(寻茶楼)

Address: Lancang Lahu Autonomous County(澜沧拉祜族自治县)

Tel: 13769926262

Huiyou Tea House(会友茶楼)

Address: Near the Huancheng Road, Lancang Lahu Autonomous County(澜沧拉祜族自治县环城路附近)

Yinshu Tea House(饮舒茶楼)

Address: Near the Huancheng Road, Lancang Lahu Autonomous County(澜沧拉祜族自治县环城路附近)

Laonietao Dai Snack and Beverage Stores(老咩淘傣味小吃冷饮店)

Address: Lancang Lahu Autonomous County(澜沧拉祜族自治县)

Tel: 13577985333

The Festival of Lahu People

The Spring Festival is regarded as the grandest days which are called ‘Kuota’ in their language and can be divided into the great year and the lesser year. The great year, from the first day to the fourth of the first lunar month, is celebrated especially for women and the other one from the ninth day to the eleventh, for men. The ‘full year’ indicates the twelfth day of that month and is celebrated by all the people.

This is derived from an old custom. Long ago, the men hunted afar and could not arrive home by the start of the New Year. When they returned, women would celebrate the New Year again with them. On the first day, they hurry to carry the first barrel of ‘new water’ that is the token of happiness, then worship their ancestors, and feed oxen with tender grass; on the third day, they visit each other with gifts of food, singing and dancing; after the ‘full year’ they hold various activities like swinging and playing the peg-top. This will last till the fifteenth day.

Lancang Lahu Autonomous County (simplified Chinese: 澜沧拉祜族自治县; traditional Chinese: 瀾滄拉祜族自治縣; pinyin: Láncāng lāhùzú Zìzhìxiàn) is an autonomous county under the jurisdiction of Pu’er City, in southwestern Yunnan province, China. Lancang is the same as Lan Xang, and refers to the Mekong River (known in Chinese as the Lancang) on its eastern borders and adopted by modern Laos, a Tai word meaning Million Elephants.

Lancang River Culture

The Lancang River is the longest river flowing from north to south in China. It takes its source from the Zhaqu of the Guangguori Peak of Tanggula Mountain Range in Qinghai Province, China. It is called the Lancang River after it reaches Changdu. The river runs south until it leaves China at the Nanla Bayout of Yunnan Province and therefrom changes its name from the Lancang River to the Mekong River. The river finally empties into the Pacific Ocean in the south of Ho Chi Minh City of Vietnam. As the longest river in the Southeast Asia, the river has a total length of 2,354 kilometers and a drainage basin area of 165,000 square kilometers. The Lancang River is China’s main artery of water carriage connecting Southeast Asian countries, and it is reputed as the “Danube of the East”. The Lancang River has important value for travel industry, as the soil of the Lancang River valley is fertile, the resources are rich, the products are plentiful, the riverside scenery is beautiful, the ethical cultures and customs are special and the scenic spots and historical sites are numerous.     

The Lancang River is a fantastic river with more than ten ethic minorities living along the river. In China, it is the only river where so many nationalities are living. Boating down with the current, tourists can view not only the rust-red water of the river, the white clouds and green mountains of the riverside, but also the ethical cultures and customs along the river.   

Huonian Bar 火鸟酒吧

Add：Mildle of Wenwei Street of Jiangchuan county in Yuxi.玉溪市江川县文卫街中段

Tel：18724847647

Kangti Teahouse康提茶庄 

Add：Water Conservancy Bureau of Jiangchuan county in Yuxi.玉溪市江川县水利局附近

Tel：0877-2055918

Tianyi House 天颐楼 

Add：Water Conservancy Bureau of Jiangchuan county in Yuxi玉溪市江川县水利局附近

Tel：0877-8011966

Jiangchuan Club 江川娱乐部

Add：No,36 On Ninghai road of Jiangchun county in Yuxi.玉溪市江川县宁海路36号江川宾馆内

Tel：0877-8012203

JiangchuAN Gym 江川体育馆 

Add：No,36 on Xingjiang road of Jiangchuan in Yuxi.玉溪市江川县兴江路36

Impression Universsal Studio 印象影城(江川店) 

Add：No,14 on Fengbao Road  of Jiangchuan in Yuxi宝凤路14号

Tel：0877-8038666

Located in Jiangchuan County of Yunnan, Lijiashan Bronze Wares Museum is the first bronze wares museum in China. It mainly collects the bronze wares over 10,000 pieces between the Warring States Period and the Han Dynasty unearthed in the Lijiashan Ancient Graveyard in Jiangchuan. There are tools of agricultural production, utensils for daily life tools, weapons and musical instruments, etc. Among them thousands of historical and cultural exquisite articles including Bronze Ox and Tiger Altar and Cowries Vessel can be rated as “the cultural flower in the south of Yunnan, the rare treasure in the world”.

The Highlights of Bronze Culture

In 1972, the state authority on cultural relics carried out an excavation to Lijiashan.

At Lijiashan Mountain by the Xingyun Lake, some 87 ancient tombs dated back to Spring and Autumn Period or the Western Han Dynasty were excavated. Over 4,000 pieces of bronze, jade, and stone relics of rich content, fine craftsmanship and striking ethnic feature were unearthed, from which the developing phases of the culture of Central Yunnan can be induced and deduced. Such a large number of relics show a striking ethnic feature and the close relationship between Yunnan and Central China. The world famous “Cattle-Tiger Bronze Table” is the representative masterpiece of Lijiashan Bronze Culture, which displays a relatively high level in form, design and cast skill, being one of the national treasures of bronze relics.

Lijiashan Bronze Museum  

Lijiashan Bronze Museum is in Dajie Township of Jiangchuan County. It collects most of the unearthed relics from Lijiashan, including weapons, musical instruments, ceremony devices, production tools, weaving tools, living utensils, ornaments, horse decorations, and other articles. The materials are of copper, iron, gold, silver, jade, stone, wood, and lacquer, of which most are bronze. 
 
From January to May in 1972, an archaeological team made up of Yunnan Provincial Museum and Jiangchuan Cultural Center made a 60-day excavation and unearthed 27 tombs in total. The No. 21 tomb was revealed to be about 2,500 years old by radiocarbon assessment. About 1,300 burial articles were excavated including the famous Bull-Tiger Bronze Table. 
 
In May 1991, villagers discovered new tombs and burials in their prospecting for mine and the burials were identified from Bronze Age. A second large excavation was then conducted by Yunnan Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, Yuxi Cultural Relics Administration Center and Jiangchuan Cultural Relics Administration Center from December 1991 to June 1992. Fifty-eight tombs were cleared within 1,100 square meters and 2,066 burials of copper, iron, gold, and jade were discovered. Most of the burials were similar to the ones from the first excavation, but there were still many that first appeared among Dian bronze relics. The excavation was selected as one of the ten greatest discoveries of the year in 1992 and some of the articles were exhibited in Exhibition of China’s Greatest Cultural Relics in Shanghai in 1993. In the spring of 1994, another tomb was excavated as one program of Sino-Japanese Cultural Exchange and about 100 bronze and iron articles were unearthed. 

The Bull and Tiger Bronze Table 

The Bull and Tiger Bronze Table unearthed in 1972 is the representative of Dian bronze relics. The table is made up of one tiger and two cattle. The major body is a standing bull with its hoofs as the table feet. A calf is under the belly of the bull. A tiger is at the hinder hoofs of the bull, biting the tail of the bull. The bull is full of muscles and the tiger shows strength in biting. The combination of dynamic and static images reflects the struggling in the nature as well as the power of Dian king. The table which has unique form and exquisite craft is considered a rare treasure. Another bull-deer shell container is in cylinder shape with three feet that are of squatting human figures with head and hands supporting the body. The container has intaglio patters that are in peacock and human figures. The lid has a bull in the middle and one tiger and three deer on the edge. 
 
Of all shell containers, the most impressive one is sacrifice container. Its main body is in drum shape with four ears and three feet. Boating and dancing figures are carved around the body. There are 35 human figures on the lid, with some sitting noble women, following servants, planting farmers and business people having deals in the sacrifice spot. There is a hole in the middle of the lid with a copper stick in it.
 
Yunnan is in the southwest of China. Due to its geographical location, natural environment and transportation restrains, it was cut off from the Central China for a long time. Therefore the people in Yunnan got little influence from the Confucius tradition in the Central China. They worshiped nature and ethnic characteristics. In artistic design and presentation, it was seen with primitive patterns and rich imaginations. Though bronze crafts in Central China was matured in Shang and Zhou dynasties, the forms and patterns of the wares look dull and lifeless. For example, the ancient Ding (cooking vessels), Zun (wine vessels) and chimes that symbolize emperors and authority are large and heavy and appear to be solemn without vitality. As to the material varieties, due to scarcity of copper and tin in Central China, bronze wares are mostly weapons, ceremony devices and court appliances which are used only by aristocratic class not only by ordinary people. In Yunnan, however, the production tools, articles for daily use, weapons, musical instruments and ornaments of all kinds are made of bronze. For instance, the bronze umbrella and bronze pillow that are common in ancient Dian are not seen in Central China. 
 

Lijiashan Bronze Relics Museums

Lijiashan Bronze Relics Museum started construction in January 1993 and was completed in October 1994. It is the first bronze museum at county level in China. It occupies an area of 2,343 square meters. 
 
Address: No. 1 West Xingyun Road, Dajie Township, Jiangchuan County, Yuxi
Open: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Admission: 10 yuan
Telephone: 0877 – 8013320

The Chengjiang Lakeside Music Festival — Yunnan’s most recent returnee to the ever-changing landscape of outdoor jamborees — will soon pitch a tent for a weekend of summer revelry. The event will take place just east of Kunming on the beautiful shores of what is arguably China’s cleanest lake — Fuxian (抚仙湖).

Known for its little-explored sunken city, Fuxian will play host to 13 local bands along with 13 DJs. Performances will be split between the ‘Rock’ and ‘Electronica’ stages. Held Friday and Saturday, August 21-22, the Chengjiang Lakeside Music Festival will feature everything from funk, soul, punk and reggae to metal, hip-hop and Sino-pop, all beachside at the Luchong Scenic Area (禄充风景区). An exact schedule has yet to be hammered out, but the following acts are currently on the bill.

Chengjiang’s  Summer Festival 立夏节

Chengjiang’s traditional folk festival begins in summer and lasts five days. It is held north of Fuxian Lake. Learn folk traditions. Watch Yunnan opera. Take snooooooooooooChengjiang’s Summer Festival, which dates back to 1755, now marks the official start of the summer season at Fuxian Lake and is celebrated with a large market on the lake’s shore.

Additional activities

Along with the wide variety of musical acts, organizers have set up fun-filled athletic competitions and other interactive games. Between or during musical sets, visitors looking for entertainment can enjoy bouts of water tug-of-war and games of beach volleyball. There are even rumors of remote controlled boat races. Attendees keen on demonstrating their eating prowess may want to head over to the hot dog eating contest, while automobile aficionados can gawk at the modified car show.

In addition to hot dogs, the event will feature a large medley of Chinese and international tastes. A food truck — perhaps the first of its kind in Yunnan — will feature handmade Mexican dishes. In addition to this culinary surprise, delicious local fare will also be available. A cocktail and wine bar with more than 40 different varieties of drinks will take care of the thirsty.

Tickets, travel and accommodation

Advanced tickets to the Chengjiang Lakeside Music Festival cost 120 yuan and can be purchased online or by calling 65372555. Tickets purchased at the festival entrance cost 150 yuan. There is an additional 15 yuan entry fee, separate from event itself, to enter the scenic area where the festival is held.

Event organizers have chartered a shuttle service to the event from Kunming. Buses will depart from the Expo Garden Hotel at 8pm on the evening of August 21. Tickets are one-way only, cost 40 yuan and can be purchased when boarding.

Concertgoers need to arrange their own accommodations, of which there are many, many options. Prices per room can range anywhere from 50 to 1,500 yuan depending on the required level of opulence. However, for those wanting to sleep under the stars, organizers have a limited number of tents available for rent. These cost 80 yuan per day and can be reserved in advance by calling 65372555.