Dapingzhang Village of Kucong Ethnic People in Enle Town of Zhenyuan County, Puer

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📍 Location: A New Village Beneath the Ailao Mountains

Nestled in the eastern part of Enle Township (恩乐镇) in Zhenyuan County, Pu’er City, this revitalized village lies 9 kilometers from the township center and sits at an altitude of around 1,300 meters in the heart of the Ailao Mountain range. Surrounded by over 112,000 mu (7,500+ hectares) of forestland, the area enjoys a subtropical climate with an annual average temperature of 24.5°C. A county road connects it conveniently to downtown Zhenyuan — just a 20-minute drive away.

🕰️ Historical Transformation: From Mountain Isolation to Modern Revival

🌿 Primitive Survival

The Kucong people, a subgroup of the Lahu ethnic minority, once lived in deep forest isolation — residing in bamboo and bark huts, practicing slash-and-burn farming, and relying on wild harvesting in a lifestyle described as “plant a mountain, harvest a basket.”

🤝 Government Support

Recognizing their extreme poverty, the central government launched a relocation and development initiative in 2006, investing in the construction of 200 homes for resettlement. The first wave of 1,000 villagers moved into the newly built village in 2007, marking the start of a transformative journey.

🌱 Poverty Alleviation & Rural Revitalization

By 2021, the average annual income per resident had risen dramatically, thanks to a thriving local economy centered around tea and nut cultivation, replacing bare subsistence with sustainable industry.

🧬 Cultural Identity: Tradition Meets Modernity

✨ Cultural Symbols

Shepa Festival (畲葩节): Held on the eighth day of the second lunar month, this traditional festival features torch dances and tree-spirit rituals to honor ancestral roots.

Architectural Heritage: Village homes retain elements of traditional Kucong “shimmer-tile houses”, with steeply pitched roofs adapted to the region’s frequent rainfall. Yellow earth walls and black-tiled roofs reflect local aesthetic and functional needs.

🏛️ Cultural and Spiritual Landmarks

Kucong Cultural History Museum: The only museum in China dedicated to Kucong heritage, housing over 150 artifacts including bark clothing, hunting gear, and historical documents from the Tea-Horse Road trade.

Exhibition Highlight: A People Living With Mountains — chronicling the journey from seclusion to integration.

Martyrs’ Monument: A memorial honoring Tian Guofu, a local hero remembered for his sacrifice in disaster relief missions.

🧭 Visitor Experience: An Immersive Ethnic Journey

▶ Key Attractions

🏺 Kucong History & Culture Museum

Opening Hours: 08:00–11:30 / 14:30–17:30 (Open Year-Round)

Notable Exhibits:

A Ming Dynasty hunting crossbow

A spider-silk woven garment

Trade contracts from the Tea-Horse Ancient Route

🌿 Tea Garden Experience Zone

Participate in ancient tree tea picking (April to October)

Observe traditional stone-grinding Pu’er tea processing in action

▶ Recommended One-Day Itinerary

07:30 — Museum Tour
→ 10:00 — Tea Garden Experience: Picking and Processing
→ 12:30 — Lunch featuring Kucong-style grilled fish in banana leaves
→ 15:00 — Bamboo weaving workshop with local artisans
→ 19:00 — Traditional storytelling by the firepit with ancient Kucong songs

🧳 Travel Tips

🍂 Best Time to Visit

November to March — for cool-weather escapes and misty tea-mountain vistas

🍲 Local Cuisine

Bamboo Tube Grilled Meat

Wild Mushroom Hotpot (available in summer only)

⚠️ Cultural Etiquette

Please do not photograph villagers during spiritual or ritual ceremonies without permission

Maintain silence and respect in sacred forest areas