Cangyuan County Overview

Cangyuan Wa Autonomous county, Cangyuan for short, is under the administration of Lincang City, in the southwest of Yunnan province, China. It is one of the two pure Wa Autonomous countities. The county government is in Mengdong Town. Wa people is the main inhabitants here. Wa language is common here. Cangyuan Port is a national second-class land port and there are three port passages leading to Myanmar.

Where is Cangyuan?

Cangyuan Wa Autonomous county is located in the southwest of Lingcang, Yunnan. Its Northeast is to Shuangjiang Lahu, Wa, Bulang and Dai autonomous county; The east and southeast is connected to Lancang Lahu autonomous county; The north is adjacent to Gengma Wa Autonomous county; The west and south borders Myanmar. It is 886 kilometers away from Kunming, 222 kilometers away from Lincang.

Basic Information

Chinese Name: 沧源

Key Words: Wa Ethnic Minority

Cangyuan Area: 2,539 square kilometer

Cangyuan Population: 187,000

Cangyuan Average Temperature: 17.2°C

Zip code: 677400

Phone code: 0883

Ethnic Culture

Cangyuan Wa Autonomous County  has Han(汉族) 、Wa(佤族)、Yi(彝族)、Dai(傣族)、Lahu(拉祜族)、Zhuang(壮族)、Bai(白族)、Hui(回族)、Lisu(傈僳族)、Miao(苗族) ect, more than 20 ethnic groups. The Wa nationality is the main ethnic group in Cangyuan county. Among 187,000 in the county, 147,000 are Wa people, occupying 80% of the total population. Wa language is common here.

Specialty Food 

Chicken Mashed rice, Water Wine and Sapie Rice Noodle(撒撇米线), etc.

Geography

Cangyuan Wa Autonomous County lowers from North to South, the highest point is Wokan mountain, 2605 meters above sea level. The lowest point is 450 meters. The mountainous area accounts for 99.2% and the groin area only accounts for 0.8%.  The main stream are Xiaoheijiang River and Nangun River.

Climate

Cangyuan Wa Autonomous County enjoys subtropical low-latitude mountain monsoon climate. The average temperature is 17.2℃, it’s in the range of -1.3-34.6 ℃. The annual rainfall is 1425-1595 mm. Compared with winter, the summers have much more rainfall. It’s generally a warm city, enjoying favorable weather all the year round. It is fine to visit at any season.

Transportation

Cangyuan transportation is relatively convenient, you can take a plane or a long-distance bus. The airport is located in Nuoliang Township (糯良乡) and it starts to run by the end of 2016. There is direct long-distance bus from Kunming to Lincang, you can take the bus in Kunming West Bus Station at 11:30 am or 21:00 pm. You can also take a bus to Lincang Bus station and then transfer to Cangyuan, the bus departs from lincang at 8:20 am, 10:00 am, 12:00 am or 14:00 pm. The flight from Kunming to Cangyuan won’t cost much and the price is up to the time, anyway, it’s optional.

Administrative Divisions

Cangyuan Va Autonomous County have jurisdiction over 4 towns, 6 villages and a state-owned farm. They are Mengdong Township(勐董镇)、Yanshuai Township(岩帅镇)、Mengsheng Township(勐省镇)、Mangka Township(芒卡镇) Dantian Village(单田乡)、Nuoliang Village(糯良乡)、Menglai Village(勐来乡)、Mengjiao Dai, Yi and Lahu Village(勐角傣族彝族拉祜族乡)、Banhong Village(班洪乡)、Banlao Village(班老乡) and Mengsheng farm(勐省农场). It is further divided into 93 administrative villages and communities, 614 natural villages and 841 villager groups.

Top attractions

Monihei Carnival(摸你黑狂欢), Cliff Paintings(沧源崖画), Wending Village(翁丁村), Guanyun Buddist Temple (广允佛寺),  Banhong Anti-British Battle Monument (班洪抗英纪念碑), Thousand-meter Picturesque Gallery(千米国画长廊), Wa mountain(阿佤山), Nangun River National Nature Reserve(南滚河国家自然保护区), Sigangli Cave(司岗里溶洞) and  Yonghe Port(永和口岸).

Traditional Festivals

Bianke Festival(便克节): Wa people's traditional festival, on the 24th of the 6th lunar month. Every family should light a torch and stand it under the eaves. It is similar to the Torch Festival.

Zhaijie(斋节): Zhaijie, also known as New Rice Festival, is held every year during the 8th lunar month (October in the Wa calendar). When the rice is just ripe, the headman summons the elder to decide the day to celebrate the festival.

Wojie(卧节): Wojie, that is Spring festival. Several months before the festival, every family should prepare meat, firewood, festival new clothes and so on. They also need to maintain the house.