Laozhai Village of Laozhai Town in Mengzi City, Honghe Prefecture

Overview

Laozhai Village is an administrative village under Laozhai Miao Ethnic Township in Mengzi City, Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province. As the seat of the township government, it governs 20 villager groups with 1,038 households and a rural population of 4,122 people (2025 data). The village was listed in the fourth batch of China’s Traditional Villages in 2016 and was awarded the title of “Beautiful Village” at the county level in Yunnan Province in 2021. Its dominant agricultural product is apples, recognized under Honghe Prefecture’s “One Village, One Product” initiative‌1.

Ethnic Composition

The village is primarily inhabited by three ethnic groups:

• ‌Miao (Hmong)‌: The dominant minority group
• ‌Yi‌: Significant population with rich cultural traditions
• ‌Han‌: Minority population with historical settlement

According to 2021 data, ethnic minorities constitute 70.32% of the total population (approximately 2,900 people), with Miao people being the largest minority group‌2.

Historical Background

Laozhai Village has undergone several administrative changes throughout history:

• Pre-1949: Belonged to Lingyun Town of Wenshan County
• 1950-1957: Part of Laozhai Township in the 5th District of Wenshan County
• 1957: Transferred to Laozhai Township under Mingjiu District of Mengzi County
• 1958: Became Laozhai Management Area under Mingjiu Commune
• 1966: Renamed Laozhai Brigade under Laozhai Commune
• 1984: Established as Laozhai Miao Ethnic Township under Laozhai District
• 1988: Changed to Laozhai Village Office
• 2000: Renamed Laozhai Village Committee, the name remains in use today‌13.

The village was included in the fourth batch of China’s Traditional Villages list in 2016 and received central financial support for preservation in 2017‌45.

Culinary Culture

While specific Miao and Yi cuisines in Laozhai Village aren’t extensively documented in search results, regional specialties include:

Miao Cuisine (likely present)

• ‌Sour Fish Soup‌: Signature dish featuring fermented tomato or chili broth
• ‌Blood Sausage‌: Made with pork blood, glutinous rice, and intestines
• ‌Oil Tea‌: Traditional beverage combining tea leaves with various grains

Yi Cuisine (likely present)

• ‌Tuo Tuo Meat‌: Large chunks of boiled pork/mutton with minimal seasoning
• ‌Roasted Piglet‌: Festive dish for important occasions

Local agricultural products include apples (dominant crop), organic cauliflower, and formerly cultivated Chinese cabbage and Panax notoginseng‌67.

Traditional Attire

The village is home to the unique ‌Puwa Yi ethnic costumes‌, characterized by:

• Red fan-shaped headdress resembling horse tassel flowers
• Elaborate silver ornamentation on headwear
• Combination of linen, silver bubbles, and colored threads
• Distinctive embroidery patterns featuring butterflies, chrysanthemums, and geometric designs

The complete set includes headwear, clothing, waist apron, pants, and shoes, showcasing a noble Yi aristocratic style‌8.

Customs and Traditions

While specific customs of Laozhai Village aren’t detailed in search results, regional minority traditions likely include:

Yi Customs

• ‌Torch Festival‌: Celebrated around June 24 with bonfires and dancing
• Coming-of-age ceremonies and ancestor worship rituals

Miao Customs

• ‌Flower Mountain Festival‌: Lunar New Year celebrations with pole climbing and courtship activities
• Unique marriage customs and drinking culture

The village maintains strong ethnic traditions, with Miao culture particularly prominent given the township’s designation as a Miao ethnic township‌29.

Architectural Style

As a recognized traditional village, Laozhai preserves valuable architectural heritage, though specific details are limited in search results. Likely features include:

• Traditional courtyard-style layouts
• Wooden structures with intricate carvings
• Sloping tile roofs adapted to the mountainous terrain
• Use of local materials like wood and stone

The village’s historical architecture reflects the harmonious coexistence of multiple ethnic groups in the region‌110.

Festivals and Celebrations

While specific festivals in Laozhai aren’t documented, regional celebrations likely observed include:

The township government organizes cultural activities showcasing ethnic costumes and traditions‌911.

Handicrafts

Traditional crafts likely include:

• ‌Miao Embroidery‌: Intricate needlework with symbolic patterns
• ‌Silverwork‌: Traditional jewelry making techniques
• ‌Batik‌: Wax-resist dyeing creating distinctive textiles

The Puwa Yi costume-making technique itself is considered an intangible cultural heritage, involving complex processes like spinning, weaving, dyeing, and embroidery‌8.

Religious Practices

While specific religious practices in Laozhai aren’t documented, the region typically exhibits:

• Blend of indigenous beliefs and ancestor worship among Miao and Yi people
• Some Christian influence in the area
• Integration of folk religion with elements of Buddhism and Taoism

The township government has incorporated ethnic cultural elements into modern governance practices‌12.

Language Use

Language situation likely includes:

• ‌Miao language‌: Spoken among older generations
• ‌Yi language‌: Various dialects used within the community
• ‌Mandarin Chinese‌: Primary language for interethnic communication
• Local Han dialect: Influenced by surrounding minority languages

The government promotes Mandarin while preserving ethnic languages as part of cultural heritage‌1314.

Travel Tips

• ‌Best visiting time‌: June for Torch Festival or Chinese New Year for Flower Mountain Festival
• ‌Local specialties‌: Apples, ethnic costumes, potential handicrafts
• ‌Cultural respect‌: Ask permission before photographing locals, especially during ceremonies
• ‌Accessibility‌: Located 53km from Mengzi city center, mountainous terrain‌12.

Laozhai Village offers visitors an opportunity to experience authentic Miao and Yi cultures in a well-preserved traditional village setting, with its unique Puwa Yi costumes being a particular highlight of cultural heritage.