Mulaoyuan Bulang and Yi Ethnic Town in Shidian County, Baoshan

✨ Highlights

• “A Leap Across a Thousand Years” Ethnic Transition Zone: Mulayuan (木老元) is a typical ethnic township in Yunnan where Blang (布朗族) and Yi (彝族) cultures are well preserved. The Blang people make up the vast majority of the ethnic population.

• Three-Tier Agriculture: With the saying “Herbs and sheep on the mountain, walnuts and chickens in the mid-mountains, fruits, vegetables, and cattle in the valleys”, Mulayuan fully utilizes its three-dimensional climate for a distinctive agricultural structure.

• An Educational Model Sponsored by Yunnan Tobacco Company (云南中烟): The Mulayuan Ethnic School (木老元乡民族学校), built with corporate sponsorship, has become a symbol of educational support and poverty alleviation.

• Highland Landscapes & Blang Culture: The township offers alpine meadows, windmill seas of clouds, and strong Blang cultural traditions. The “Caopi Street Market (草皮街)” has become a popular social media hotspot.

? Basic Information

? Geography & Natural Environment

Mulayuan Township (木老元乡) lies in eastern Shidian County (施甸县), bordering Kuke River (枯柯河) and Changning County (昌宁县) to the east, Bailang Yi and Blang Township (摆榔彝族布朗族乡) to the south, Dianyang Town (甸阳镇) and Renhe Town (仁和镇) to the west, and Kas Town (卡斯镇) of Changning to the north.

It is characterized by steep mountains and valleys in a “three mountains, two depressions” topography. The highest point is Dashuihetou Mountain (大水河头山, 2,895.5 m), and the lowest point is at Kuke River (枯柯河, 860 m). The average elevation is 1,750 m. The landscape is a typical karst terrain.

Mulayuan has three coexisting climatic zones—subtropical, temperate, and cold-temperate. With a forest coverage of 53% (2025 data), it is a lush ecological region.

?‍?‍? History, People & Ethnic Groups

The name “Mulayuan (木老元)” originates from a local legend: in ancient times, water was scarce. Each year on the second day of the first lunar month, Blang people held a ritual by a spring to sacrifice to the “Wooden Dragon (木龙)” for water blessings. The site was originally called “Mulongyuan (木龙园),” which evolved into Mulayuan.

• Yuan Dynasty: under Shidian Pacification Office (石甸长官司)

• Ming Dynasty: under Shidian (施甸长官司)

• 1984: Established as Mulayuan District (木老元区)

• 1988: Became Mulayuan Blang and Yi Ethnic Township (木老元布朗族彝族乡)

Population (2025): 1,570 households, 5,944 people. Ethnic minorities make up 48.8%.

• Blang (布朗族): 2,614 (43.9% of total, 90% of minorities)

• Yi (彝族): 222 (3.7% of total, 7.66% of minorities)

• Others: Dai (傣族), Bai (白族), Hui (回族), Lisu (傈僳族), Jingpo (景颇族), Zhuang (壮族), Lahu (拉祜族), Mongol (蒙古族), Manchu (满族), Miao (苗族).

? Education

A major milestone was the establishment of Mulayuan Ethnic School (木老元乡民族学校) in 2018 with funding from Yunnan Tobacco Company (云南中烟).

• Covers 41,970 sq m, with 14,290 sq m of school buildings.

• 18 teaching classes (12 primary, 6 junior middle), 592 students (246 minority students), and 50 staff.

• Acts as a model of “education-based poverty alleviation.”

• 4 kindergartens across Mulayuan, Longtan, Hazhai, and Dadi villages ensure preschool coverage.

? Resources & Industries

• Agriculture: Corn (10,779 mu, 3,651 tons, 2025), vegetables (3,197 mu), medicinal herbs (50 mu).

• Livestock: Pigs (9,851 head, 985 tons of meat), cattle (1,004 head, 251 tons), sheep (9,048 head, 181 tons). A poultry farm with 51,000 egg-laying hens produces 475 tons annually.

• Forestry: Forest coverage 64.23% (2025), walnut groves (4,856 mu), economic forests (1,633 mu).

• Minerals: Deposits of lead-zinc, iron, and sulfur.

?️ Culture & Tourism

• Sida Mountain Scenic Area (四大山旅游风景区): With alpine meadows, highland pastures, Mocang Forest (摩苍林场), and traditional Blang villages, it is known as a “Paradise Beyond the World.”

• Hazhai Village (哈寨村): Once deeply impoverished, Hazhai transformed into a nationally recognized “Ethnic Minority Featured Village” and is now a tourist attraction with homestays and cultural experiences.

• Caopi Street Market (草皮街集市): A lively ethnic market showcasing Blang culture, farm products, and local foods. During Chinese New Year 2023, it welcomed over 10,000 visitors daily.

• Cultural Life: The township has 1 cultural center, 14 village activity halls, 6 performing troupes, and preserves Blang traditional dances, songs, costumes, and rituals.

? Transportation & Infrastructure

As of 2011, Mulayuan had 70.6 km of roads, with county and township routes. Rural revitalization projects have improved infrastructure dramatically. In 2025 alone, 15 rural revitalization projects and 10 Shanghai–Yunnan cooperation projects were implemented, including road paving (6.5 km), irrigation pools (21), and the “Golden Blang (金布朗)” homestay project.

? Festivals

Ethnic festivals are highlights of cultural tourism:

• Blang Festivals: New Year Festival, Cattle Foot Washing Festival (洗牛脚节).

• Yi Festival: Torch Festival (火把节).

During these celebrations, visitors can enjoy ethnic dances, traditional attire, music, and authentic cultural experiences.

❤️ A Welcoming Homeland

Mulayuan Blang and Yi Ethnic Township (木老元布朗族彝族乡) is a land of legend and diversity, where people of different ethnicities live in harmony like pomegranate seeds (石榴籽) closely bound together.

It is both a cultural treasure of Shidian County (施甸县) and a vibrant model of rural revitalization. Visitors are invited to explore its Blang and Yi traditions, savor ethnic cuisine, and experience the pure warmth of mountain life.