Shigela Village of Jiangyi Town in Yuanmou County, Chuxiong

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‌Basic Information and Ethnic Characteristics‌

• ‌Location‌: Situated within Huajiang Village Committee, Jiangyi Township, it is approximately 82 kilometers from Yuanmou County and only 3 kilometers from the Jinsha River. Nestled amid steep mountains on three sides, the terrain is rugged.
• ‌Ethnic Composition‌: The entire village is inhabited by the Lisu ethnic group, who speak the Lisu language (without a written script). Their ancestors migrated here from Baiguo Village, Jiangyi Township, 260 years ago.
• ‌Origin of the Name‌: The village is named “Shigela” (meaning “rocky place”) due to its rocky, soil-scarce environment.

‌Unique Stone-Slate Houses‌

• ‌Architectural Style‌: Traditional houses feature a two-story, flat-roofed structure with stone walls and earthen roofs, forming “stone courtyard dwellings.” The main and side buildings accommodate people on the upper floor, while the ground level serves as livestock pens. A square manure pit in the courtyard center reflects the harmonious coexistence of humans and animals.
• ‌Construction Techniques‌: Ancient customs are preserved in the building process, including breaking ground, stone wall laying, pillar and beam raising, timber placement, and mud application. Room dimensions follow the auspicious number “six” (e.g., the main hall height is 2.06 meters), with materials determining specific specifications. This craft is listed as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Chuxiong Prefecture.
• ‌Current Status‌: Residents now live in improved dwellings, but construction still employs traditional techniques.

‌Environment and Changes‌

• ‌Natural Conditions‌: Set amid cliffs and deep forests, the village features rugged trails. It long lacked road access, prompting villagers to ingeniously use local stone for building houses and tools.
• ‌Population and Relocation‌: Originally home to 21 households (93 people), ecological degradation and poverty-alleviation policies led to the entire Huajiang Village Committee (including Shigela) being relocated to a Lisu-style resettlement site between 2015 and 2023.

‌Overview of Huajiang Village Committee‌

• ‌General Profile‌: Huajiang Village covers 26.28 square kilometers. Its registered population in 2021 was 1,973 (primarily Lisu and Yi ethnic groups). Key industries include corn, wheat, green peas, and honey peach cultivation.
• ‌Governance Achievements‌: Through legal-cultural initiatives, it implements “three-tier grid-based management,” integrates resources for collective economic development (e.g., agricultural market dividends), and was honored as a “Beautiful Village of Yunnan Province” in 2021 and a “Model Village of Democracy and Rule of Law in Chuxiong Prefecture” in 2022.

‌Representative Landscape‌

Shigela Village’s stone-slate house clusters merge with the dramatic mountain landscape, creating an authentic Lisu ethnic ambiance that attracts photographers seeking to document its unique cultural character.