Top Ethnic Minority Villages in Diqing Prefceture

Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture(迪庆藏族自治州), where Shangri-la(香格里拉) is located, it’s  colorful natural ecology and ethnic cultures gave birth to beautiful villages such as Yubeng Village(雨崩村), Xiagei Village(霞给村), Tongle Village(同乐村) and Niru Village(尼汝村), which are famous in the world.

Each of these ancient villages has advantaged natural and human conditions and tourism resources, some have become tourist attractions, more are still kept in boudoir and no one knows(养在深闺人未识).

Deqin County in Diqing(迪庆德钦县)— The Most Beautiful Ancient Village

雨崩村(Yubeng Village)

Yubeng Village(雨崩村) is located at the foot of the Wuzi peak(五子峰)under the Niancimu peak(念慈母蜂)in Meri Snow Mountain(梅里雪山), with beautiful scenery and simple folk customs, which is like a land of idyllic beauty(世外桃源).

Yubeng Village is(雨崩村) divided into upper village and lower village. The upper village can lead to climb the Sino-Japanese Joint Mountaineering Base Camp in Kawakarpo(卡瓦格博的中日联合登山大本营), and the lower village down to the Yubeng Waterfall(雨崩神瀑), people can see the peculiar landscape of ancient seal characters(古篆天书) and five trees with the same root(五树同根)along the way.

Location: In the territory of Yunling Township(云岭乡) in Deqin County(德钦县) which at the east foot of Meri Snow Mountain(梅里雪山东麓).(梅里雪山东麓德钦县云岭乡境内)

茨中村(Cizhong Village)

Cizhong Village is inhabited by seven ethnic groups, including Tibetan, Han, Lisu, Naxi, Bai, Nu(藏、汉、傈僳、纳西、白族、怒族)and so on, mainly believing in Buddhism(佛教), Catholicism (天主教)and Christianity(基督教). There are seven nationalities and three religions coexist in this village, man and nature live in harmony, unity and stability.

When people walk in Cizhong Village(茨中村), they could see a Catholic church in the deep shade, the Mani stones(玛尼堆) in the glow of sun and moon, olive trees stretched straight up to the sky, and prayer flags(经幡旗) fluttering from the roof.

Location: Cizhong Village(茨中村) is located in Yanmen Township(燕门乡) of Deqin County(德钦县), about 80 kilometers away from the county.(茨中村位于德钦县燕门乡,距离德钦县城约80公里)

傈僳大村(Lisu Large Village)

From a distance, this stockaded village of Lisu Nationality, which has more than 160 families, seems to have Tibetan customs. Look at the houses emerging from the forest, are tall and big, with three or four floors, the architectural style of the whole with a strong Tibetan style.

The walls of these houses were built with stone pieces and the laying was very precise. House building terrain in Lisu Large Village(傈僳大村) is 30 degrees steep slope, the village has much stone, so the walls around the houses almost all use stone.

Location: Lisu Large Village of Tuodin Township in Deqin County.(德钦县托顶乡傈僳大村)

江坡村(Jiang Po Village)

Jiang Po Village(江坡村) is a natural village of Jiang Po Village committee in Foshan Townsh(佛山乡), Deqin County(德钦县), with an altitude of 2,800 meters.

In Jiang Po Village(江坡村), men can play Xianzi (弦子)well, and women all have a good voice. When Xianzi is played and the song is sung, people dance with the rhythm of Xianzi, thus creating the art form of “Xianzi Dance”(弦子舞).

Location: Jiang Po Village(江坡村) is located in the south of Foshan Township(佛山乡), and 24 kilometers away from the township. (江坡村位于佛山乡南边,距离佛山乡24公里)

The Most Beautiful Ancient Villages in Shangri-la of Diqing(迪庆香格里拉市)

尼汝村 (Niru Village)

With an area of about 80 square kilometers and an elevation of only 2,705 meters, Niru Village(尼汝村) is a secluded area. In 2013, it was included in the list of the second batch of traditional Chinese villages with important protection value.

Tibetans work at dawn and rest at dusk(日出而作、日落而息), and they decorate their homes with crops like green flames, with chickens and ducks like chorus members, and with endless smoke and lasting dreams. They enjoy a leisure life of “ Women and children sing, the old amuse themselves, and they always feel pleasant and contented”.

Location: Luoji township Shangri-la (香格里拉市洛吉乡), 75 kilometers from downtown.(香格里拉市洛吉乡,距离市区75公里)

小街子村(Xiaojiezi Village)

Xiaojiezi Village(小街子村) is the key road of the Ancient Tea and Horse Road(茶马古道) in Yunnan-Tibet(滇藏), and also the epitome of Tibetan culture in shangri-la. Profound culture, unsophisticated folkways, dietary custom, costume and religious culture are very distinctive.

In 2013, it was included in the list of the second batch of traditional Chinese villages with important protection value. There are international important wetlands Napa lake, alpine botanical gardens, provincial cultural protection department and Tibetan Buddhism activities sapce

Location: Xiaojie Village(小街子村) is located in scenic area of Songzanlin Temple, 5 kilometers away from the Shangri-la. (小街子村位于松赞林寺景区内,距香格里拉县城5公里)

汤堆村(Tangdui Village)

Tangdui Village is under the jurisdiction of Nixi township, shangri-la city, Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, yunnan province. Shika snow mountain is behind of the village, and there are Shangri-la ski resort nearby, with abundant scenic spots and charming scenery.

Location: Tangdui village of Nixi Township(尼西汤堆村) is located in the northwest of Shangri-la , 33 kilometers away from the county. (尼西汤堆村位于香格里拉市西北部,距县城33公里)

白地村(Baidi Village)

Baidi Village of Sanba Township(三坝乡白地村) is the core of Dongba culture. Baidi village White-water platform is one of the largest sinter platforms in China, which belongs to karst landform.

The shape of the White-water platform is like a layer upon layer of terraced fields, and it looks like a huge white marble carving from a distance. When Water flows from above, just like the flow of silver and milk, quite a spectacle.

Location: Sanba Township, Shangri-la , Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (迪庆香格里拉市三坝乡)

霞给村(Xiagei Village)

Xiagei Village(霞给村) is 15 kilometers away from Shangri-la(香格里拉). It is a typical Tibetan village which is rich in geothermal resources. And the Tibetan unique bathing customs  was still remained.

Forest parks, alpine pastures, gold mining sites and other natural landscapes can not be missed.These cultural landscapes, such as sutra printing houses, Tibetan incense houses, Tibetan language schools, Tibetan hospitals, clay and pottery houses, Tibetan theatres and folk craft research institutes, should not be missed too.

Location: Pudacuo National Park(普达措国家公园) is about 13 kilometers from the east of Shangri-la(香格里拉) , where Xiagei Village(霞给村) is located.(香格里拉城区往东走13公里普达措国家公园景区内)

木鲁村(Mulu Village)

It is said that the village was originally built by the Naxi people. Mulu in the Naxi language  means “place to herd yaks”. The location of Mulu Village(木鲁村)  is very interesting. The mountains are like a slightly clasped hand, and Mulu Village(木鲁村) is located in the center of the palm.

Mulu Village(木鲁村) is about 2,700m above sea level, about 8km east of Balog Zon(巴拉格宗) and on the left bank of Gangqu River(岗曲河). People are suggested to stay here for a night, then get up in the morning and go up to the roof, you will see the whole village full of vitality and rising smoke.

Location: Mulu village(木鲁村) from the government of Geza Township(格咱乡) about 61 kilometers, and 97 kilometers from the Shangri-la(香格里拉).(木鲁村离格咱乡政府61公里,距香格里拉县城97公里)

The Most Beautiful Ancient Village in Weixi County of Diqing (维西县)

塔城一二组 The First and Second Group of Tacheng Natural Village

The First and Second Group of Tacheng Natural Village in Weixi County is located in the heartland of the world natural heritage area of “Three Parallel Rivers ” scenic spot, which is known as the place of “Four Counties of Jiming”. There are enthusiastic and unrestrained Tibetan people living here, and all thedwellings are built in Tibetan style.

Tacheng Natural Village (塔城)is the only place that inherits complete Tibetan classical Reba Dance. The Tacheng Natural Village’ Reba Dance (塔城热巴舞)still retains the original classical verve, with strong Tibetan Buddhism color, and is known as the hometown of Reba art.

Location: Tacheng Natural Village(塔城村) of Tacheng Town (塔城)in Weixi County(维西县), is about 60 kilometers away from the county seat.(维西县塔城镇塔城村,距离县城约60公里)

朵那阁村(Duonage Village)

Duonage Village(朵那阁村) is the largest residential village of Lisu ethnic group with the same surname in Tacheng town(塔城镇). The village dwellings are made up of wooden corrugated houses, which row upon row, and the fault is well chosen.

Duonage Village(朵那阁村) is surrounded by mountains, rivers and luxuriant forests , with an altitude of 2,600 meters. In spring, flowers are blooming like brocade, butterflies are flying all over the sky in groups, and in autumn, leaves turned red because of frost, so the mountains looks are red. The scenery is totally beautiful.

Location: In the southeast of Weixi County(维西县), and about 34 kilometers from this county.(维西县东南部,距维西县城34公里)

同乐村( Tongle Village)

There have been countless trips between Lijiang City(丽江) and Shangri-la(香格里拉), but such a beautiful small village has been neglected. Hidden deep in the mountains, she is completely isolated from the outside world and has no business or destruction.

Tongle Lisu Village(同乐傈僳族村寨) historically closed traffic, little contact with the outside world, is an isolated place, and the production mode is basically half farming and half grazing stage. People can see cattles and sheeps grazing everywhere, even the pigs.

Location: It is 9 kilometers away from the government of Yezhi Town of Weixi County in Diqing Prefecture, Yunnan Province.(维西县叶枝镇政府9公里)

 腊八底村(Labadi Village)

Labadi Village(腊八底村) is located in the mid-levels of the mountains, 2700 meters above sea level, with pleasant climate, charming scenery and unique customs.

Labadi Village(腊八底村) has a profound ethnic culture of the Lisu ethnic group. Every household has Lisu costumes, and clothing of old and young has different features. At the same time, there are lisu tile and vocal music equipment, self – made couplets for funerals and happy occasions, and homemade tools used in daily life in their houses.

Location: In the northeast of Baohe Town(保和镇), Weixi County(维西县), 18 kilometers away from the county.(维西县保和镇东北边,距离县城18公里)

富川村(Fuchuan Natural Village)

The village is paved with slate road, so it is easy to clean. The original residential houses mainly use wooden corrugated houses, and later use earthen wall houses and roofs were boarded, which commonly known as the boards on the roofs.

The Lama culture of this village has long history, diverse forms and rich connotation, which also has research values. The Lama(Bai) ethnic group lived together in Fuchuan Natural Village(富川自然村), and later coexist with Lisu nationality and other ethnic groups.

Location: Fuchuan Natural village(富川自然村) is located on the west bank of    Lancang River(澜沧江), 2.5 kilometers away from the government of Weiden Township(维登乡) seat.(富川自然村坐落澜沧江西岸,距维登乡政府所在地2.5公里)

托洛顶村(Tuoluodin Natural Village)

Tuoluodin Natural Village(托洛顶村) is an ancient village of Tacheng Village Committee(塔城村委会) in Tacheng Town(塔城). Of course, the inheritance of cultural heritage of a ethnic group cannot be separated from music. Tuoluodin Natural Village is known as “Dongba Holy Land” and ” The Hometown of Song snd Dance” in Diqing(迪庆).

Location: Tuoluodin Natural Village(托洛顶村) is 3 kilometers away from Tacheng Village Committee(塔城村委会) and 3 kilometers away from Tacheng Town(塔城).(托洛顶村距离塔城村委会3公里,距离塔城镇3公里)

结义村(Jieyi Village)

Realizing it is not easy for men to go out to work, women in the Jieyi village(结义村) organized the annual “Peach blossom Festival of Men in Jieyi”, on which all the men gather to celebrate the festival, singing and dancing, drinking qing ke beer and eating some snacks prepared by the women.

Although the village is located in the high mid-levels district of the mountain, it is definitely a place with outstanding people in the territory of Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture(迪庆州). The only general in Diqing(迪庆) is from the Jieyi Village(结义村).

Location: Jieyi Village(结义村) through across the banks of the Lancang River(澜沧江) and is 13 kilometers away from the seat of the government of Badi Township(巴迪乡) in Weixi County(维西县).(结义村横跨澜沧江两岸,距维西县巴迪乡政府所在地13公里)