Tortoise Mountain in Nanjian County, Dali

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At the foot of the Ailao Mountains (哀牢山), on the banks of the Babian River (把边江), lies a small hill shaped like a crawling turtle. Locals call it “Turtle Mountain (龟山).” Located 53 kilometers from the county seat of Nanjian County (南涧县), this unique landscape is not only visually distinctive but also carries a real and tragic chapter of history.

Historical Background

In the sixth year of the Xianfeng reign of the Qing Dynasty (1856), influenced by the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom revolution, a Yi (彝族) hero named Li Wenxue (李文学) led an uprising of more than 5,000 impoverished farmers from various ethnic groups, primarily Yi, at Tianshengying (天生营) behind Mount Walu (瓦卢后山). They pledged their cause with revolutionary slogans such as:

“Eliminate all corrupt Manchu officials, wipe out Han landlords,”
“Support the Heavenly Kingdom, expel the Qing traitors.”

Li Wenxue was elected as the “Commander-in-Chief of the Yi Army (彝家兵马大元帅).”

Using the Ailao Mountains (哀牢山) as their base, the rebels established a military-political regime in Midi (密滴), present-day Midu County (弥渡县), named the Shuai Fu (帅府). Around this central command post, they created three governing offices: Left, Right, and South Command Offices (左、右、南督府).

Under Li Wenxue’s leadership, the rebel forces launched fierce resistance against the Qing Dynasty’s oppressive rule. They implemented progressive policies such as rent exemption and tax reduction, establishing a government where “the people were prosperous, and the state had resources.” After ten years of struggle, the base area expanded to include large portions of over ten counties, including Nanjian (南涧), Midu (弥渡), Nanhua (南华), Chuxiong (楚雄), Shuangbai (双柏), Jingdong (景东), Zhenyuan (镇源), Xinping (新平), Yuanjiang (元江), and Mojiang (墨江). The number of Command Offices increased from 3 to 8.

However, in the 13th year of the Tongzhi reign (1874), the uprising was crushed. Li Wenxue was betrayed by a traitor, captured by Qing forces, and executed by lingchi (凌迟) at Turtle Mountain (龟山), dying a heroic death. The rebellion lasted a full 18 years and left a profound impact on Chinese history.

Commemoration and Legacy

To honor Li Wenxue’s immortal achievements and sacrifice, the local Yi people built a small temple on Turtle Mountain (龟山). To this day, on the 25th day of the third lunar month every year, people of all ethnic groups from the Ailao Mountains (哀牢山) region gather at the site to hold solemn memorial ceremonies.

Present-Day Turtle Mountain

Today, Turtle Mountain (龟山) is not only a historical site but also an important cultural and tourist attraction in Nanjian County (南涧县). Together with surrounding natural landscapes such as the Nanjian Earth Forest (南涧土林) and the Wuliang Mountain National Nature Reserve (无量山国家级自然保护区), it forms a unique tourism brand for the county.

Visitors to Turtle Mountain can experience both the profound weight of history and the beauty of nature. This small hill, bearing the memories of a valiant past, stands as a monument to the courageous struggle and indomitable spirit of the Yi people, and as a sacred site for future generations to honor their ancestors and carry on their cultural heritage.