Jiuxiang Yi and Hui Ethnic Town in Yiliang County, Kunming

Overview

Jiuxiang Yi and Hui Ethnic Township (九乡彝族回族乡) is located in the northeastern part of Yiliang County (宜良县), Kunming City (昆明市), Yunnan Province (云南省). It borders Lu Liang County (陆良县) to the east, Shilin County (石林县) to the south, Gengjiaying Township (耿家营乡) to the west, and Gucheng Town (古城镇) to the north. It is 35 kilometers from Yiliang County seat, covering a total area of 301.78 square kilometers. As of the end of 2019, the registered population was 19,571.

Historical Development

Before 1955: The area was part of Hongshan District (宏山区), Lu Nan County (路南县).
1956: Became Jiuxiang Township (九乡乡) in Yiliang County.
1961: Reverted to Hongshan District.
1973: Separated from Hongshan Commune to establish Jiuxiang Commune.
1983: Renamed Jiuxiang District.
1987: Renamed Jiuxiang Township.
January 1988: Officially renamed Jiuxiang Yi and Hui Ethnic Township.

Administrative Divisions

2011: Jiuxiang Yi and Hui Ethnic Township was divided into 8 administrative villages: Jiuxiang, Dema, Longcheng, Mingyue, Yue Zhao, Dianwei, Tiechang, and Xiaohe, with 70 village groups.
June 2020: It comprises 3 communities and 5 administrative villages: Jiuxiang Community, Dema Community, Tiechang Community, Dianwei Village, Yue Zhao Village, Longcheng Village, Mingyue Village, and Xiaohe Village. The township government is based in Jiuxiang Street.

Geography

Location

Jiuxiang Yi and Hui Ethnic Township is situated in the northeastern part of Yiliang County. It borders Lu Liang County to the east, Shilin County to the south, Gengjiaying Township to the west, and Gucheng Town to the north, 35 kilometers from the county seat. The total area is 301.78 square kilometers.

Terrain and Topography

The township lies in a plateau area with low hills and gentle slopes, with the terrain sloping from north to south. The mountains in the area are part of the Liangwang Mountain Range, extending from the Wumeng Mountains in the northeastern part of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau. Major peaks include Lao Hongshan, Lao Heishan, and Dashan. The highest point is in Dianwei Village at 2,106 meters above sea level, while the lowest point is in Duichong New Village at 1,580 meters.

Climate

Jiuxiang Yi and Hui Ethnic Township has a subtropical plateau monsoon climate with distinct seasons. The average annual temperature is 14.6°C, with July averaging 19.3°C and January averaging 7.8°C. The frost-free period lasts an average of 234 days per year, with 2,220 hours of sunshine annually and total solar radiation of 115 kcal/square centimeter. Annual precipitation averages 1,064 millimeters, with a relative humidity of 78%.

Hydrology

Major rivers in the township include Maitian River and Mingyue River. Maitian River originates in Longdong Village, Malong District, flows through Mei New Village, and merges with the Nanpan River, with a length of 22 kilometers and a total runoff of 116 million cubic meters. Mingyue River is 10 kilometers long.

Natural Disasters

Natural disasters in Jiuxiang Yi and Hui Ethnic Township include lightning, frost, and landslides.

Natural Resources

The township has identified underground mineral resources including iron, lead-zinc, barite, phosphorus, and copper. Reserves include 3.65 million tons of iron ore, 98,000 tons of lead-zinc ore, 250,000 tons of barite, 9.5 million tons of phosphorus, and 46,000 tons of copper ore. Exploited resources include 5 million tons of iron ore, 3 million tons of phosphorus, 1 million tons of barite, and 1 million tons of pyrite. The area also has rich medicinal plant resources, including Huang Lian, Jie Gu Dan, Liang Mian Zhen, and Ci Wu Jia, with nearly 100 species. In 2011, Jiuxiang Yi and Hui Ethnic Township had 24,375 mu (approximately 16.25 square kilometers) of arable land.

Population

2011: The total population was 18,795. Of these, 7,573 were male (50.93%) and 9,222 were female (49.07%). The population distribution was 3,084 under 14 years old (16.41%), 13,713 between 15 and 64 years old (72.96%), and 1,998 over 65 years old (10.6%). Ethnically, Han people were the majority at 13,397 (71.28%), followed by Yi at 4,282 (22.78%), Hui at 994 (5.29%), and other minorities at 122 (0.65%). Birth rate was 8.26‰, death rate was 5.68‰, and natural growth rate was 2.58‰. The population density was 62.31 people per square kilometer.
End of 2017: The permanent population was 17,767.
End of 2018: The registered population was 19,336.
End of 2019: The registered population was 19,571.

Transportation

2011: Jiuxiang Yi and Hui Ethnic Township was served by 1 provincial-level tourist highway, the Jiushi-Agong Road (九石阿公路), and 2 county-level roads: Yijiu Road (宜九公路) and Yijiu-Ma Road (宜九马公路). It had 6 township-level roads totaling 49.125 kilometers and 35 village-level roads totaling 88 kilometers.

Local Culture

Origin of the Name

The name “Jiuxiang” comes from the location of the township government in Jiuxiang Street.

Festivals and Customs

Jiuxiang Yi and Hui Ethnic Township celebrates several festivals, including the Hunter God Festival, Torch Festival, and Ancestor Worship Festival.

Cultural and Historical Sites

Notable historical and cultural sites include Zhangkou Cave (张口洞), the carved inscriptions on Dabi Zheying Mountain (大比者营盘山崖刻), and the Yao Family Ancestral Home (姚氏祖居).

Local Specialties

Jiuxiang Yi and Hui Ethnic Township is known for specialties such as Pao Gang Wine (泡缸酒), Fire Grass Garment (火草褂), and Bone Ginseng (骨头参).

Scenic Spots

Jiuxiang Scenic Area

The Jiuxiang Scenic Area, located within Jiuxiang Yi and Hui Ethnic Township, is 90 kilometers from Kunming and 47 kilometers from Yiliang County seat. The area is known for its cave landscapes and features several attractions:

Terraced Fields: Layered terraced fields with clear water.
Cave Waterfalls: Waterfalls with a drop of over 30 meters inside caves.
Natural Bridges: Natural bridges spanning over 200 meters high cliffs.
Lion Hall Cave: A grand cave resembling a lion’s hall.
Jinghun Gorge: A breathtaking gorge with over 80 meters high cliffs.
Yincui Gorge: Known as the “first幽峡 in Central Yunnan,” with lush greenery and scenic views.