Yunnan Ethnic Villages in Kunming

Chinese Name: 云南民族村
English Name: Yunnan Ethnic Villages
Type: Cultural & National Landmarks
Best Time: All Year Around
Recommended Visiting Hours: 1 Day
Opening Hours: 08:30-20:00
Ticket: CNY90
Location: At No.1310 Dianchi Road in Kunming City of Yunnan Province

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Why is Yunnan Ethnic Villages so special?

This theme park displays the colorful folklore and architecture of 25 ethnic groups residing in Yunnan Province. The theme park offers shows and performances, folklore and wax museums, as well as replica buildings found in the villages of each ethnic group.Villages of over 25 minorities including the Yi, Dai, Miao, Jingpo, Wa, Hani, Naxi, Dulong and others have been built here. Through various displays and re-creations of the original villages, the Yunnan Ethnic Village displays the diverse local ethnic culture. Villages of different styles are well arranged and show visitors their unique charm. Displaying a variety of buildings, lifestyles, and religious beliefs in the region, the village is a microcosm of Yunnan’s colorful and diverse ethnic culture.

At the main gate hangs a plaque inscribed with five Chinese characters, Yun Nan Min Zu Cun, saying Yunnan Nationalities Village. A logo of a flying golden phoenix is right below the plaque, symbolizing good wishes to the village. On the lawn near the gate is a group of white elephant statues, as it is a custom here to welcome distinguished guests with elephants.

Introduction

the Basic Information of Yunnan Ethnic Villages

Located by the Dianchi Lake and at the foot of the Western Hill, the Village is a major part of Kunming Dianchi National Tourist and Holiday Zone. Opened to the public on February 18, 1992, the community is 8 km away from the city of Kunming proper and covers an area of 1,340 mus. The whole community contains 26 villages, and so far the Dai Village, the Bai Village, the Yi Village, the Naxi Village, the Wa Village, the Jinuo Village, the Lahu Village, the Bulang Village and 4 other villages have been completed.

The village is not only celebrating ethnic minorities, but it is also designed to give the world a snapshot view of both the natural scenery and cultural importance of Yunnan including: precipitous hills and beautiful lakes, parks, woods, old and modern treasures. Now the community has become a must-see for domestic and overseas visitors to Yunnan.

the Main Villages in Yunnan Ethnic Villages

• Dai Village

After entering, the first site coming into view is the Dai Village. Occupying 4.4 acres (1.8 hectares), the village is surrounded with water on three sides. Bamboo houses built on stilts are shaded with trees and flowers. A meandering path paved with red sandstones leads to a sacred Burmese-style temple. The lofty white tower, exquisite pavilions and bridges are very impressive. As a nationality loving singing and dancing, Dai People are proud of their peacock dance and music played on cucurbit flutes, which perfectly match each other.

• Bai Village

The typical Bai Village is composed of some traditional Bai residential houses with rooms on three sides and a wall (with the door) on the southern side. Tourists should never miss the occasions of Bawang dances and March Street (a festival normally celebrated from March 10th to 21st of lunar calendar in Dali)

• Yi Village

In the west of Harmony Square is the Yi Nationality village. It covers more than 8.4 acres (3.4 hectares). Since Yi People show respect to tigers, you can see a tiger rockery as well as a wall engraved with three tigers. A giant totem column is erected in the center of the magnificent Solar Calendar Square. Carved on the column are patterns of the sun, fire, tigers and the Eight Trigrams of ancient China. Around the column, there are ten black and white stone spheres facing different directions, symbolizing that life originates from the sun and the moon. The twelve lifelike carvings of Chinese zodiac animals on the peripheral add a lot of fun to the village. The distilleries, bullrings, and Mo Qiu, which is similar to a seesaw, represent authentic Yi culture.

• Naxi Village

Naxi Village is located to the east of Bai Village. Tourists can appreciate Naxi folk culture (called Dongba Culture), especially the local Dongjing music, the so-called sound of nature.

• Mosuo Village

Next to Naxi Village is Mosuo Village, which still maintains the matriarchy clans and the customs. What are special in Mosuo Village are the exquisite wood houses, delicious food, beautiful girls and last but not the least, the mysterious custom of walking marriage. Mosuo people’s marriage culture is quite uncommon. They prefer a visiting relationship between lovers—an arrangement they sometimes refer to in their language as sisi (zou hun in Chinese, meaning walking back and forth; or azhu zou hun, meaning friend marriage. Azhu means friend in Mosuo language). A Mosuo woman is free to receive male visitors after the coming-of-age ceremony at 12. A lover may stay overnight in her room but will return to his own mother’s home. Children born from such a relationship live with their mother. In Mosuo society, lovers can end their relationship at any time. For example, a woman may refuse her lover by simply no longer opening the door. Their marriage relationship is not a formal one.

• Achang Village

With a courtyard building as the main body, and the village gate, workshop is corresponding, such as a grey tile brick wall and stone column is characteristic. Achang people are hospitable and respect the old and cherish the young. There are guest to nap, the host entertain the guest with good tea and serve better wine; When propose a toast or pour tea, avoid to accept without comity. There is custom that the host will try to persuade guest to drink and eat, whether people who can drink liquor or tea, it is taboo that guest does not accept; When guest is persuaded by the host during dinner-time, no matter you are full or hungry, you’d better receive what the host give with bowl holding in both hands. Receiving with both hands or get up to salute is regarded as a great respect.

• Zhuang Village

Zhuang compatriots of Yunnan province mainly gathered in Wenshan prefecture, they live in Ganlan or Malan local-style dwelling houses, good at planting and diligent about farming, and they have customs of sun-worship, “Three Eternity Emperor” worship, ancestor-worship, and the custom of the master of elder is the leader. They regard highly of bronze drum, love silver ware, can sing and dance. They are hospitable and love to eat five-color glutinous rice, rice wine, and roasted tea. They have a national consciousness of self-esteem and self-confidence, their excellent traditional cultures are still intact that remain the ancient ethnic traditional culture essence of Baiyue minority.

• Tibetan Village

Covers an area of 21 mu, the village has top residences and carving type flat local-style dwelling houses building. Sacred Tibetan Buddhist temple, magnificent welcome white pagoda, the “white yak” sculpture is symbol of auspicious peace and unique style of Tibetan architecture mutual set off, bring out the best in each other. During the festival, singing folk songs, dancing Guozhuang dance and Xianzi dance, riders are even competing for archery.

What to do in Yunnan Ethnic Village

1. Watching  Ethnic Singing and Dancing Performances

The ethnic singing and dancing performances and the folk performances are from 9:00 to 17:00, mainly in the Dancing Hall and Tuanjie Square. The Asian Elephants performances are specially recommended.

Shows Timetable

Colorful Clouds	Jingpo Village	09:30-10:00, 11:30-12:00, 16:10-16:40
	Daogan Square	10:10-10:40, 11:20-11:50, 17:00-17:30
	Wa Village	10:50-11:20, 12:00-12:30, 16:20-16:50
	Yi Village	10:40-11:10, 14:00-14:30, 16:10-16:40
	Jino Village & Lahu Village	11:40-12:10, 14:10-14:40
	Mosuo Village	13:20-13:50, 16:30-17:00
	Bai Village	10:30-11:00, 12:40-13:10, 17:00-17:30
The Call of the Plateau	Dianchi Stage	13:20-14:10 CNY 150 for a normal ticket and CNY 260 for a VIP ticket
Elephant Show	Elephant Show Square	Ride elephant and take pictures: 10:30-11:00, 14:30-15:00, 15:30-16:00 Elephant show: 11:00-11:30, 15:00-15:30, 16:00-16:30

Note: The time schedule is subject to changes due to weather conditions and other factors.

2. Celebrating Festivals of Minority Ethnic Groups

1. Torch Festival of Yi- falls from June 24 to June 26 in Chinese lunar calendar (usually late June in western calendar).
2. Water Splashing Festival of Dai- falls in mid-April and lasts for 3-7 days
3. Hunting Festival (Lieshen Festival) of Yi- falls in February 1 to February 3 in Chinese lunar calendar (usually early March in western calenda)
4. Sanyuejie Festival of Bai- falls in March 15 in Chinese lunar calendar (usually in mid-April in western calendar)
5. Mizhi Festival of Yi- usually falls in November and women are not allowed to attend.
6. March 3 in Chinese lunar calendar- falls in late March or early April in western calendar; it is a day for spring outing of Kunming people.

3. Familiar Ethnic Culture

Yunnan Ethnic Village has managed to represent and exhibit the history, the cultures, the customs and the natural village houses of the 26 nationalities in this province. With the inclusion of precipitous hills, beautiful lakes and an integration of the customs, cultures, music, songs, dances, religious and architecture of the 26 nationalities, the village community has helped to show the world the true nature of Yunnan, a mysterious yet modern garden of ethnic cultures.