Wujing Town of Shangri-La City, Diqing
Geographic Location
Wujing Township (五境乡) is located in the western part of Shangri-La City (香格里拉市), Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (迪庆藏族自治州), Yunnan Province (云南省), between 27°34′ – 27°52′ N latitude and 99°26′ – 99°36′ E longitude. It borders Jiantang Town (建塘镇) and Xiaozhongdian Town (小中甸镇) to the east, Shangjiang Township (上江乡) to the south (across the river from Yulong County (玉龙县), Lijiang City (丽江市)), and Deqin County’s Tuoding Township (德钦县拖顶乡) and Weixi County’s Tacheng Town (维西县塔城镇) across the Jinsha River (金沙江) to the west. To the north, it neighbors Nixi Township (尼西乡).
Known as the “Rooster Crows in Four Counties” due to its unique location at the junction of Yulong, Weixi, Deqin, and Shangri-La, the township government is stationed in Nongwentang Village (农温塘村民小组), Xiazhu Village Committee (霞珠村委会), at an altitude of 1,960 meters, 88 kilometers from downtown Shangri-La. Covering 333.83 square kilometers, the terrain features mountains at its back and the Jinsha River in front, with villages and farmland scattered along the riverbanks.
2. Ethnic Minorities and Traditional Crafts
Ethnic Groups
The Tibetan people dominate Wujing Township (五境乡), with small populations of other ethnic groups. Long-term interactions have fostered a rich regional culture, where Tibetan traditions deeply influence daily life, festivals, crafts, and arts.
Traditional Crafts
Bamboo Weaving
A prefecture-level intangible cultural heritage, bamboo weaving is practiced among Tibetan and Yi communities in Wujing. Shangri-La’s bamboo crafts are divided into fine-woven (e.g., butter tea boxes) and coarse-woven (e.g., agricultural baskets) styles, showcasing local ingenuity and aesthetics.
Xianzi (弦子) Making and Performance
Called biwang (碧汪) in Tibetan, this 1,000-year-old traditional instrument is iconic in Kham (康巴) culture. Local master Ge Rong Nongbu (格茸农布) blends traditional and modern styles, performing widely and founding a training school to preserve the art.
3. Customs and Festivals
Traditional Festivals
- Ezong Flower Festival (俄仲花节): Celebrated in Xiazhu Village (霞珠村) with dances, rituals, and gratitude for nature.
- Harvest Festival: Held during autumn rice harvests, featuring traditional farming activities like threshing and milling.
Daily Customs
Tibetan housing and male attire resemble other Tibetan regions, but women’s festive wear is distinctive: gold-trimmed red/white blouses, black vests, and embroidered skirts. Historically, polyandry (兄弟共妻) existed but was replaced by monogamy post-1953. Folk arts include the Langreba Dance (流浪热巴舞) and Kham Guozhuang (康巴锅庄) circle dances, open to visitor participation.
4. Ancient Architecture
Though undocumented in detail, Wujing’s Tibetan-style buildings feature two-story timber-and-earth structures: livestock on the ground floor, living quarters above. Decorated with carvings of the Eight Auspicious Symbols (吉祥八宝), they blend into landscapes adorned with mani stones and prayer flags.
5. Tourism Resources
Natural Landscapes
- Terraced Fields: 3,000 acres spanning 2,800–3,300 meters in altitude, best viewed at dawn from “Heavenly Ladder Platform” (天梯观景台).
- Jiren Qing (吉仁箐): A pristine valley with rare flora like Chinese yew (红豆杉), ideal for trekking.
- Jiren Fairy Cave (吉仁仙人洞): Limestone caverns with stunning stalactites and an underground river.
- Divine Chuan Water Curtain Cave (神川秘境水帘洞): A sacred Tibetan site featuring waterfalls and rock formations like the “Immortal’s Stone Bowl” (仙人石碗).
Cultural Attractions
- Tibetan Villages: Experience daily life, savor yak butter tea and tsampa (糌粑), and stay in homestays.
6. Transportation
External Access
- By Air: Fly to Diqing Shangri-La Airport (迪庆香格里拉机场), then hire a car (1.5–2 hours) to Wujing.
- By Train: Arrive at Lijiang Station (丽江站), take a bus to Shangri-La, then transfer to Wujing. Direct private transfers save time.
Local Travel
Rent a car or hire guides for remote areas like Jiren Qing. Mountain roads require caution.
