Majiaying Village of Xizuhang Town in Jianshui County, Honghe

Majiaying Village is located in the central part of Xizhuang Town, Jianshui County, Honghe Prefecture, Yunnan Province. As the core natural village under the Majiaying Village Committee, it is about 12 kilometers from Jianshui County Seat and 3 kilometers from Xizhuang Town Government, with convenient transportation and prominent geographical advantages. Situated in a flat dam area, it has a subtropical climate (annual average temperature: 18.5°C, annual precipitation: approx. 800mm), ideal for crop growth. It is a typical agricultural village with potential for historical and rural tourism development.

I. Village Overview and Demographics

  • Basic Profile: Covering 3.2 square kilometers, the village administers 1 village group with 486 households and a registered population of 1,820, over 95% of whom are engaged in agriculture, with around 1,200 laborers.
  • Ethnic Composition: Predominantly Han (98%), with small mixed populations of Yi and Hani ethnic groups, showcasing high cultural integration.
  • Historical Background: Formed during the Ming and Qing dynasties, the village is named after the early 聚居 (settlement) of the Ma clan. It retains traditional dwellings and farming customs, listed in Jianshui’s Traditional Village Protection List in 2019.

II. Economic Industries and Unique Resources

1. Traditional Agriculture & Specialized Planting

  • Leading Industries: With 2,100 mu (140 hectares) of cultivated land (1.15 mu per capita), it grows rice, flue-cured tobacco, vegetables (chilies, tomatoes), and fruits (citrus, blueberries). Flue-cured tobacco, a traditional pillar industry, covers over 800 mu annually, generating a 2023 output value of 5 million RMB.
  • Modern Agriculture: In recent years, high-altitude 特色 fruits like blueberries and strawberries have been introduced via the “cooperative + farmer” model, with 50 mu of greenhouse facilities. Products supply urban and surrounding markets, tripling per-mu output value compared to traditional crops.

2. Animal Husbandry & Industrial Integration

  • Livestock farming, mainly pigs and laying hens, is household-based, with a 2023 output value of 2 million RMB.
  • Leveraging tourism resources near Shuanglong Bridge and Tuanshan Ancient Village, some households operate agritainment businesses featuring local specialties like Jianshui tofu and grass 芽 rice noodles, accounting for 15% of rural tourism income in 2024.

3. Collective Economy & Project-Driven Growth

  • The village collective earns income through land transfer and photovoltaic project investments, reaching 300,000 RMB in 2023, used for infrastructure and public services.

III. Infrastructure and Public Services

1. Transportation & Water Conservancy

  • Transport: The main village road is paved concrete, connecting to Xizhuang’s main road (15-minute drive from Jianshui Ancient City). 90% of 村内 roads are 硬化,with plans to build 2 new parking lots in 2024 to improve tourist access.
  • Irrigation: Relying on the Xizhuang Dam irrigation system, it has 5 km of irrigation ditches, achieving an 85% effective irrigation rate.

2. Water, Electricity & Communications

  • 100% of households have electricity, with 95% access to tap water (groundwater source), upgraded in 2022; 4G network covers the entire village, with 80% fiber broadband penetration and e-commerce stations for online sales.

3. Education & Healthcare

  • Education: Majiaying Primary School (including kindergarten) has 150 students and 12 teachers; secondary education requires traveling to Xizhuang Town or the county seat, with concentrated educational resources.
  • Healthcare: The 80 m² village clinic has 2 rural doctors, handling common illnesses; located 3 km from Xizhuang Town Hospital, with a 98% medical insurance participation rate.

4. Living Environment

  • Since 2018, 5 million RMB has been invested in 2 km of sewage pipeline renovation, 80 streetlights, and greening, awarded “Jianshui Beautiful Village” in 2023.
  • The “Toilet Revolution” upgraded 85% of toilets, with 3 new waste treatment sites, significantly improving sanitation.

IV. Cultural Tourism & Resource Advantages

1. Historical & Cultural Resources

  • Over 20 traditional dwellings from the Qing and Republican eras remain, featuring “three-sided houses with a screen wall” (三坊一照壁) and “four courtyards with five wells” (四合五天井) architecture, preserving intact wood and brick carvings.
  • Rich folk activities include dragon/lion dances during Spring Festival, lantern fairs on Lantern Festival, and zongzi-making competitions on Dragon Boat Festival, inheriting intangible cultural heritage like Jianshui “Dongjing Music.”

2. Natural Scenery & Tourism Linkage

  • Surrounding pastoral landscapes, with rapeseed flowers in spring and rice fields in summer, attract photographers. Adjacent to the national 4A-level Shuanglong Bridge (Seventeen-Arch Bridge), it’s within walking distance and included in the “Jianshui Ancient City—Tuanshan Ancient Village—Shuanglong Bridge” tourism loop, receiving over 100,000 visitors annually since 2024.
  • Plans to build an “Agricultural Culture Experience Park” for rice paddy adoption and fruit/vegetable picking to promote agritourism integration.

3. Conservation & Development

  • Leveraging Jianshui’s status as a “National Historical and Cultural City,” it applied for 3 million RMB in provincial traditional village protection funds in 2024 for ancient building restoration and cultural excavation, aiming to create a “Traditional Dwelling Exhibition Area.”

V. Future Development Plan

  1. Industrial Upgrading:
    • Expand blueberry/strawberry planting, build sorting/packaging centers, register agricultural brands, and utilize e-commerce for wider sales.
    • Standardize agritainment operations, develop “homestay + farming experience” products, and integrate into Jianshui’s tourism network.
  2. Infrastructure Enhancement:
    • Complete village-wide sewage pipeline coverage and main road lighting by 2025; launch a cultural activity center.
    • Secure rural revitalization funds for high-standard farmland renovation to boost agricultural mechanization.
  3. Cultural Empowerment:
    • Compile the Majiaying Village Annals, protect traditional architecture and customs, and train intangible cultural heritage inheritors.
    • Collaborate with nearby scenic spots to launch “Ancient Village Exploration” and “Pastoral Wellness” tour routes to increase visibility.

VI. Transportation Guide

  • By Car: From Jianshui County Seat, drive 12 km west along S214 to Xizhuang Town, then via Majiaying’s main road; 15 km (20-minute drive) from Jianshui Ancient City (Chaoyang Tower).
  • Public Transport: Take Bus Route 12 from Jianshui County to Xizhuang Town, then transfer to a rural bus or walk 3 km; a tourist shuttle operates during peak seasons: “Ancient City—Shuanglong Bridge—Majiaying.”

 

Majiaying Village, leveraging its advantageous location and rich agricultural-tourism resources, is transforming from a traditional agricultural village into a model for rural revitalization with “strong industries, beautiful environment, and thriving culture,” exemplifying development in Jianshui’s dam area.