Nuohei Yi Ethnic Culture Protection Area in Shilin County, Kunming

Nuohei Village in Shilin County, Kunming

The Nuohei Yi Ethnic Culture Protection Area is a cultural space in Shilin Yi Autonomous County (石林彝族自治县), Kunming, Yunnan Province, and is recognized as one of Yunnan’s provincial-level intangible cultural heritage sites. Nuohei Village (糯黑村), located in Guishan Township (圭山镇) of Shilin County, has a history of over 600 years and is a well-preserved settlement of the Yi people, particularly the Sani (撒尼) ethnic group. The village is renowned for its unique “stone village,” with most of its traditional homes built from layered rocks, making it an exceptional example of the Karst topography in central Yunnan. The village is home to 272 households, with a population of 1,054, 99.8% of whom are ethnic Sani Yi people.

In recent years, Nuohei Village has capitalized on its cultural and natural resources by developing a unique path of rural revitalization through a model that combines “entrepreneur-driven development, stone-based cultural heritage, and the integration of culture and tourism.” This approach has helped the village thrive, making it a destination with a distinct charm. Currently, the village operates eight agritourism guesthouses, 24 rooms in homestays, with 80 beds, receiving around 200,000 visitors annually and generating 3.4 million RMB in tourism revenue. The village has been recognized as a National Key Village for Rural Tourism, a Traditional Chinese Village, a National Ecological Village, and more.

Project Name: Nuohei Yi Ethnic Culture Protection Area
Certification Level: Provincial-level
Project Category: Cultural Space
Certification Date: 2006
Certification Batch: First Batch
Application Area/Unit: Shilin Yi Autonomous County, Kunming, Yunnan, China
Country: China

Introduction to Nuohei Village

Nuohei Village is situated about 25 kilometers east of the Shilin Scenic Area (石林风景名胜区) in Kunming. The “Jiu (Xiang) Shi (Lin) A (Lu Gu Dong)” tourist route passes through the village, and the area belongs to Guishan Township (圭山镇) of Shilin County. The village is divided into two natural settlements: Big Nuohei and Small Nuohei. Located near mountains and water, the village offers a scenic and peaceful environment. The average altitude is 1,985 meters, covering an area of approximately 100 square kilometers, with about 86% of the land covered by forest, and it features typical Karst landscape.

Historical Background

Nuohei Village was founded in 1398, making it over 610 years old. It is a traditional settlement of the Sani Yi (撒尼彝族) people and was historically part of the Luliang Prefecture (陆凉州), which was an important stop on ancient trade routes. The village’s stone houses and stone-paved roads are representative of the unique architecture of the Karst region and have been preserved for centuries. During the turbulent period from 1816 to 1949, the villagers, facing warlords and bandits, built stone walls and houses from locally sourced materials to protect themselves from external threats. This stone building style has persisted to this day, becoming a hallmark of Sani architectural art and its harmonious integration with the local environment.

Cultural Features

Originally known as “Tengzi Shao” (藤子哨), the name “Nuohei” comes from the Yi language, where “Nuo” means “monkey” and “hei” refers to a pond, hence the full meaning is “monkey pond.” The Sani people (撒尼人) have a rich history and culture, with traditional stone houses that are over a century old. The village is famous for its well-preserved Qing Dynasty (清代) buildings, including the stone walls that surround the village, as well as its distinctive stone fortress-like structures on the surrounding hills. The village is renowned for its folk culture, which has been showcased in the famous film Ashima (阿诗玛), where the colorful traditional attire of the Sani women is prominently featured.

The traditional attire includes a flower cap (used to identify a woman’s status) and intricate embroidery, with techniques such as flower stitching, threading, and knotting that date back to the Ming (明代) and Qing (清代) dynasties. The Sani people also practice ancestor worship and nature worship, with numerous annual ceremonies led by shamans known as “Bimo” (毕摩) (typically male) and “Shima” (筮玛) (usually female). These rituals include offerings to ancestors, natural spirits, and deities.

Sani writing (撒尼文字), used mainly by the Bimo and cultural researchers, is composed of characters that are often pictographic or ideographic, and it remains in use by only a small number of people. The village’s folklore includes narrative epics like Guishan Rainbow (圭山彩虹) and Ashima (阿诗玛), as well as diverse forms of folk music, such as wedding songs, narrative tunes, and work songs. Common musical instruments include the mouth harp (口弦), bamboo flute (竹笛), and large three-stringed instrument (大三弦). Traditional dances such as the big drum dance (大鼓舞) and lion dance (狮舞) are an important part of cultural celebrations.

The Sani people also engage in various traditional sports, such as wrestling (摔跤), bullfighting (斗牛), and other competitive games. Major festivals include the Spring Festival (春节), Qingming Festival (清明节), Mid-Autumn Festival (中秋节), Dragon Boat Festival (端午节), Torch Festival (火把节), and the Miji Festival (密枝节), all of which feature vibrant performances and rituals.

Key Features of Nuohei Village

Nuohei Village is located in a karstic region, and the villagers have adapted the natural stone resources to build their homes. The unique landscape has earned the village the nickname “the village made of solidified stones.” Almost all the houses are constructed from stone, blending the Sani architectural style with the environment. Nuohei’s picturesque scenery and well-preserved traditions make it an attractive destination for those seeking to experience the cultural richness and natural beauty of Yunnan’s Yi people.

For more information, visit Nuohei Yi Ethnic Culture Protection Area.