Akezhai Villages (Ake Ethnic People) in Manwai of Jinghong City, XishuangBanna

Chinese Name:西双版纳景洪市允景洪街道办事处曼外村委会阿克寨
English Name:Akezhai Villages in Manwai Village in Jinghong City, XishuangBanna

Akezhai Village is divided into two sections: Ake Old Village and Ake New Village. Ake Old Village has a total of 85 households and 421 residents, primarily from the Hani ethnic group. From 2020 to 2022, it was recognized as a characteristic model village for rural tourism in Jinghong City.

Both Ake Old Village and Ake New Village are under the jurisdiction of Manwai Village Committee, Yunjinghong Sub-district, Jinghong City, Xishuangbanna, Yunnan Province. The villages are located in a mountainous area, about 17 kilometers off the road from Jinghong to Menghan Town, 18 kilometers from the village committee, and 28 kilometers from downtown Jinghong. The villages cover a land area of 12.53 square kilometers, with an elevation of 650 meters, an average annual temperature of 21°C, and an annual rainfall of 950 mm. This region is suitable for growing various crops. The villages have 117 mu of arable land and 6,559 mu of forest land. A total of 124 households and 630 rural residents live in the villages, all of whom are involved in agriculture. In 2009, the villages’ total economic income was 11.77 million yuan, with a per capita net income of 4,333 yuan. Rubber production is the primary source of income for the villagers.

The current scenic beauty of Ake Old Village in Manwai Village Committee, Jiangbei Sub-district, Jinghong City, is striking. The village, nestled by water and surrounded by mountains, forms a picturesque setting where clean and orderly communities blend harmoniously with the lush natural environment, creating a harmonious space where mountains, water, forests, and villages coexist and thrive.

The Ake People: A Unique Ethnic Group in Xishuangbanna

In Xishuangbanna, a unique ethnic group known as the Ake people live. The term “Ake” is an external designation for them, and they are currently classified under the Hani ethnic group.

The Ake people primarily inhabit 21 villages across Jinghong City, including Jinghong Town, Menglong Town, and Menghan Town, as well as in Bulangshan Township of Menghai County and Menglun Town of Mengla County. The population of Ake people is over 6,000, with the most famous Ake Old Village located in Mengla County.

The Ake people refer to themselves as “Guoke.” According to legend, an Ake woman once encountered a Han Chinese man on her way back from work. Unable to communicate verbally due to the language barrier, they resorted to gestures. During their interaction, the Han man used the phrase “A ban ke,” meaning “go ahead.” However, the woman misheard and remembered only “Ake.” Since then, she referred to herself as “Ake,” and her descendants came to be known as the Ake people.

In the past, the Ake people lived in thatched huts with low ceilings, dark interiors, and fire pits in the center for cooking and heating. Nowadays, many Ake people have built wooden stilt houses, and some have constructed reinforced concrete buildings.

The Ake people have their own language, similar to Hani, allowing them to communicate with the Hani ethnic group. They practice animistic religions and share similar modes of production with the Hani. Their main festivals include the “New Year Festival,” “Mid-Autumn Festival,” and celebrations for new houses. During these festivals, they hold singing and dancing events with simple, primitive, and spontaneous dance movements. Some notable dances include the men’s “Chopstick Dance,” the women’s “Bolei Younai” (Silver Box Dance), and various agricultural dances depicting activities like cutting, planting, harvesting, and processing grain. There is also a ritual dance known as the “Corpse Dance.”

The Ake people live alongside the Dai, Hani, Lahu, and Bulang ethnic groups but maintain their distinct cultural identity through traditional attire. Their clothing primarily features black colors. Men wear silk headscarves, black homespun outfits, silver necklaces, and flowers in one ear. Women wear black trousers and blouses with silver coins sewn on the front, short jackets reaching the waist, and embroidered red geometric patterns on the edges. The skirts have side slits adorned with colorful fringes about a foot long. They wrap their heads with black cloth or square scarves. Middle-aged women wrap their calves with black cloth and wear large silver earrings connected by a silver chain draping down their chests. They also wear silver bracelets, silver necklaces, and colorful glass bead strings while carrying handwoven hemp bags.

Ake women are known for their industriousness, kindness, and creativity. They never let their hands idle, always busy with embroidery and weaving in their spare time. Even during conversations, women continue to sew bags or spin yarn. The embroidery on Ake clothing is intricate and vibrant, featuring colorful floral patterns. The designs, stitched by hand, reflect their ideals, aspirations, and dreams, with motifs of plants, animals, and birds vividly depicted.

Agriculture and Lifestyle

The Ake people primarily engage in mountain agriculture, cultivating crops like winter melon, pumpkin, taro, and yam. There are few rice paddies, and some mountainous areas have none at all. Dryland farming is prevalent, with low yields due to the lack of irrigation. The main agricultural tools are machetes and hoes. Before heading out to work in the fields, men sharpen their machetes while women inspect their baskets. Living in mountainous regions with limited contact with the outside world, the Ake people historically faced cultural and economic challenges. However, their living conditions have greatly improved in recent years, with better clothing and a more leisurely lifestyle, while still preserving their traditional customs and way of life.