Bamei Village Overview
Introduction
Bamei means 'cave in the forest' in Zhuang language. Located thirty kilometers (about nineteen miles) from Guangnan County in Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, the village is hard to find because of its unique location. It is surrounded by hills, and visitors have to travel by small boat through a long, dark limestone tunnel. The most interesting thing about the village is that people have to go through a deep and sombrous water cave by boat whenever they want go in and out. In the dark, you feel as if you are going back in time. When you emerge from the tunnel you will be amazed. In a hidden valley, in a grove of green bamboos and old trees, lies Bamei Village. A blue stream gently flows by, and hard-working farmers silently till the green fields. It's a picture of another lost Shangri-la.
Basic Information
Chinese Name: 坝美村
English Name: Bamei Village
Location: 24°18' N. 105°20' E.
Altitude: 820 meters 2690 feet
Market day: Monday at Fali Village
Geography
The Bamei Village is located on the common boundary of Ake Village and Bada Village in the north of the Guangnan County. It belongs to the Karst topography. The Village is surrounded by green mountains, and through the Village runs all the year round a clear river which is called Tuoniang River.
Climate
The climate in Bamei is mild, and generally warm and temperate. There is significant rainfall throughout the year in Maguan. Even the driest month still has a lot of rainfall. According to Köppen and Geiger, this climate is classified as Cfa. The average annual temperature in Maguan is 17.4 °C. Precipitation here averages 1415 mm.
Accommodation
Bamei itself offers only very basic accommodation. For those who want to enjoy local life, living with a local family is a good choice. But the condition might be quite rough because of the isolated and undeveloped village. You can also leave Bamei and stay in Guangnan County.
Transportation
It is not very convenient to get to Bamei since it is isolaed from other places. As Bamei is far away from cities, you'd better take a coach from Kunming to Guangnan County firstly. Then rent car to a village named Fali. Then you have to walk about 1 kilometer (about 0.62 miles) to arrive at the entry-cave.
Ethnic Culture
In the ancient picturesque village, Zhuang is the dominant ethnic minority of Bamei, of which most villagers are indigenous Sha Brach of Zhuang. Because of the isolated and mysterious place, they carry on the most traditional culture and primitive life styles. Under the giant banyan tree, the old women in unique clothes are pushing the stone mill or dying the cloth. They also celebrate the traditional festivals and use the ancient signs and totems.
Attraction
Bamei, the cave in the forest, the village is hard to find because of its unique location.It is surrounded by hills, and visitors have to travel by small boat through a long, dark limestone tunnel.When you emerge from the tunnel you will be amazed. In a hidden valley, in a grove of green bamboos and old trees, lies Bamei Village. A blue stream gently flows by, and hard-working farmers silently till the green fields. It's a picture of another lost Shangri-la.There are Tanna Cave, Giant Banyan Tree and booing peach blossoms.
Fstivals
Sanyuesan Festival of Zhuang People (壮族三月三)
Colored Glutinous Rice (Huamifan) Festival of Zhuang Ethnic Minority (壮族花米饭节)
Chixin (Changxin) Festival of Zhuang Ethnic Minority (壮族尝新节/吃新节)
What to Eat in Bamei Village
The local food are pollution-free and original. They must be healthy and favorable. Travelers can taste the featured Zhuang food and their simple meal in Zhuang’s house.
What to Buy in Bamei Village
The villagers keep the traditional handicrafts generation by generation. Travelers can buy their handicrafts, ethnic costume, agricultural products and local snacks in their special market.
On Mondays there is a market on the main road downstream at Fali village and then nearly all boats are used by all the villagers on their way to and from the market to buy and sell goods.
