Gelei Village of Pingzhai Town in Quibei County, Wenshan

Chinese Name: 文山壮族苗族自治州丘北县平寨乡革雷村
English Name: Gelei Village of Pingzhai Town in Qiubei County, Wenshan

Geographical Location

Gelei Village is situated in a mountainous area, approximately 4 kilometers from the village committee and 30 kilometers from the town center. The village covers a land area of 11.72 square kilometers, with an elevation of 1,242 meters. The annual average temperature is 16°C, and it receives about 1,150 millimeters of rainfall each year. These conditions are ideal for cultivating crops such as rice and corn.

Village Overview

Gelei Village has a total of 366 mu (about 24.4 hectares) of arable land, with an average of 0.4 mu (about 0.027 hectares) per capita. There is also 1,400 mu (about 93.3 hectares) of forested land. The village is divided into two village groups and consists of 174 households. Agriculture and animal husbandry are the primary sources of income for the villagers. The village is characterized by its north-south mountain ranges and the east-west flowing Qing Shui River valley. About 2 kilometers to the east of the village is the Gelei Level 1 Power Station, operated by China Southern Power Grid. A suspension bridge in the village connects a simple mountain road to the Qiubei-Guangnan highway. The geographical setting on the southeastern slope of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, combined with a humid climate and abundant evergreen broadleaf forests, contributes to a pleasant environment. The village is also home to ancient banyan trees that remain green throughout the year.

Cultural Highlights

Gelei Village is located in the middle and lower reaches of the Qing Shui River, with fertile land conducive to the development of agriculture. The river has good water quality, teeming with fish and shrimp, and the presence of ancient banyan trees adds to the village’s picturesque and poetic charm. The village enjoys ample water supply and easy irrigation, but its only drawback is the slightly inconvenient transportation. Despite this, the entire village is well-organized and well-preserved.

The village lies in a river valley with a humid environment, favoring the construction of stilt-style houses, which offer comfortable living conditions. This architectural style is a traditional dwelling form among ethnic minorities in Yunnan Province and has been prevalent since the late Neolithic period. Gelei Zhuang ethnic houses are built near the mountains and water, facing north to south. The village is covered with ancient banyan trees, and all 203 houses are built in the “stilt-style” architecture, featuring a horizontally elongated rectangular layout. The houses vary in size, with some having 3, 4, or 6 compartments. The lower level of these houses is shorter, while the upper level is taller, with the design allowing humans to live on the upper level and livestock to be kept below. The upper level is divided into bedrooms and a central hall by horizontal wooden panels. The central hall serves as a communal space for family activities and hosting guests, featuring a shrine for deities and ancestral tablets. A hearth at one end of the hall is used for cooking, making it a central part of daily life.