Guyu Village of Qina Town in Yongsheng County, Lijiang

Gu Yu Village（谷宇村） is located in the dam area of Daying Town, Yongsheng County, Lijiang City, Yunnan Province. It is situated in the southwest of Daying Town, 3 kilometers away from the town center and 50 kilometers away from Yongsheng County. The village covers an area of about 9.29 square kilometers, with an altitude of 1,370 meters. The average annual temperature is approximately 18 degrees Celsius, and the annual precipitation is about 667 millimeters. It is a subtropical river valley area with a suitable climate that is conducive to the growth of various crops.

Gu Yu Village is predominantly inhabited by the Han ethnic group, with more than ten other ethnic minorities such as Hui, Yi, and Lisu also residing here. Over a long period of production and life, these ethnic groups have integrated with each other, forming a diverse and unique cultural atmosphere.

Tobacco Pipe Making: Tobacco pipe making in Gu Yu Village has a long history. The tobacco pipes made by the Li brothers are especially popular. They use wood from century-old Qingxiang trees, which are hard and have clear grain patterns. The handmade tobacco pipes are aesthetically pleasing and have the characteristics of not leaking tobacco oil and not emitting strong tobacco odors when carried. Although tobacco pipes are no longer the main smoking tools with the popularity of cigarettes, they have become popular tourist souvenirs.

Dongjing Music: Dongjing music is a multi-ethnic music genre that emerged in Yunnan after a large number of Han people from the mainland moved to Yunnan during the Ming Dynasty. Dongjing music was introduced to Gu Yu Village by the Li family and the “Hongyuan Dongjing Association” was established, which was very popular from the late Qing Dynasty to the Republic of China period. In 1984, the descendants of the Li family began to collect and organize 44 Dongjing music scores, and in 2002, they compiled the “Beisheng Gu Yu Dongjing Ancient Music Score.” Dongjing music performances are still regularly organized today.

Gu Yu Village retains many traditional customs, some of which are similar to those of the Han traditional festivals but also incorporate local characteristics. During the Spring Festival, villagers engage in activities such as pasting spring couplets, ancestor worship, and having family reunions. They also organize various cultural and entertainment performances to enhance the festive atmosphere. In addition, local temple fairs are important traditional customs. On specific days, villagers go to the temple to pray for blessings, hoping for favorable weather and a good harvest.

Kui Xing Pavilion（魁星阁）: Built during the Qianlong period, Kui Xing Pavilion has a history of more than 200 years and is the iconic building of Gu Yu Village. “Kui Xing” is the god in charge of literature. The statue of Kui Xing in the pavilion holds a divine pen in his right hand and an inkpot in his left hand. His right foot steps on the head of an Aowu (a mythical creature), and his left foot is raised backward with the foot sole lifting the inkpot. The pavilion’s eaves columns and hall columns have couplets that cleverly imply the meaning of “Kui Xing pointing to the inkpot, standing alone on the head of the Aowu,” reflecting the local emphasis on cultural education.

Traditional Dwellings: Traditional dwellings in the village are mainly concentrated in the western part of the village and have a history of more than a hundred years. The houses are mostly made of earth walls and covered with blue tiles. Columns, rafters, stairs, and doors and windows are all made of wood. The gates, beams, brackets, windows, and railings are all exquisitely carved. The gable walls are decorated with local characteristics. By applying lime and setting up waist eaves (“sparrow platforms”), they not only protect the earth walls but also add beauty. The three-hall-one-screen courtyard layout is not only a living space but also contains rich cultural connotations.

Natural Scenery: Gu Yu Village is backed by the Moon Slope and Tiger Mountain in the northwest and faces the Hai River in the southeast. Across the river, there are small hills such as Huayuan Slope, Zhongjia Slope, and Dashuijing Slope, forming a natural feng shui pattern of “backed by mountains, facing water, facing the sun, and gathering energy.” Along the riverside avenue in front of the village, bauhinia trees are lined up. On the opposite bank, red cypress and willows provide shade. There are also more than 30 ancient trees and famous woods in the village, such as banyan trees, longan trees, neem trees, and tamarind trees, creating a beautiful natural ecology.

Cultural Landscapes: In addition to the aforementioned ancient buildings, there are many cultural relics such as Yun Gu Temple, Mountain God Temple, Yun Gu Bridge, and the “Remembering the Source of Water” stele. The windows and doors of Li’s former residence are exquisitely carved. The hexagonal doors in the main hall have the lower part of the apron board carved with the pattern of “happiness, prosperity, longevity, and joy,” and the upper part of the lattice is composed of floral and auspicious birds, which have profound meanings.

External Transportation: By Plane: You can first arrive at Lijiang Sanyi International Airport (丽江三义国际机场). The airport is a certain distance away from Yongsheng County. You can take a shuttle bus to Yongsheng County from the airport, or choose to hire a car to go to Yongsheng County.

By Train: You can take a train to Yongsheng Station (永胜站), and then transfer to a bus to Gu Yu Village (谷宇村).

By Long-Distance Bus: There are long-distance buses from surrounding cities to Yongsheng County. After arriving at Yongsheng County Bus Station (永胜县汽车站), you can transfer to a bus to Daying Town (期纳镇).

Internal Transportation: After arriving in Daying Town (期纳镇), you can choose to take local taxis, tricycles, or other means of transportation to Gu Yu Village (谷宇村). You can also contact local villagers to arrange for pick-up and drop-off, which is convenient and fast.