Jiale Village Travel Guide (嘉乐村)

🌄 Overview

Jiale Village, located in Jinma Town, Luxi County (泸西县金马镇), Honghe Prefecture, was listed in the 4th batch of China’s Traditional Villages (2020).
Nestled between plains and hills, with gentle slopes to the east and 1,000 mu of scallion fields plus a wetland park to the west, it forms an ecological setting of “fields surrounding the village, wetlands at its side.”
As a model of Yi-Han cultural integration, Jiale offers both intangible Yi heritage experiences and modern agricultural leisure tourism.

📜 History & Ethnic Background

• Ethnic Composition: Mainly Yi people (Nisu branch), cohabiting harmoniously with Han residents, reflecting the tradition of ethnic integration in Southeast Yunnan.

• Settlement History: Established during the Ming-Qing era as an agricultural community.

• Modern Development: Recently revitalized by integrating wetland resources into a “leisure + wellness + fishing” tourism industry chain.

🍲 Food Culture

• Local Produce: Large-scale scallion farming, alongside vegetable greenhouses, provides unique ingredients such as pickled scallion greens and eco-farmed freshwater fish.

• Must-Try Dishes:

  • Claypot stewed fish (砂锅炖鱼)

  • Smoked cured meat

  • Luxi-style grilled tofu with chili dipping sauce 🌶️

• Experience: Enjoy authentic farmhouse meals in village homestays, where “field-to-table” dining is the highlight.

👗 Traditional Dress

• Yi Clothing:

  • Women: Indigo hemp cloth jackets with silver ornaments, embroidered aprons featuring azalea motifs.

  • Men: Practical front-opening tunics with head wraps, reflecting farming life.

• Visitor Tip: During festivals, visitors can rent traditional costumes or observe Yi embroidery workshops.

🎭 Customs & Traditions

• Folk Dances: Yi heritage dances like the Cigarette-Box Dance (烟盒舞) and Haicai Melody (海菜腔) remain vibrant.

• Wedding Ceremonies: Guests are welcomed with blocking-the-door wine and toast songs; long-table banquets (长龙宴) create a festive communal atmosphere.

• Community Life: The red-black list in village regulations promotes harmony. Tourists may join hearth gatherings, four-string lute (四弦琴) music, and evening storytelling.

🏠 Architecture & Scenic Spots

• Village Layout: Traditional timber-earth houses built along slopes, often decorated with corn and chili strings on walls.

• Wetland Park: Renovated into a leisure zone combining fishing, bird-watching, and local dining.

• Tour Highlights:

  • Stroll along scallion ridges.

  • Cycle through vegetable fields.

  • Enjoy the landscape of “a village in green, people in a painting.” 🌾🏞️

✨ Festivals & Handicrafts

• Torch Festival (火把节): Celebrated on the 24th day of the 6th lunar month, featuring bonfire parties, wrestling contests, and mass Yi dances.

• Rice-Planting Festival (开秧门): A spring ritual where visitors can experience traditional farming by joining villagers in transplanting rice seedlings.

• Handicrafts: Yi embroidery with floral and animal motifs, crafted into belts, bags, and sachets. Markets offer souvenirs or mini embroidery workshops.

🙏 Religion & Language

• Belief System: Primarily nature worship, integrated into festivals like the Torch Festival; no formal religious buildings, but totems appear in clothing and performances.

• Language: Yi (Nisu dialect) and Mandarin are widely spoken, making communication easy for visitors.

⚙️ Travel Tips

• Transportation:

  • 30 minutes by car from Luxi County center.

  • Navigate “Jiale Village, Jinma Town” (嘉乐村 金马镇).

  • Flat village roads make it ideal for cycling tours.

• Best Seasons:

  • Spring: Join rice planting.

  • Summer: Torch Festival (June–July).

  • Autumn: Wetland bird-watching & fruit picking.

• Facilities: Farm stays with food & lodging, wetland park with fishing areas and viewing platforms—perfect for family getaways.

🌟 Travel Theme

Jiale Village thrives on the theme of “Scallion Fields + Wetland Ecology.”
Here, travelers can harvest fresh greens at dawn, fish at sunset, and dance by the Torch Festival bonfire at night—immersing in both Yi cultural warmth and pastoral tranquility. 🎇