Laozhai Village of Nijiao Town in Quibei County, Wenshan

Chinese Name: 文山壮族苗族自治州丘北县腻脚乡老寨村
English Name: Laozhai Village of Nijiao Town in Qiubei County, Wenshan

Geographical Location

Laozhai Village is a small village group within Nijiao Village in Nijiao Town, Qiubei County. It is located in a mountainous area, approximately 1 kilometer away from the village committee and 1 kilometer from the town center. The village covers a land area of 10 square kilometers, sitting at an elevation of 2,030 meters. It experiences an average annual temperature of 14°C and an annual rainfall of 1,168 millimeters. The climate and geography are suitable for growing crops such as corn and cabbage.

Village Overview

The average cultivated land per capita in Laozhai Village is 1.2 mu (about 0.08 hectares). The village has a registered population of over 1,240 people, with around 1,040 residents living there permanently. In 2013, the average per capita net income for farmers was 6,583 yuan. The primary sources of income for the villagers are farming and animal husbandry.

Cultural Highlights

Laozhai Village has a unique architectural culture developed through generations of living in harmony with the land, following the natural rhythm of the sun and mountains. The village’s residential buildings are constructed with care, featuring grand and robust designs. All village houses are traditional quadrangle courtyard-style buildings, with wooden components and stone materials. The structures are substantial, with meticulously crafted columns, bases, doors, windows, and engraved wooden flower columns. The walls are built using a mixture of five-faced stones, glutinous rice, sand, and ash. The main gate is an arched structure made of semi-circular stone, while the front eaves of the main house are adorned with tri-color decorative brackets. The courtyard is paved with five-faced stones, suitable for drying grains. The quadrangle courtyards have efficient drainage systems that leave visitors in awe. Traditional dwellings make up 79% of the village’s buildings, and their architectural style is well-preserved, showcasing distinctive local cultural characteristics.

Nijiao Laozhai is primarily inhabited by the descendants of the Han people who settled there during the Qing Dynasty. The village contains a cluster of 357 traditional houses, home to over 1,600 people. These traditional buildings are built with large green stones, giving them a rustic and heavy style characteristic of the typical “one-seal” residential architecture.

Fire Safety and Preservation Measures

In recent years, to enhance the preservation of Nijiao Village’s traditional ancient village, Nijiao Town has focused on fire prevention, closely monitoring potential sources of hazards, encouraging community participation, and conducting practical drills to improve the fire response capabilities for traditional ancient villages. The responsibilities for fire safety are clearly defined and implemented.

• Focusing on Key Areas to Eliminate Fire Hazards: To strengthen the ability of ancient village residents to manage potential hazards, Nijiao Town has undertaken hazard inspections. Village officials walk through the village and visit homes to encourage residents to participate in hazard rectification, addressing small issues to prevent larger risks. In line with improving the rural living environment, they have organized the cleaning of firewood, haystacks, and clutter around homes to beautify the village, standardize courtyards, and eliminate potential fire hazards, thereby enhancing fire safety in the village.
• Integrated Management and Joint Supervision: The town has established five work mechanisms, including patrols, grid management, hazard inspections, fire safety training, and the construction of micro fire stations. These form a seamless “fire prevention + N” joint supervision model, creating a chain of responsibilities. Fire safety responsibility agreements are signed at every level, and a joint emergency response plan has been established. Detailed management is carried out, and a 20-member volunteer firefighting team has been formed, regularly conducting fire safety publicity, training, and drills. This gradual formation of a response model, primarily led by government efforts and involving responsible departments, ensures a coordinated approach to dealing with incidents.
• Strengthening Awareness and Foundation: To further strengthen cooperation between the government and residents, the town conducts warning education and policy promotion. It develops and perfects village rules and regulations, holding face-to-face discussions with residents to analyze local hazards, teach the use of fire safety equipment, and guide hazard identification and rectification. This continuous effort enhances fire prevention, self-rescue, and mutual aid capabilities, cultivating a group of knowledgeable individuals in fire safety and ancient village preservation.
• Demonstration Drills to Improve Practical Skills: Regular fire safety emergency drills are organized, focusing on the proper use of fire extinguishers, connecting fire hoses, laying out water hoses, and safe evacuation techniques. Demonstrations guide residents through hands-on experiences with using fire extinguishers and other equipment. By combining theoretical knowledge with practical exercises, each participant is better equipped to respond calmly in the event of an accident. This effectively enhances residents’ awareness of safety precautions and their practical operational skills, ensuring that the benefits of these drills reach the entire community.