Midi Village of Potou Town in Jianshui County, Honghe Prefecture

🌄 Overview

Midi Village is a mountainous administrative village under Taiping Administrative Village in Potou Township, Jianshui County, Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province.

With a population of 1,433 (86% Hani and 14% Han Chinese), the village covers an area of 16.08 square kilometers at an altitude of 1,444 meters. The average annual temperature is 18.2℃ with annual precipitation of 1,200 mm, making it suitable for rice cultivation.

🧬 Ethnic Composition and History

The Hani people in Midi Village are descendants of the ancient Di-Qiang tribes who migrated to the Honghe region during the Tang Dynasty (618–907 AD).

Historical records show that Hani ancestors initially settled along the Honghe River valley, developing unique cultural practices adapted to mountainous terrain. The village maintains strong Hani traditions while incorporating some Han Chinese influences.

🍲 Culinary Culture

Staple Foods

  • Rice and corn, often made into baba (rice cakes) and rice noodles

Signature Dishes

  • Huoxun larou – Smoked preserved pork or beef cured with local spices

  • Hani douchi – Fermented soybean paste, a regional specialty condiment

  • Baiwang – A unique dish made with fresh animal blood

Festive Foods

During celebrations like the October New Year, villagers prepare purple sticky rice dishes with medicinal value and share communal feasts.

👘 Traditional Attire

Color Scheme

Predominantly black or dark blue, symbolizing protection and solemnity.

Women’s Outfits

Short jackets with intricate silver ornaments and embroidered patterns symbolizing terraced fields.

Men’s Clothing

Simple black tunics with minimal decoration.

Production Process

Involves more than 20 steps, from cotton planting to final embroidery.

🎎 Customs and Traditions

  • Weddings 💍: Include “crying marriage” rituals where brides lament separation from family.

  • Funerals ⚰️: Involve animal sacrifices and special garments as “passports to the afterlife.”

  • Daily Etiquette 🔥: Strict firepit usage rules differentiate cooking spaces for various foods.

🏠 Architectural Style

Mushroom Houses

Traditional Hani dwellings with a three-tier structure:

  • Ground floor: Livestock pen

  • Middle floor: Living quarters with central firepit

  • Top floor: Grain storage

Materials: Earth walls, wooden frames, and thatched roofs.
Climate Adaptation: Four-sloped roofs provide rain protection and ventilation.

🎉 Festivals and Celebrations

Festival Time Activities
October New Year (Zhalete) Lunar October Long-street banquets, ancestor worship
June Festival (Kuzhazha) Lunar June Sacrifices to village gods, drum dances
Sacrifice to Dragon Spring Prayers for rain at sacred trees
Angmatu Festival Varies Ritual dances for village protection

✨ The village is particularly known for its manggu drum dances performed during the Angmatu Festival.

🎨 Handicrafts

  • Silverwork: Jewelry with nature-inspired patterns

  • Embroidery: Colorful needlework on traditional garments

  • Bamboo Weaving: Functional household items

🙏 Religious Practices

  • Animist Beliefs: Worship of Angma village god represented by sacred trees

  • Ancestor Veneration: Rituals conducted by migu priests

  • Sacrificial Ceremonies: Animal offerings during festivals

🗣️ Language Use

  • Hani Language: Belongs to the Tibeto-Burman family

  • Local Dialect: Known as “Hudubulu Cuo” for drum dances

  • Multilingualism: Most villagers also speak Mandarin and local Han dialects

🧭 Travel Tips

  • Best Time to Visit: During October New Year or June Festival

  • Cultural Respect: Ask permission before photographing religious ceremonies

  • Access: 24 km from Potou Township center via mountainous roads

  • Local Specialty: Don’t miss trying Hani smoked meats! 🥓