Geographic Location
Nixi Township (尼西乡) is under the administration of Shangri-La City (香格里拉市) in Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (迪庆藏族自治州), Yunnan Province. It is located in the northwest of Shangri-La City, bordering Jiantang Town (建塘镇) to the east, Wujing Township (五境乡) to the southwest, and Benzilan Town (奔子栏镇) in Deqin County (德钦县) to the west, separated by the Jinsha River (金沙江). To the northwest, it is adjacent to Derong County (得荣县) in Sichuan Province, and to the north, it borders Geza Township (格咱乡) and Dongwang Township (东旺乡). Nixi Township covers a total area of 837.78 square kilometers. Travelers can reach Nixi Township from Shangri-La City by following designated roads, enjoying the gradually changing highland landscapes along the way.
Ethnic Groups and Traditional Crafts
Ethnic Groups
The majority of Nixi Township’s population is Tibetan, accounting for 99.1% of the total. Other ethnic groups residing in the area include Han, Naxi, and Lisu people. The harmonious coexistence of multiple ethnicities has enriched the local culture, influencing architecture, clothing, cuisine, and other aspects of daily life.
Traditional Crafts
Nixi Black Pottery Making
Nixi black pottery（尼西黑陶） is a national-level intangible cultural heritage with a long history. The craft dates back to the Neolithic period when the early inhabitants of Nixi began making unglazed, carbonized, kiln-transformed pottery. According to the “Zhongdian County Annals” (《中甸县志》), artifacts resembling Nixi black pottery were discovered in stone coffin tombs in Xingfu Village (幸福村), dating back over 3,000 years.
The pottery-making process starts with selecting pure and delicate red clay, naturally deposited by mountain streams. The clay undergoes drying, wind exposure, washing, and sedimentation to become high-quality pottery material. The entire production process is done by hand, including kneading the clay, shaping, embedding, polishing, and decorating. The pottery is then fired at high temperatures in an open-air kiln. Once removed from the fire, the pottery takes on a rich black color and is further polished to perfection. The designs on Nixi black pottery are intricate, often featuring relief carvings or line engravings of dragons, fish, qilin, and auspicious clouds, embodying Tibetan cultural essence and a sense of primal mysticism.
Veteran craftsmen such as Suonuo Qilin (孙诺七林) and Dangzhen Pichu (当珍批初) have dedicated themselves to preserving and passing down this ancient craft. In Tangdui Village (汤堆村) of Nixi Township, almost every household is involved in black pottery production, making it a well-known pottery craft village.
Wooden Bowl Crafting
Another distinctive traditional craft in Nixi Township is wooden bowl making. Although specific details of the crafting process are not widely documented, these wooden bowls hold cultural and practical significance in local daily life, reflecting the ingenuity and aesthetic sensibilities of the people.
Customs and Festivals
Nixi Township is deeply influenced by Tibetan culture, with Tibetan Buddhism playing an integral role in daily life. Locals practice religious customs that emphasize reverence for nature, evident in the omnipresent prayer flags and prayer wheels. On special occasions, villagers visit temples for blessings.
Major Festivals
Tibetan New Year (藏历新年)
Tibetan New Year is the most significant festival for Tibetans, equivalent to the Chinese Lunar New Year. Leading up to the festival, families thoroughly clean their homes and prepare festive foods, such as “Kasai” (卡赛), a traditional fried dough snack. During the celebrations, people dress in traditional attire, visit one another to exchange greetings, and participate in horse racing and dance performances.
Ongkor Festival (望果节)
The Ongkor Festival is a harvest festival where villagers, dressed in festive clothing and carrying barley stalks, parade around the fields to pray for a bountiful harvest. The celebrations include horse racing, archery, and cultural performances.
In addition to these, Nixi Township may also observe unique festivals related to other ethnic groups, providing visitors with diverse cultural experiences.
Ancient Architecture
Tangman Village (汤满村) in the Tangdui area (汤堆片区) of Nixi Township was included in the third batch of China’s National Traditional Villages List in 2014. The village features traditional Tibetan architecture, predominantly constructed with earth and wood. The houses are typically two stories, with the ground floor used for livestock and storage, while the upper floor serves as the living area.
Doors, windows, beams, and columns are adorned with exquisite wooden carvings, often depicting auspicious symbols such as the Eight Auspicious Symbols, flowers, and other intricate patterns, showcasing the superb craftsmanship of Tibetan woodcarving. The flat rooftops are used for drying grains and hosting social gatherings. The village layout harmonizes with the natural environment, and elements like mani stone piles and prayer flags add to the rich Tibetan cultural ambiance.
Tourist Attractions
Balagezong Scenic Area (巴拉格宗景区)
Known as the “Little Jiangnan of Shangri-La,” this area boasts breathtaking landscapes, making it a must-visit destination.
Gezhong Snow Mountain (格宗雪山)
With an altitude of 5,545 meters, Gezhong Snow Mountain is the highest peak in Shangri-La. Its pyramid-shaped summit is covered in snow year-round, often showcasing the magnificent “Golden Mountain” phenomenon at sunrise, attracting photographers and nature enthusiasts.
Bala Village (巴拉村)
Bala Village has a history of over 1,300 years, and its name means “Tibetan village from Batang” in Tibetan. The village’s traditional Tibetan wooden houses are built against the mountain, with colorful prayer flags fluttering beside the mani stone piles at the entrance. The fields and meadows surrounding the village are lush green in summer and golden-hued in autumn, creating a picturesque setting. Visitors can immerse themselves in the ancient village’s serene atmosphere and traditional lifestyle.
Shangri-La Grand Canyon (香格里拉大峡谷)
This massive canyon complex features interconnected gorges, towering peaks, and the turbulent Gangqu River (岗曲河). Notable sites include Chitu Immortal Cave (赤土仙人洞), where natural rock formations resemble human footprints, and the “Shouting Spring,” which erupts in response to loud voices.
Millennium Bodhi Tree (千年菩提树)
Located at the scenic area entrance, this ancient tree has been verified to be over 3,000 years old. Despite its slender trunk, it spreads across 400 square meters of cliffside, with parts of its branches forming the shape of a Buddha’s hand—an object of great spiritual reverence in Tibetan Buddhism.
Dayong Stupa Complex (达拥佛塔群)
Comprising eight white stupas, each representing different Buddhist teachings, it is believed that walking around them clockwise brings good fortune and spiritual merit.
Palm Gorge (棕榈峡)
This area is home to a vast wild mountain palm forest, an ecological rarity in Yunnan. The uniquely shaped palm trees create a tropical rainforest-like environment.
Nixi Black Pottery Experience
Visitors can participate in black pottery making in Tangdui Village under the guidance of skilled artisans. The hands-on experience allows travelers to appreciate the artistry and take home a unique handmade souvenir. The village also offers black pottery hotpot dining experiences, showcasing the practical applications of this ancient craft.
Peach Blossom Viewing
Nixi Township has been actively cultivating peach trees, turning the countryside into a “Peach Blossom Wonderland” each spring, offering visitors a romantic floral spectacle.
Transportation
External Transportation
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By Air: Fly to Diqing Shangri-La Airport (迪庆香格里拉机场), which has connections to Kunming, Chengdu, Chongqing, Guangzhou, and other major cities. From the airport, travelers can take a taxi, airport shuttle, or rental car to Shangri-La City, then transfer to Nixi Township via bus or private vehicle.
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By Train: Take a train to Lijiang Station (丽江站), then travel to Shangri-La by long-distance bus before transferring to Nixi Township. Alternatively, private cars or shared rides can be arranged directly from Lijiang.
Internal Transportation
The township’s road network is in good condition but winding in some areas. Scenic spots like Balagezong offer shuttle bus services for safe and convenient travel. For those seeking a more traditional experience, horseback riding is also an option.
