Paomaping Town of Ninglang County in Lijiang

Paoma Ping Township (跑马坪乡) is located in the southern part of Ninglang Yi Autonomous County (宁蒗彝族自治县), Lijiang City (丽江市), Yunnan Province (云南省). It is bordered by Chan Zhanhe Township (蝉战河乡) to the east, Zhanhe Township (战河乡) to the south, Xibuhe Township (西布河乡) to the west, and Xinyingpan Township (新营盘乡) to the north. The township covers a total area of 255.2 square kilometers. It features typical mountainous terrain with an average altitude of around 2,700 meters, higher in the northwest and lower in the southeast. The continuous mountains and deep, quiet valleys create a rich variety of natural landscapes and ecological environments, making it a hidden tourist destination. The township government is a certain distance from Ninglang County town. Travelers need to follow the winding mountain roads, enjoying the ever-changing magnificent mountain views along the way.

The Yi ethnic group is the main ethnic group in Paoma Ping Township (跑马坪乡). They have thrived here, preserving their unique and profound culture and skills. Yi embroidery is one of their cultural treasures. With delicate stitching and a keen sense of color, embroiderers use colorful silk threads to create exquisite patterns on fabric, reflecting Yi history, legends, religious beliefs, and daily life scenes. These patterns are widely used on Yi clothing, bags, and handkerchiefs, combining practicality with high artistic value and vividly representing Yi culture. The Yi people’s silverware-making craftsmanship is equally exquisite. Silversmiths go through a series of complex processes, such as melting, forging, and carving, to produce uniquely shaped and delicate silver accessories like earrings, necklaces, and bracelets. Each piece embodies the Yi people’s unique pursuit of beauty and excellent craftsmanship, carrying the emotions and memories of the ethnic group.

In addition to the Yi ethnic group, there are also small populations of Pumi and Lisu ethnic groups living in Paoma Ping Township (跑马坪乡). The Pumi people are skilled in traditional handicraft weaving. They use natural materials like hemp thread and wool to weave practical and beautiful items such as baskets, carrying baskets, and blankets. The patterns on these woven products contain cultural elements and wisdom of the Pumi people, carrying on their national cultural heritage. The Lisu people have unique skills in traditional bamboo weaving and wood carving. Their bamboo products and wooden handicrafts are simple yet elegant in design, combining practicality with artistry and fully demonstrating the Lisu people’s creativity and love for life.

The Yi Torch Festival is the grandest and most solemn traditional festival of the Yi people, held on the 24th day of the sixth lunar month every year. On the festival day, Yi people dress in their colorful and exquisitely embroidered traditional costumes, holding burning torches and dancing around the blazing bonfire. There are exciting bullfighting, wrestling, and horse racing competitions, where people display their strength and courage. A solemn and mysterious fire sacrifice ceremony is also held. Through this ceremony, the Yi people pray for the protection of the fire god, hoping for favorable weather, abundant harvests, and prosperity in the coming year. The festival is filled with enthusiasm and rich ethnic characteristics, attracting many tourists to experience the passion and joy.

The Yi New Year is the traditional New Year of the Yi people, usually held on an auspicious day between October and November in the lunar calendar, lasting for 3 – 5 days. During the festival, families slaughter pigs and sheep to prepare delicious traditional food. People dress in their finest clothes, visit relatives and friends, and exchange best wishes. Yi families hold solemn ancestor-worshipping ceremonies to honor their ancestors’ achievements and express gratitude for their protection. There are also lively song and dance performances and traditional sports competitions, immersing the whole village in a joyful and harmonious atmosphere filled with festive spirit.

Paoma Ping Township (跑马坪乡) is named after the horse racing activities often held by the Yi people here, and the Horse Racing Festival is a unique local event. On the festival day, riders from all directions gather with their carefully selected horses. On the racecourse, horses gallop, raising dust as riders display their superb riding skills. In addition to the thrilling horse racing, there are various traditional folk performances and sales of local specialties. Visitors can get up close to the intense racing, feel the Yi people’s love for horses and their admiration for bravery and the spirit of striving, taste local delicacies, and experience the unique folk culture.

Although Paoma Ping Township (跑马坪乡) does not have any widely known large ancient buildings, the traditional dwellings of the Yi and Pumi people are distinctive and show unique ethnic styles. The Yi people’s earth-palm houses are mostly made of earth and wood, with flat roofs and thick walls. This architectural form can effectively resist the cold climate of the mountainous area and is also convenient for drying crops on the roof. The layout of earth-palm houses usually centers around a courtyard, surrounded by housing and storage buildings, reflecting the Yi people’s emphasis on family gathering and practical living. The Pumi people’s log cabins are mainly made of round wood and have a well-shaped structure. They look simple and natural, and the internal space is well-arranged. The construction of log cabins makes full use of the local abundant wood resources, living in harmony with the natural environment, and reflecting the Pumi people’s respect for and adaptation to nature. These traditional dwellings are not only shelters but also important carriers for the inheritance of national culture. Visitors can step into these houses and experience the unique living culture of ethnic minorities.

Paoma Ping Township (跑马坪乡) is located in a mountainous area with magnificent mountain views. In spring and summer, wildflowers in the mountains bloom in competition, creating a colorful sea of flowers like a beautiful painting. Golden rapeseed flowers, pink azaleas, purple irises, and other wildflowers intertwine, competing for beauty and emitting a pleasant fragrance. In autumn, the golden leaves and ripe crops complement each other, forming a picturesque harvest scene. The crops sway in the breeze, showing nature’s generous gifts. In winter, in high-altitude areas, you can sometimes enjoy the snow-covered scenery. The snow-covered peaks look like a fairyland. In addition, there are large areas of alpine meadows in the township. In spring and summer, the meadows are dotted with cattle and sheep, resembling a pastoral idyll. The white flocks move like clouds on the green meadows, and the leisurely cows graze contentedly on the grassland, creating a harmonious natural landscape.

Paoma Ping Township (跑马坪乡) has a good ecological environment and rich flora and fauna. There are more than 50 species of wild animals in the township, including nationally protected animals such as the Yunnan golden monkey and the black-necked crane (although the probability of encountering them is low, it adds to the excitement of exploration). When walking in the mountains and forests, you may be lucky enough to see some wild animals. There are also more than 120 species of wild plants here, and the area for medicinal herb cultivation has reached a certain scale. In the mountains, various rare wild plants can be seen everywhere, such as the valuable medicinal herbs cordyceps and gastrodia. Visitors can recognize these plants and learn about their medicinal value and ecological significance under the guidance of professionals.

Paoma Ping Township (跑马坪乡) is mainly agricultural, with staple crops including potatoes, bitter buckwheat, oats, and white kidney beans. In recent years, with the development of special agriculture, some areas have planted large areas of cash crops such as walnuts, Sichuan pepper, and medicinal papaya. Visitors can visit the fields to learn about the planting process of crops and participate in agricultural activities such as sowing and harvesting, experiencing the fun of rural life. During the harvest season, you can also taste fresh agricultural products and feel the gifts of nature. For example, during the walnut harvest season, visitors can pick walnuts by themselves, experience the joy of harvest, and taste the delicious and crispy texture of fresh walnuts.

Deep into the villages of local ethnic groups such as the Yi and Pumi people to experience unique national cultures. Appreciate traditional skills such as Yi embroidery and silverware making. Participate in Pumi hearth gatherings and taste Yi specialties like Tuo Tuo meat and sour soup, as well as Pumi delicacies like pipa meat and Suli Ma wine. During specific festivals such as the Yi Torch Festival, Yi New Year, and Horse Racing Festival, you can also personally feel the lively festival atmosphere and dance with local villagers, deeply experiencing the folk customs of ethnic minorities. In addition, the old site of the Yi Affairs Office in Paoma Ping Township (跑马坪乡) also has certain historical and cultural value. Visitors can visit it to learn about the historical changes and the development process of ethnic affairs management in the area.

Starting from Lijiang city center, you can first take a bus to Ninglang County at Lijiang Passenger Transport Station (丽江汽车客运站). The journey takes about 2 – 3 hours. After arriving in Ninglang County, transfer to a rural passenger bus to Paoma Ping Township (跑马坪乡). However, the rural buses have relatively few schedules, so it is recommended to check the departure times in advance and allow enough waiting time. At the passenger transport station in Ninglang County town, you can consult the staff about the bus information to Paoma Ping Township (跑马坪乡) to arrange your trip reasonably.

If you choose to drive yourself, start from Lijiang city center and follow the Lijiang-Ninglang Highway to Ninglang County, and then navigate to Paoma Ping Township (跑马坪乡). The overall road conditions are acceptable, but some mountain roads have many bends, so drive carefully. During the self-driving trip, you can enjoy the magnificent scenery from Lijiang to Ninglang. With the change of altitude, the scenery is also constantly changing, gradually transitioning from the beautiful mountains and waters of Lijiang to the mountainous scenery of Ninglang.

The roads within Paoma Ping Township (跑马坪乡) are mainly rural highways and dirt roads, with some sections being relatively rugged. When traveling within the township, you can rent local motorcycles for convenient and free access to various scenic spots. If you are traveling with a larger group, you may also consider chartering a car, which can save time and better arrange the itinerary. It is important to note that when driving or riding a motorcycle, you must wear a safety helmet to ensure travel safety. When renting a motorcycle or chartering a car, negotiate the price and itinerary with the owner to avoid unnecessary disputes.