🌄 Potoudian Village Tourism Guide

Location: Potoudian Village, Longwu Town, Shiping County, Honghe Prefecture, Yunnan, China

Potoudian Village is located in the southeast of Longwu Town, about 9.7 km from the town center, at an average altitude of 2,200 meters. The climate is subtropical plateau monsoon with an annual temperature of 14.5°C and rainfall of 800 mm. The village consists of five natural hamlets (Upper, Middle, and Lower Potoudian, etc.), inhabited mainly by the Yi ethnic group.

Famed as the “Hometown of Radish, Tobacco, and Matsutake”, the village was inscribed on the List of China’s Traditional Villages (2016) for its unique cultural and architectural heritage.

📜 History & Heritage

• Origins trace back to the Ming–Qing dynasties.

• Villagers have preserved Yi migration traditions and farming culture, showcasing the ethnic diversity of the Yunnan Plateau.

• In 2016, Potoudian was officially recognized as a national-level traditional village, affirming its cultural value and heritage significance.

🍲 Cuisine & Specialties

Agriculture defines Potoudian’s flavors—tobacco, radish, and matsutake mushroom are its calling cards. Local specialties include:

• Shiping Tofu (石屏豆腐): made with natural well brine, silky in texture, best enjoyed fried or grilled.

• Dragon Banquet (长龙宴): held during weddings or festivals, with hundreds of tables serving dishes like smoked pork, mushroom soup, and radish-pork stew (萝卜丝鲊). Guests join villagers in songs, dances, and hearty toasts.

• Claypot Fish (砂锅煮鱼): cooked with mountain spring water, rich in flavor.

👗 Costume & Style

The Yi “Huayao” (花腰) dress is iconic:

• Women wear embroidered vests and skirts with floral and animal motifs, decorated with silver chains and tassels.

• Men dress in simple linen tunics with belts.
  During festivals, these costumes bring vibrant color to the celebrations.

🎎 Customs & Traditions

• Torch Festival (火把节): a national intangible cultural heritage event. Activities include dragon forest worship dances, wrestling competitions, and the grand Fire Sacrifice Ceremony, where villagers pray with torches for blessings and protection.

• Dragon Banquet Tradition: not just dining but a ritual of unity, filled with toasting songs and communal dancing.

• Everyday rituals: ancestor worship and agricultural prayers reflect deep respect for nature.

🏡 Architecture

• Houses are mostly traditional Yi “earth-wood dwellings” (土掌房)—flat-roofed structures well suited for crop-drying and mountain climates.

• Architecture preserves the essence of Yi rural life, with a focus on functionality and cultural identity.

🔥 Festivals & Celebrations

• Torch Festival (August): also called the “Oriental Carnival”, featuring:

  • Welcoming wine ritual (拦门酒) and dragon forest ceremonies.

  • Wrestling competitions (male and female categories, with prizes like roosters and pig heads).

  • The Fire Sacrifice Ceremony with eight ritual stages.

  • Bonfire nights, traditional Yi dances, and music performances.

• These festivals create an immersive cultural experience for visitors.

🎨 Handicrafts

• Huayao embroidery and paper-cutting, with motifs of flowers, birds, and beasts in bold colors.

• Handed down through generations of women, these crafts make meaningful tourist souvenirs.

🙏 Religion & Belief

• Centered on ancestor worship and polytheistic nature deities.

• Festivals often involve public rituals and prayers for good harvests, embodying Yi reverence for the natural world.

🗣️ Language

• The main language is Yi, with some elders less fluent in Mandarin.

• Tourist areas usually provide Mandarin support, and guides assist with interpretation.

• This language diversity enhances the cultural mystery and authenticity of Potoudian.

🌿 Travel Highlights

Visitors can:

• Share in a Dragon Banquet with locals.

• Witness the spectacular Torch Festival.

• Learn embroidery or paper-cutting from Yi artisans.

• Experience the unique flavors of radish, tobacco, and matsutake mushrooms.

• Explore traditional Yi homes and mountain landscapes.

✨ Potoudian Village offers a rare chance to step into a living Yi cultural world, where tradition, cuisine, and celebration remain vividly alive.