Qibie Village in Tacheng of Weixi County, Diqing

🌏 Qibie Village – Where Mountains, Rivers & Cultures Meet

Hidden deep in the core area of the Three Parallel Rivers World Natural Heritage Site and the heart of the Shangri-La East Loop, Qibie Village is known as the place where “a rooster’s crow echoes across four counties” – Weixi, Shangri-La, Deqin, and Yulong.

With 86.46% forest coverage, an altitude of 2,000 m, and a pleasant average temperature of 15 °C year-round, Qibie enjoys cool summers and mild winters. It is officially recognized as:

  • China’s Key Rural Tourism Village

  • A Beautiful Leisure Village of China

  • A Model Village for Ethnic Unity


📍 Location & Access

  • Province / County: Qibie Village, Tacheng Town, Weixi Lisu Autonomous County, Diqing Prefecture, Yunnan, China

  • From Weixi Town: 70 km, 1.5 h drive (paved road)

  • From Shangri-La City: 110 km, 2 h drive via Xiangwei Highway

  • From Lijiang: 165 km, 3.5 h drive via Dali–Lijiang Expressway + Xiangwei Highway

  • From Kunming: 720 km, ~7 h (high-speed train + drive)


🏞 Must-See Attractions

🌳 The Millennium Ginkgo King

  • Height: 40 m | Trunk diameter: 2.8 m | Crown area: 130 m²

  • In autumn, its golden leaves blanket the village in shimmering light — hailed as China’s largest living plant fossil.

🌾 Lapu River Countryside Boardwalk

  • A wooden path meanders through rice fields.

  • Spring: canola flower seas 🌼

  • Summer: emerald rice waves 🌿

  • Autumn: golden terraces 🍂

  • Every step is a postcard moment.

🍇 Hada Winery & Ice Grape Corridor

  • 640 acres of high-altitude ice grapes.

  • Try grape-picking, witness wine-making, and taste sweet yet crisp highland ice wine.

🐟 Paddy-Field Fishing & Duck Chasing

  • From July to September, roll up your pants and hop into the fields.

  • Whatever you catch can be cooked fresh on site.

🎭 Multi-Ethnic Culture Square

  • Evenings feature Naxi, Lisu, and Tibetan dances: Ali Li, Xianzi, and Reba.

  • Visitors are welcome to join the Guozhuang circle dance for free.

🏡 Boutique Mountain Stays

26 boutique guesthouses, including:

  • Songtsam Tacheng Lodge

  • Manlaiyue

  • Habuda Yun Valley
    Wake up to snow-capped peaks above and rice paddies below. Rooms from ¥380–1,680/night include breakfast and a traditional ethnic welcome.


🍴 Foodie’s Guide to Qibie

  • Three-Milk Jelly – Made from goat’s, cow’s, and horse’s milk; melts in your mouth, served with a tangy chili dip.

  • Hada Farmhouse Pork – Free-range pigs raised 300 days; charcoal-grilled belly pork that’s rich but never greasy.

  • Paddy-Field Sashimi – Thin slices of just-caught fish paired with ice-wine vinegar — fresh, sweet, and crisp.

  • Tsampa & Butter Tea – Learn to roast highland barley and churn butter tea with a Tibetan ama (grandmother).

  • Wildflower Honey – Pesticide-free, high-altitude honey; ¥120/jin, shipping available.


🛏 Accommodation Guide

Level Example Stay Highlights Price (RMB)
Luxury Songtsam Tacheng Lodge Snow-mountain view pool, butler service ¥1,280–1,680
Premium Manlaiyue Rice-paddy view rooms, private balconies ¥680–980
Budget Tianyuange Farmstay Fire-pit tea, host speaks four ethnic languages ¥180–280

🎉 Festivals & Cultural Events

  • Spring Festival Games – Basketball, crossbow shooting, tug-of-war, all-village participation.

  • Zhuanshan Festival (1st of the 4th lunar month) – Pilgrimage to the Dharma Patriarch Cave for hiking & blessings.

  • Torch Festival (June 24 lunar calendar) – Bonfire night & thousand-person Guozhuang dance.

  • Harvest Culture Festival (mid-October) – Rice cutting, threshing, fishing, and a grand long-street banquet.


📅 Suggested 2-Day / 1-Night Itinerary

DAY 1
09:00 Depart Shangri-La → 11:30 Arrive Qibie, check in
12:00 Lunch: Paddy-Field Fish Feast
14:00 Ice-Grape Picking + Winery Tour
16:30 Photo session at Lapu River Boardwalk
19:00 Bonfire Dance Party
21:00 Stargazing from guesthouse terrace ✨

DAY 2
06:30 Sunrise at the Millennium Ginkgo King
08:00 Lodge breakfast
09:00 Paddy-Field Fishing / Horseback Ride through primal forest
12:00 Long-Street Banquet + Ethnic Performances
14:00 Depart for Shangri-La or Lijiang


💡 Travel Tips

  • Tickets: Entire village free entry; specific experiences ¥20–60.

  • Altitude: 2,000 m — generally no altitude sickness, but strong UV protection needed.

  • Weather: Cool mornings/evenings — pack a windbreaker; rainy season (Jun–Sep) bring a raincoat.

  • Connectivity: Full 4G coverage; Wi-Fi in premium stays; Alipay & WeChat accepted.

  • Driving: Xiangwei Highway has many curves; suitable for sedans; avoid night driving.


📣 Your Invitation

Snow-capped mountains, golden rice terraces, ancient ginkgo trees, sweet ice wine, and vibrant ethnic dances…

In Qibie Village, life becomes poetry — and all that’s missing is you.
Pack your bags, call your travel buddy, and let’s meet in the paddy fields of Qibie in 2025! 🌾🍷🏔