Shitou Bai Ethnic Town in Yulong County, Lijiang

Shitou Bai Autonomous Township (石头白族乡) is located in the western part of Yulong Naxi Autonomous County (玉龙纳西族自治县), Lijiang City, Yunnan Province. It is bordered by Jiuhe Bai Autonomous Township (九河白族乡) and Shigu Town (石鼓镇) to the east and north, adjacent to Liming Lisu Autonomous Township (黎明傈僳族乡) to the south, and neighboring Yangcun Township (羊岑乡) of Jianchuan County, Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture to the south, and Tondian Township (通甸乡) and Hexi Township (河西乡) of Lanping County, Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture to the west. The total administrative area is 569.3 square kilometers.

Shitou Bai Autonomous Township has a long history. During the Yuan and Ming dynasties, it belonged to Jujiang Prefecture under the Lijiang Military and Civilian Administration. In the Qing Dynasty, it was part of Shigu Bridgehead Township under Lijiang Prefecture. In the Republic of China period, it was under Xixiang Township of Lijiang County. In July 1949, it was under the Jinjiang Branch of the Lijiang Government Affairs Committee. In the first half of 1988, the township was established by abolishing the district. As of June 2020, the township administers five administrative villages, with the township government located in Banli Village (板栗村) under the Shitou Village Committee (石头村民委员会).

The township features a subtropical plateau humid river valley climate, with distinct monsoons and four seasons. The climate is characterized by dry and less rainy springs, hot and rainy summers, cool autumns, and cold winters with snow. The average annual temperature is 14.8℃, and the average annual precipitation is 920.3 millimeters.

Shitou Bai Autonomous Township is located in the core area of the Laojun Mountain key scenic area, which is the core of the “Three Parallel Rivers” World Natural Heritage Site. The main scenic areas include the Laojun Mountain Jiujiulongtan Area (老君山九十九龙潭片区), most of the Jin丝厂片区 (Jinsichang Area), the Lizu Golden Monkey Nature Reserve (利苴滇金丝猴保护区), the entire Baiya Temple Area (白崖寺片区), and the pastoral scenery along the Chongjiang River (冲江河). The name of the township is derived from the many granite peaks and strange rocks within its territory.

As of the end of 2019, the registered population of Shitou Bai Autonomous Township was 9,522 people. In 2011, the total fiscal revenue was 6.035 million yuan, an increase of 31% over the previous year, with a per capita fiscal revenue of 660 yuan. By 2019, there were two comprehensive stores or supermarkets with a business area of more than 50 square meters.