Xiding Ecological Museum of Bulang Ethnic Minority in Menghai County, XishuangBanna

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The Xiding Bulang Ethnic Ecological Museum (西定布朗族生态博物馆) is located in Zhanglang Village (章朗村), Xiding Township (西定乡), Menghai County (勐海县), Xishuangbanna Prefecture (西双版纳州), Yunnan Province (云南省). It boasts a rich natural and cultural environment, with abundant tangible and intangible heritage. This is a crossroads of diverse cultural traditions, including primitive religious culture, Buddhist culture, ethnic folk culture, and ancient tea culture. The area features a Bulang village with over 1,000 years of history, the oldest Bulang Buddhist temple in Xishuangbanna, centuries-old tea gardens, the lush ancient “Dragon Mountain” forest encircling the village, and the traditional virtues, customs, and lifestyle of the Bulang people.

Museum Features

The Xiding Bulang Ethnic Ecological Museum follows the concept of “protecting the ecological environment, promoting ecological culture, developing the ecological economy, and building ecological civilization,” and is built under the principles of “government leadership, expert guidance, and village self-management.”

The museum applies an integrated approach to the protection of Zhanglang Village’s natural environment, cultural heritage, and tangible and intangible assets, emphasizing holistic protection, place-of-origin protection, and community-led protection. This approach ensures a balanced ecological relationship between people, objects, and the environment, enabling sustainable and harmonious development.

Since its establishment, the museum has transformed Zhanglang Village into an important showcase for Bulang culture and a hub for cultural exchange and research among Bulang communities in different regions. It has drawn greater public attention and support for the preservation and development of the Bulang people, fostering their revitalization.

Through safeguarding and promoting Bulang cultural heritage, the museum aims to strengthen ethnic pride and confidence, inspire the Bulang spirit, and stimulate intrinsic development momentum. It also seeks effective solutions to fundamental poverty and development issues.

The project was initiated and organized by the Publicity Department of the CPC Xishuangbanna Prefectural Committee, and after completion, it became part of the village’s overall management structure, administered and developed by the villagers themselves. This integration ensures that the museum remains a vital and enduring part of community life.