Zhega Village of in Lijiang Subdistrict in Yuanjiang County, Yuxi

Zhaga Village (者嘎村) is located in the southeast of Li Jiang Subdistrict (澧江街道), Longtan Community (龙潭社区), Yuanjiang County, Yuxi City. It is only 8 kilometers away from the county town, with convenient transportation. The Yuan – Man Expressway (元蔓高速公路) runs along the village, providing great convenience for tourists. The village covers an area of 9478 mu, with an altitude of 410 meters. The annual average temperature is 23.8℃, and it has a typical subtropical climate, warm and humid, with summer – like weather all year round. This climate is suitable for the growth of tropical crops such as sugarcane and bananas. The village is backed by the majestic Ailao Mountain (哀牢山) and faces the rippling Zhaga Reservoir (者嘎水库). From a bird’s – eye view, the village is uniquely shaped like a gourd. There are clear springs flowing through the village, and century – old trees are scattered throughout. The natural scenery is breathtaking, with the grandeur of high mountains, the tranquility of lakes, and the simplicity of farmland.

Zhaga Village is a settlement of the Shuidai people (傣族支系水傣), a branch of the Dai ethnic group. The Shuidai culture has been inherited here for thousands of years. The Shuidai people are warm – hearted and hospitable. Their lives are closely connected with nature, and they have created a rich and colorful ethnic culture. Here, you can truly feel the unique ethnic local color of the Shuidai people, from architectural styles and clothing characteristics to folk festivals, all of which show the wisdom and charm of this ethnic group.

Dai Brocade: Dai brocade is a traditional handicraft of the Dai ethnic group, listed as national intangible cultural heritage in 2008. In Zhaga Village (者嘎村), over 80% of women have mastered this skill. The brocade features exquisite patterns created through techniques like picking, pressing, weaving, and piecing flowers, using weft – raised flowers on monochrome fabric. Patterns cover natural scenes, animals, plants, and geometric shapes, reflecting the Dai people’s love for life and hope for the future. Products include clothing, accessories, and home textiles. Visitors can watch the weaving process in villagers’ homes and even try it themselves, creating a unique souvenir.

Dai Lion Dance: The Dai lion dance in Yuanjiang (元江) has been passed down since the Song Dynasty, with a history of nearly a thousand years. In 2017, it was included in Yunnan Provincial Intangible Cultural Heritage and recognized as a traditional sports event of Chinese ethnic minorities. It blends northern and southern lion dance cultures, symbolizing cultural exchange between southwestern ethnic minorities and the Central Plains. Popular in Zhaga Village (者嘎村), the dance is performed by the village lion dance team on important occasions such as festivals and weddings. The performance features dynamic and playful movements, with the lion – leading person dancing with fists in front and the lion following. Before the performance, a “feeding grass and hanging red” ceremony is held to bless a prosperous life. Visitors can enjoy authentic performances and experience its unique cultural charm.

Zhaga Village is the birthplace of masked love songs, which have unique cultural connotations. Masked love songs are presented in the form of folk love narrative poetry, with men and women asking and answering questions to express their feelings. It is said that in ancient times, in order to avoid being seen by elders and others, young men and women of the Dai ethnic group would cover their faces with scarves and sing love songs in quiet places. Over time, this unique custom was formed. Now, beside the thousand – year – old well in Zhaga Village, you can still hear the melodious and lingering masked love songs. The tunes have been passed down from ancestors, sometimes full of deep emotion and sometimes lively and playful. Every year from the fifth to the seventh day of the first lunar month and on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, the Dai La people will hold two song – fairs. It is also a good opportunity for young people to make friends of the opposite sex and find their lifelong partners, which can be regarded as the Valentine’s Day of the Dai La people in Yuanjiang. When visitors come here, they may as well participate in the masked love song – singing activities and feel the romance and mystery.

The irregularly held Dai ethnic cultural exchange activities are an important platform for Zhaga Village to display its ethnic culture. During the activities, there are wonderful performances of traditional Dai dances and music, such as peacock dance and elephant – foot drum dance. Dancers, dressed in gorgeous Dai costumes, move gracefully and lively, showing the passion and unrestrained nature of the Dai people. In addition, there are also displays of traditional handicrafts and experiences of Dai food making. Visitors can taste characteristic foods such as cold rice noodles, fried bubble skin, Dai rice flowers, Dai cakes, hot pot, and Yuanjiang smoked ham. They can also experience the unique charm of Dai culture in person.

Yuanjiang is known as the “hometown of mangoes,” and the Golden Mango Cultural Tourism Festival is an important festival in Yuanjiang, with Zhaga Village also participating. During the festival, the village will hold a variety of mango – related activities, such as mango – picking experiences, mango food – making contests, and mango – themed cultural performances. Visitors can go into the mango garden to pick sweet and juicy mangoes by themselves and feel the joy of harvest. They can also taste mango sticky rice, mango juice, mango dried, and other foods made from mangoes. They can participate in fun activities such as mango carving to fully appreciate the charm of mango culture.

Zhaga Village still preserves 42 traditional dwellings with the characteristics of the Dai ethnic group in Yuanjiang – – earth – palm houses. These earth – palm houses are one of the best – preserved Dai traditional buildings in Yuxi City. The earth – palm houses are generally two – story or more earth – wood structures. The walls are thick and made of adobe or rammed earth. The roofs are flat and can be used for drying grain and cooling off. The appearance of the buildings is simple and rustic, blending well with the surrounding natural environment. Inside the earth – palm houses, the space is reasonably arranged, and the lighting and ventilation are good. The doors, windows, and beams of the houses are carved with simple and meaningful patterns, showing the aesthetic taste and wisdom of the Dai people. The earth – palm houses are not only living places but also important carriers of Dai culture, witnessing the historical changes of Zhaga Village. Visitors can walk through the alleys of the earth – palm houses, touch the ancient walls, feel the sediment of time, and appreciate the unique charm of Dai traditional architecture.

Zhaga Reservoir: Zhaga Reservoir is like a shining pearl embedded beside the village. It has a vast water area, clear water, and rippling waves. The surrounding mountains and lush green trees form a picturesque and beautiful landscape. Visitors can walk along the reservoir to enjoy the lake and mountain scenery, breathe the fresh air, and feel the tranquility and beauty of nature. They can also fish by the reservoir and enjoy the leisurely time, tasting the fresh fish they catch. In addition, the reservoir is a paradise for photography enthusiasts. Whether it is the gorgeous light and shadow at sunrise and sunset or the lake and mountain scenery during the day, they can all take stunning photos.

Centuries – Old Trees: There are 114 trees over a hundred years old in the village, including mango trees and tamarind trees. The 310 – year – old mango tree beside the village entrance archway has witnessed the changes of Zhaga Village for hundreds of years. There are also two hundred – year – old tamarind trees in the village, known as the “brotherhood trees.” It is said that they were planted by Dai, Han, Hani, and Yi compatriots a hundred years ago, symbolizing ethnic unity. These ancient trees are not only natural landscapes of Zhaga Village but also witnesses to the village’s history. Visitors can rest and cool off under the trees, listen to the stories behind them from the villagers, and feel the vicissitudes of time and the tenacity of life.

Masked Love Song Square: Masked Love Song Square is an important place for Zhaga Village to hold cultural activities such as masked love song – singing. The square is surrounded by beautiful scenery and has a building style with Dai characteristics. Here, visitors can enjoy the masked love songs sung by the young men and women of the Dai ethnic group in Zhaga Village and feel the unique charm of the music. The square also frequently hosts ethnic dance performances and displays of folk culture, where visitors can participate and deeply experience the charm of Dai culture.

Jinshan Viewpoint: Climbing up to Jinshan Viewpoint (金山观景台), you can take in the beautiful scenery of Zhaga Village at a glance. To the east, you can admire the magnificent view of the sun rising over the White Pagoda on Wenbi Mountain (文笔山日照白塔), with the pagoda shining brightly in the sunlight. To the west, you can see the beautiful sunset and rosy clouds over the ridge of Ailao Mountain (哀牢山脊落日云霞), with the mountain range stretching and looking like a dream. To the north, you can enjoy the rippling waves of Zhaga Reservoir (者嘎水库), with the lake water sparkling in the sunlight. To the south, you can see the scenery of Xiangu Mountain (仙姑山), with its overlapping mountains and misty clouds. The viewpoint is an excellent place to take photos and capture the beautiful scenery.

Starting from the county town of Yuanjiang, you can take a bus heading to Longtan Community in Li Jiang Subdistrict. Get off at the stop near Zhaga Village. However, the bus schedule might be limited. It is recommended to check the departure time and station information in advance. After arriving at the nearby stop, you can walk or take a local tricycle or other small – sized transportation to the village. Public transportation is economical, but the travel schedule needs to be relatively tight to avoid wasting time.

Driving to Zhaga Village is very convenient. Starting from the county town of Yuanjiang, follow the indicated roads. The road conditions are good. Along the way, you can enjoy the rural scenery and countryside views of Yuanjiang. The advantage of driving is the freedom of your itinerary. You can stop at any time to enjoy the beautiful scenery or take photos. After arriving in Zhaga Village, there is a parking lot in the village for convenient parking. However, during the peak tourist season such as holidays, you may need to find a parking space in advance.

You can also choose to take a taxi from the county town of Yuanjiang or other locations to Zhaga Village. Taking a taxi is convenient and fast, and you can arrive at the village directly. However, the cost is relatively high. You can negotiate the price with the driver in advance to avoid any unnecessary disputes.