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As a coastal province, Guangdong's ethnic minority population naturally doesn't rival the diversity and numbers of its southwestern and northwestern counterparts. However, its "few, yet elite" heritage is truly remarkable! This guide takes you to the "Millennium Yao Village" of northern Guangdong.
Liannan Yao Villagecheck the details
Liannan Yao Village, located in Sanpai Town, Liannan Yao Autonomous County, Guangdong Province, is a renowned historical and cultural village in China and one of Guangdong's four ancient villages. The village gate sits at an altitude of 808 meters, and within the Song Dynasty city walls, it covers 11 hectares. At its peak, the village boasted over 700 Pai Yao houses, 1,000 households, and a population of over 7,000. It was hailed as the world's leading Pai Yao village. The village's thousand-year-old dwellings, nestled among the hillsides or built on terraces alongside the water, are arranged in a staggered pattern. For photography enthusiasts, they offer a stunning location to capture the unique charm of Hakka dwellings from various angles. The Yao culture boasts a long and rich history, rich heritage, and vibrant local customs. The Yao are renowned for their singing and dancing skills. Their "Shuagetang," "Long Drum Dance," and "Yao Wedding Customs" have been designated national intangible cultural heritage. The unique Yao wedding customs, Pai Yao folk songs, and Yao embroidery are all included in the Guangdong Provincial Intangible Cultural Heritage List. This region is also the birthplace of the world-renowned Yao Dance.
Recommended months: Spring and autumn are the best
3991 recommendations, 2738 visits
Carrying a thousand-year-old civilization, the Yao village, formerly known as "Xingxiang Pai," was hailed as the leader of the "Eight Pai of Yao." Founded in the Song Dynasty, it boasts a history of over 1,400 years. Experts claim it is the largest, oldest, and most distinctive Yao village in China, and perhaps even the world.
The Millennium Yao Village is located on a steep slope at an altitude of 808 meters in Liannan, Qingyuan City, Guangdong Province. From a drone's perspective, you can clearly see the well-arranged houses and the crisscrossing bluestone paths. Beyond the village, you can see the terraced fields, rushing streams, and the towering peaks of the Baili Yao Mountains—a truly breathtaking sight!
It's said that "what's national is also global!" This place is not only the birthplace of the world-famous classic "Dance of the Yao People," but also boasts national intangible cultural heritage listings for the Yao singing hall, long drum dance, and wedding customs. Pai Yao folk songs, silver jewelry, and embroidery are also listed as Guangdong Province's intangible cultural heritage.
The thousand-year-old Yao village, which was built in the Song Dynasty, now only retains more than 200 people and 368 ancient houses from the Ming and Qing Dynasties, as well as village gates, village walls, and stone roads... The signboards in the scenic area are very clear, so it is very convenient to follow the map and signboards to visit!
In the past, Nangangpai had two gates and a solid wall Q to defend against invasions by bandits and soldiers. Now only this gate remains as a symbol.
But getting into the village isn't easy! The Yao women prepare homemade rice wine for visitors, known as "Lanmen Wine." As the songs play, we follow the local customs and drink the sweet, fragrant rice wine in one gulp.
This unassuming-looking stone actually has a beautiful legend about being a "gold brick". Remember to touch it when you pass by it for good fortune!
Next to the Dejin Stone there is a two-story stone watchtower, which looks majestic and is said to have been used for lookout in the past.
In the history of the Yao people, there was only a national language but no national written language. However, in the Yao scriptures passed down from generation to generation, King Pangu and Queen Pangu, who created the world and made humans and grains, were revered as "gods" who saved all living beings and benefited the world.
Therefore, the Panwang Ancient Temple, which enshrines the Yao ancestors Pangu King and Pangu Wangpo, is located in the heart of the thousand-year-old Yao village. Although the existing ancient temple has been repaired in the style of the past, the local Yao people still burn incense, paper, and fire cannons to make and fulfill wishes on the first and fifteenth day of each lunar month.
"Yao Wang" isn't a true "king." If we use modern parlance, it should be "village chief." "Yao Wang" refers to the highest leader of the Nangang Village. From the Yuan Dynasty to the 12th year of Emperor Daoguang's reign in the Qing Dynasty, he was called "Tianchang Gong." After the 12th year of Emperor Daoguang's reign in the Qing Dynasty, he was called "Yao Chang." Both the Yao people and the Han Chinese called him "Yao Wang," who was in charge of all affairs within the village.
The title of "Yao King" is not hereditary, so whoever becomes the "Yao King" is qualified to live in the best-located "Yao King House".
Stone coffin burial is a unique funeral method in Nangang Pai. In the past, only the Yao kings could enjoy stone coffin burial. No similar burial form has been found in other Yao Pai in Nangang. What we see here for visitors is the spare stone coffin and accessories of the last Yao king.
The Yaolao system is a relatively systematic social management system of the Pai Yao people. A Yaolao is a democratically elected or naturally appointed leader of a village. The Yaolao Meeting Hall is where the Yaolao elders used to hold meetings. The furnishings inside the room remain the same as they were in the past, allowing visitors to gain a direct understanding of the Pai Yao's decision-making mechanism.
Before launching the Jintian Uprising, Hong Xiuquan, the leader of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom Restoration Movement, stayed in Nangang Yaopai for several days to preach. The current site has restored the scene of that year based on historical materials and legends.
As the saying goes, “There is no Yao without mountains.” Panwang Peak, known as the “Wuyi Mountain in the South,” is the highest peak in the Millennium Yao Village Scenic Area.
Panwang Peak is so called not just because of its height, but because the more than a thousand stone peaks within a radius of a hundred miles, though diverse in appearance, all face the northeast and southwest, facing Panwang Peak. This posture is reminiscent of the eight hundred Arhats paying homage to King Pangu. Therefore, this peak deservedly became the "King" worshipped by all the mountains, earning the name "Panwang Peak."
Every morning at 10:00 and 11:00, and every afternoon at 14:20 and 16:00, the Yao Dance Square will perform wonderful songs and dances full of ethnic characteristics.
Among them are the Yao ethnic group's "Long Drum Dance", which has been performed for more than 800 years and was included in the second batch of the national intangible cultural heritage list in 2008; and the mysterious and unique Pai Yao wedding custom "Ousha Yao", which was included in the national intangible cultural heritage protection project in 2014. They are all included!
If it happens to be Saturday or Sunday, there will be an intangible cultural heritage parade from Nangang Village Gate to Yao Dance Square at 15:15 in the afternoon. The scene is quite shocking!
When visiting the thousand-year-old Yao village, how could you miss the local specialties? Braised Yao chicken with mushrooms, steamed eggs, stir-fried celery with bacon, stir-fried choy sum... The braised ox trotters with Yao spices are a must-try! This delicacy is unavailable anywhere else.
If you're looking for some souvenirs to take home, Dongpi cured meats are recommended. Cured pork, duck, chicken, quail, fish, and more are all cured in the unique local climate and come in a wide variety, each with its own unique flavor.
A day trip is certainly possible, but if you want to experience life in depth, feel the fresh morning air and greet the first ray of sunshine on Panwang Peak, then staying in a B&B in the scenic area is also a good choice!
Opening Hours:
Monday to Friday 09:00-17:30
Saturday and Sunday 08:30-17:30
Ticket price: 98 yuan
Detailed address: Nangang Gupai, Sanpai Town, Liannan Yao Autonomous County, Qingyuan City, Guangdong Province (If you drive, just follow the navigation route; if you take an intercity bus, you can choose "Liannan/Lianzhou Bus Station" and transfer to the bus or taxi to "Millennium Yao Village")
