Yunnan Ethnic Village is located on the bank of Dianchi Lake in Xishan District, Kunming City, Yunnan Province. It is approximately 8 kilometers away from the urban area and is a national 4A-level tourist attraction. Covering an area of 1,270 mu (about 847,000 square meters), the scenic area consists of 26 villages of Yunnan's ethnic minorities, an ethnic song and dance hall, an ethnic square, and other facilities. It is a grand ethnic cultural garden that integrates the historical culture, folk customs, architectural art, religious beliefs, and more of various ethnic groups in Yunnan. All buildings in the scenic area are constructed at a 1:1 ratio based on the traditional dwellings of different ethnic groups, with over 600 residential buildings. These buildings showcase typical ethnic architectural styles such as the Dai bamboo houses, Yi earth-sheltered houses, and Miao stilt houses, earning it the reputation of being "a microcosm of Yunnan's ethnic culture."
Historical Culture
Yunnan Ethnic Village officially opened to the public in 1992, aiming to protect and showcase the rich culture of Yunnan's ethnic minorities. Yunnan is the province with the largest number of ethnic minorities in China, home to 25 indigenous ethnic minorities. Through real-scene buildings, folk performances, and handicraft exhibitions, the village systematically presents the production and living styles of various ethnic groups. For example, traditional festivals like the Dai Water-Splashing Festival, Yi Torch Festival, and Naxi Sanduo Festival are regularly held in the scenic area. Intangible cultural heritages such as the Wa wooden drum dance and Hani multi-part folk songs are also passed down vividly through on-site performances. In addition, the Ethnic Museum within the scenic area houses thousands of ethnic cultural relics, including costumes, musical instruments, and production tools, which record the historical changes of various ethnic groups.
Major Attractions
Dai Village
Centered around Dai-style bamboo houses, the village features a Buddhist temple, a water-splashing square, and an open-air museum. The bamboo houses have two floors: the lower floor is used for raising livestock, while the upper floor serves as a residence, embodying the characteristics of the Dai "ganlan-style" (stilted) architecture. Water-splashing carnival activities are held at 14:00 and 16:00 every day, allowing tourists to experience the Dai New Year customs.
Yi Village
It consists of residential complexes of Yi branches such as Sani, Axi, and Limi, mainly featuring earth-sheltered houses and "yikeyin" (a traditional Chinese courtyard house style) architecture. The "Solar Calendar Square" in the village displays sculptures of the Yi calendar. A bonfire party with the "Axi Tiaoyue" (Axi Dance Under the Moon) is held every evening at 19:30, showcasing Yi singing, dancing, and wedding customs.
Naxi Village
Modeled after the traditional Naxi villages in Lijiang, it has "sanfang yizhaobi" (a traditional Naxi courtyard with three sides of houses and a screen wall on the fourth) residences, a Dongba Culture Square, and a Naxi Museum. Tourists can watch the writing of Dongba script and the performance of Naxi ancient music, and learn about the Naxi concept of "harmonious coexistence between humans and nature."
Ethnic Song and Dance Hall
As a large-scale performance venue with a capacity of 1,200 people, it stages the ethnic song and dance show "Call of the Plateau" at 15:00 every day. The show integrates the essence of dances from 25 ethnic groups and lasts for approximately 60 minutes.
Ethnic Square
Covering an area of 20,000 square meters, it is the core area for holding large-scale festivals in the scenic area. In the center of the square stands an 18-meter-high "Ethnic Unity Pillar." A welcoming ceremony featuring various ethnic groups is held every Saturday and Sunday morning at 10:00, and tourists can participate in group dance performances.
Tour Routes
One-Day Essence Route: 09:00 Scenic Area Entrance → Dai Village (Water-Splashing Experience, 1 hour) → Bai Village (Visit Batik Workshop, 30 minutes) → 11:00 Ethnic Song and Dance Hall (Watch Song and Dance Performance, 1 hour) → Lunch (Ethnic Food Street) → 13:30 Yi Village (Participate in Torch Festival Interaction, 1 hour) → Naxi Village (Dongba Culture Experience, 1 hour) → 16:00 Ethnic Square (Photo Shooting, 30 minutes) → 17:00 Exit.
In-Depth Cultural Route: Add Wa Village (Wooden Drum Performance, 40 minutes) and Blang Village (Tea-Making Experience, 1 hour). It is recommended to rent a scenic area audio guide (20 RMB/unit) or book a tour guide (100 RMB/session).
Travel Tips
- The ultraviolet rays are strong in summer, so please bring sunscreen and a sun hat. There are few shaded areas in the scenic area, so take precautions against heatstroke.
- You will get completely wet during the water-splashing activity. You can rent a locker (20 RMB/unit) in the Dai Village to store your clothes.
- Ethnic minority festivals have specific ritual significance. When participating, please respect local customs, such as removing hats when entering a Buddhist temple and refraining from taking photos where prohibited.
- It is recommended to purchase the scenic area combined ticket, which is cheaper than buying individual tickets separately.
- In the evening, you can walk to Haigeng Dam of Dianchi Lake (1.5 kilometers away from the scenic area) to enjoy the sunset and black-headed gulls (in winter).
Notes
- Smoking is prohibited in the scenic area, and littering will result in a fine of 50 RMB.
- Some villages have religious sites. Please keep quiet when visiting and follow the guidance of staff.
- When experiencing handicraft making (such as batik and pottery), please ask about the charging standards in advance to avoid disputes.
- The last shuttle bus departs at 17:30. Please arrange your visiting time reasonably.
- The venue for the evening bonfire party has dim lighting. The elderly and children must be accompanied by adults.
Transportation
- Bus: Take Bus No. 44, 73, or A1 from the urban area to the "Yunnan Ethnic Village" stop. The fare is 2 RMB, and the journey takes about 40 minutes.
- Subway: Take Subway Line 3 to "City Stadium Station" and transfer to Bus No. 73; or take Subway Line 5 to "Yuhu Village Station" and walk 1.5 kilometers to reach the destination.
- Self-Driving: Navigate to "Yunnan Ethnic Village Parking Lot". There are approximately 500 parking spaces, with a charge of 5 RMB per hour and a daily maximum of 30 RMB.
- Taxi: The fare from Kunming Railway Station is about 20 RMB, and from Changshui Airport is about 80 RMB. The journey takes about 30 minutes in both cases.
Opening Hours
The scenic area is open from 08:30 to 18:00 throughout the year, and admission stops at 17:30. The Ethnic Song and Dance Hall performance starts at 15:00, and the bonfire party is held at 19:30 (only on weekends and holidays). Please refer to the scenic area announcement for the latest information.
Tickets
Adult Ticket: 90 RMB per person.
You can search for the official WeChat public account of the scenic area "云南民族村" to get the latest updates or purchase tickets online.