Yunnan Ethnic Village is located by Dianchi Lake in Xishan District, Kunming City, Yunnan Province, about 8 kilometers from the urban area. It is a national 4A-level tourist attraction covering an area of 1,270 mu (approximately 847,000 square meters). Composed of 26 ethnic villages of Yunnan's minority groups, a national song and dance hall, and a national square, it is a grand view garden integrating the historical culture, folk customs, architectural art, and religious beliefs of various ethnic groups in Yunnan. The buildings in the scenic area are constructed at a 1:1 ratio of traditional ethnic dwellings, with more than 600 residential buildings, displaying typical ethnic architectural styles such as Dai bamboo houses, Yi earthen houses, and Miao stilt houses, known as the "epitome of Yunnan's ethnic culture."
History and Culture
Yunnan Ethnic Village was officially opened in 1992, aiming to protect and display Yunnan's rich ethnic minority culture. Yunnan is the province with the most ethnic minorities in China, with 25 indigenous ethnic groups. The village systematically presents the production and living styles of various ethnic groups through real-scene buildings, folk performances, and handicraft displays. For example, traditional festivals such as the Dai Water-Sprinkling Festival, Yi Torch Festival, and Naxi Sanduo Festival are regularly performed in the scenic area; intangible cultural heritages such as Wa wooden drum dances and Hani multi-voice folk songs are also vividly inherited through live performances. In addition, the ethnic museum in the scenic area collects thousands of ethnic cultural relics, including costumes, musical instruments, and production tools, recording the historical changes of various ethnic groups.
Main Attractions
Dai Village
The village is centered around Dai-style bamboo houses, with Buddhist temples, a water-splashing square, and an open-air museum. The bamboo house is divided into two floors: the lower floor raises livestock, and the upper floor is for living, reflecting the Dai "stilt-style" architectural features. There are water-splashing carnival activities at 14:00 and 16:00 every day, where visitors can experience Dai New Year customs.
Yi Village
It includes residential clusters of Yi branches such as Sani, Axi, and Limi, mainly featuring earthen houses and "one-block" buildings. The "Solar Calendar Square" in the village displays Yi calendar sculptures, and there is an Ahxi Moon Dance bonfire party at 19:30 every night, showcasing Yi song and dance and marriage customs.
Naxi Village
Based on the traditional villages of the Lijiang Naxi people, it has Sanfang Yizhaobi (three compounds and one screen wall) residences, an Dongba Culture Square, and a Naxi Museum. Visitors can watch Dongba script writing and Naxi ancient music performances to understand the Naxi ecological concept of "harmonious coexistence between man and nature."
National Song and Dance Hall
A large performance venue with a capacity of 1,200 people, it presents the Call of the Plateau national song and dance show at 15:00 daily, integrating the dance essences of 25 ethnic groups, with a performance duration of approximately 60 minutes.
National Square
Covering an area of 20,000 square meters, it is the core area for large-scale festival activities in the scenic area. A 18-meter-high "National Unity Pillar" stands in the center of the square. Every Saturday and Sunday at 10:00 am, there is a welcome ceremony for all ethnic groups, where visitors can participate in group dance performances.
Food
Cross-Bridge Rice Noodles
A classic Yunnan cuisine with chicken soup as the base, paired with more than 10 ingredients such as raw fish slices, ham, and vegetables. The ingredients need to be put into the soup in turn and blanched before mixing. The cross-bridge rice noodle set meal in the scenic area's "Yunwei Restaurant" is priced at 38 yuan per portion, with a rich soup base and fresh ingredients.
Dai Hand-Picked Rice
Rice, roast chicken, roast pork belly, and cold papaya are served on banana leaves with sweet and sour dipping sauce, reflecting the "sweet, sour, spicy, and fresh" flavor characteristics of Dai cuisine. The set meal at the "Dai Flavor Garden" restaurant in the village is recommended at 68 yuan per portion, suitable for 2-3 people to share.
Roasted Milk Fan
A characteristic Naxi snack, fresh milk fan is roasted over charcoal fire and sprinkled with sugar or rose sauce, with a crispy and sweet taste. It is sold at snack stalls in the scenic area for 5 yuan per portion.
Pineapple Purple Rice
Purple rice is steamed with pineapple chunks, and the rice is infused with pineapple fragrance, sweet and sour. It is sold at the scenic area's "Ethnic Food Street" for 15 yuan per portion, and can be served with ice cream in summer.
Admission
Adult ticket: 90 yuan/person.
You can search for the official WeChat public account "云南民族村" to get the latest updates or purchase tickets online.
Opening Hours
Open daily from 08:30 to 18:00, with last entry at 17:30. The performance time of the National Song and Dance Hall is 15:00, and the bonfire party time is 19:30 (only on weekends and holidays). Subject to the scenic area announcements.
Tour Routes
One-day Essence Route: 09:00 Scenic Area Entrance → Dai Village (Water-Splashing Experience, 1 hour) → Bai Village (Visiting Tie-Dye Workshop, 30 minutes) → 11:00 National Song and Dance Hall (Watching Song and Dance Performance, 1 hour) → Lunch (Ethnic Food Street) → 13:30 Yi Village (Participating in Torch Festival Interaction, 1 hour) → Naxi Village (Dongba Culture Experience, 1 hour) → 16:00 National Square (Photo Taking, 30 minutes) → 17:00 Exit.
Deep Culture 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 interpreter (20 yuan/unit) or book a guide (100 yuan/session).
Transportation
- Bus: Take bus routes 44, 73, and A1 from the urban area to the "Yunnan Ethnic Village" station, with a fare of 2 yuan and a travel time of about 40 minutes.
- Metro: Take Metro Line 3 to "Municipal Stadium Station" and transfer to Bus 73; or take Metro Line 5 to "Yuhucun Station" and walk 1.5 kilometers to reach.
- Self-driving: Navigate to "Yunnan Ethnic Village Parking Lot" with about 500 parking spaces, charged at 5 yuan/hour, with a daily maximum of 30 yuan.
- Taxi: About 20 yuan from Kunming Railway Station and about 80 yuan from Changshui Airport, both with a travel time of about 30 minutes.
Must-See Attractions
- Dai Village Water-Splashing Activity: Two sessions daily. Prepare change of clothes and can purchase water basins on-site (10 yuan/unit).
- National Song and Dance Hall Call of the Plateau: Concentrated display of ethnic songs and dances. It is recommended to enter 30 minutes in advance to choose seats.
- Yi Bonfire Party: Experience Yi group dancing. Pay attention to fire safety and it is recommended to wear sports shoes.
- Naxi Dongba Culture Experience: Can purchase Dongba script blessing plaques (20 yuan/unit) and invite Dongba priests to chant on-site.
Tour Tips
- Strong UV rays in summer, carry sunscreen and a sun hat. There is less shade in the scenic area, so pay attention to heatstroke prevention.
- Water-splashing activities will get you fully wet. You can rent lockers (20 yuan/unit) in Dai Village to store clothes.
- Ethnic festival activities have specific rituals. Respect local customs when participating, such as taking off hats and no photography when entering Buddhist temples.
- It is recommended to buy a scenic area combo ticket, which is more cost-effective than single purchases.
- In the evening, you can walk to Dianchi Haigeng Dam (1.5 kilometers from the scenic area) to enjoy the sunset and red-billed gulls (winter).
Notes
- Smoking is prohibited in the scenic area, and littering will face a fine of 50 yuan.
- Some villages have religious sites. Keep quiet when visiting and follow staff instructions.
- When experiencing handicraft production (such as tie-dyeing and pottery), inquire about the charging standards in advance to avoid disputes.
- The last shuttle bus time is 17:30. Reasonably arrange your playtime.
- The night bonfire party venue is dimly lit. Seniors and children must be accompanied by adults.