China Travel

The Yunnan Nationalities Village (Yunnan Minzu Cun) is located on the northeastern shore of Dian Lake and provides a neatly packaged and slightly cheesy view of the cultural ways and traditions of the numerous ethnic groups of the province. Various performances go on throughout the day including an elephant show and welcome ceremony. Most of the "villagers" are the real deal—Dai, Bai and Yi ethnic minorities wearing their traditional dress and singing, dancing and making handicrafts just as they would in their local village (we trust). The three major villages represent the Dai, the Bai and the Yi nationalities. In a province that still has many traditional villages, it may be more appropriate to go see the "real thing," but if you can't explore Yunnan fully, the Village can provide a glimpse into its cultural heritage. The butterfly museum and the Yi "Sun Calendar Square"—representing the Yi's 10-month and 360-day year—are two of the more interesting exhibits at the site.