Riverside Miao Village

Riverside Miao Village

Jiangbian Village is located in Pingcha Town, Jingzhou County, 8 kilometers from the Pingcha town center and 54 kilometers from the county seat. It borders Gao Tun Town of Liping County, covering a total area of over 14,200 mu. The village comprises 7 villager groups, with 182 households and a population of around 800. Riverside Miao Village is one of the better-preserved Miao villages in Jingzhou County and is part of the upper Qian region of the "Qiaoli Miao Township," which is one of the birthplaces of Miao culture (including Miao and Dong lusheng music and Geta music). Surrounded by mountains, the area enjoys a mild and moist climate, with lush forests and a well-preserved ecological environment. The stilted houses, stone-paved paths, and traditional pestle-mortar among the village ruins are well maintained. All residents belong to the Huayi Miao (a distinctive subgroup of the Miao people and one of its six branches). All 182 households in the village share the surname Long, with no other surnames present. The community was established during the Qing Dynasty's Kangxi era by the Miao ancestor Ma Gong, who migrated from Taihe County in Jining Prefecture, Jiangxi Province, and has since thrived here.

The ancient architectural complex of Riverside Miao Village was initially built during the Tang and Song dynasties, took shape in the early Ming Dynasty, and was further expanded and reconstructed during the Ming and Qing dynasties to reach its current scale. It holds significant research value. The ancient architectural complex of the Huayi Miao in Riverside Miao Village boasts a long history. Despite wars and natural damage over time, it has largely retained its original architectural style and layout. To this day, it preserves an ancient, rustic charm and traditional ways of labor, as well as age-old handicraft skills such as weaving, embroidery, and cross-stitch, along with the custom of singing mountain songs.

Photo by Liu Jiehua

Dixin Miao Village

Dijiao Miao Village

Qiaoli Miao Village Ancient Architectural Complex