Dayuan Ancient Miao Village

Dayuan Ancient Miao Village

Dayuan Ancient Miao Village is located in the central part of Suining County, known as the “Magical Oasis,” approximately 18 kilometers from the county seat. It lies adjacent to Provincial Highway S221, with the Guan (Xia)–Jiang (Fang) Road winding around it from west to east, providing direct access to Chengbu Miao Autonomous County and Wugang City, making transportation very convenient and its location highly advantageous.

During the Three Kingdoms period, Dayuan was the border region between the states of Wu and Shu. Zhuge Liang once led an army of 400,000 troops through Dayuan, and the soldiers of the Shu army felt as if they were stationed within a large courtyard, giving them a sense of security. It was then that people began to call the place “Dayuan” (literally “Big Courtyard”). In the Northern Song Dynasty, Yang Guangyu, a Grand Master of Splendid Light, grew tired of years of warfare and the political intrigue of officialdom, so he decided to resign from his post and retreat to seclusion. He relocated from Chishui in Duliang County (present-day Chengbu) to Guanxia Dayuan in Shimu County. His descendants mainly settled in two areas within Dayuan Village: “Wanli” and “Dayuan.” These names carry the meaning that a vast land stretches beneath their feet—they do not compete over the grandeur of an imperial home. Instead, the clan shares great unity. With one horizontal stroke, it becomes “Heaven” (天); remove that stroke, and it becomes “Big” (大). Thus, “Dayuan” came to signify the “Great Courtyard Under Heaven.”

Dayuan Ancient Miao Village boasts beautiful mountains and clear waters. It faces south and leans against the mountains, built beside water, encircled in front by a jade-like belt of water with expansive rice fields and broad vistas. Behind it lies the continuous Qinglong Mountain range, with rolling landscapes, lush pines and cypresses, exuding vibrant life. The village currently has a population of 1,229 people, comprising over 300 households, with 1,019 acres of paddy fields and more than 3,000 acres of forested land, covering a total area of about 6 square kilometers. The ancient Miao village has a long history. As early as the Neolithic Age, humans thrived and settled on this land. In the 1980s, Neolithic relics such as stone axes and stone knives were unearthed here. During the Three Kingdoms period, numerous sites related to Zhuge Liang were left behind, including Zhuge City, Horse-Rearing Slope, Academy Valley, and Zhuge Well. In the Song Dynasty, Suining County was first established under the name Shimu, becoming a gathering place for Miao people from Sichuan, Guizhou, and Hunan. After the liberation, Dayuan became a township, encompassing areas that are now Sidun, Wenjia, Nanmiao, and Fenghuang, until it separated from Sidun as an independent village in 1982. The ancient Miao village features distinctive architecture, with over 300 well-preserved ancient houses (yinziwu) from the Yuan, Ming, Qing dynasties, and modern times, especially the four buildings named “Fu” (Fortune), “Lu” (Prosperity), “Shou” (Longevity), and “Xi” (Happiness). These not only embody traditional Chinese culture but also serve as important artifacts for scholars studying the architecture of the Miao and Dong ethnic groups. In addition, structures like the “Four-Knowledge Hall,” “wooden lock,” and the “Jiaqing Birthday Couplet” reflect the vicissitudes, simplicity, and mystery of the Miao village. Dayuan Ancient Miao Village is also a renowned film and television shooting base. In the 1990s, many TV dramas were filmed here, such as That Mountain, That Man, That Dog, Autumn Harvest Uprising, and War Children’s Hearts. Some of these films even won international awards. Film stars like Liu Ye and Chen Hao rose to national fame after filming scenes in the alleys of Dayuan Ancient Miao Village, bringing recognition to the village across China.

Today, the ancient Miao village has become a provincial-level cultural village, an important tourism attraction along the Western Hunan Green Tourism Corridor, and a nationally famous film and television production base, radiating new vitality.