Nandan Baiku Yao Ecological Museum

Nandan Baiku Yao Ecological Museum

The Guangxi Baiku Yao Ecological Museum is located in Huaibu Village, Lipu Township, Nandan County, covering eleven natural villages with 442 households and a population of 2,166. Situated in Huaibu Village, Lipu Township, Nandan County, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, it is 33 kilometers from downtown Nandan and accessible via a direct fourth-grade asphalt road. The ecological museum area is mainly divided into two parts: the exhibition hall and the primitive villages. The exhibition hall displays the historical development and local customs of the Baiku Yao people through physical objects, photos, and video materials. The three primitive villages—Manjiang, Huatu, and Huaqiao—are the original settlements of the Baiku Yao, situated in a karst peak forest landform at an altitude of over 800 meters, with villages built along the mountains. A century-old path connects the three neighboring villages, and the mountain scenery is picturesque all year round. The Baiku Yao’s traditional customs are well preserved in these villages, which are distinctive enough to be called “living fossils of human civilization” by historians.

Today, Baiku Yao men and women still sing the ancient Yao “Xihua Songs” when courting, rely on shamans chanting spells for healing, and organize themselves into social units called “Youguo”—basic village management groups beyond the family. These Youguo are formed based on blood relations of the same surname and led by a “headman” who presides over various affairs, with everyone strictly abiding by the Youguo rules, fully showcasing the folk characteristics of the Baiku Yao. Notably, there is also a well-preserved Baiku Yao cave burial site within the villages, providing important physical evidence for studying the history of the Baiku Yao. The ecological museum serves as a minority cultural tourism destination integrating scientific research, leisure exploration, and the experience of Baiku Yao customs. Experts consider the establishment and opening of the Nandan County Lipu Yao Ethnic Township Baiku Yao Ecological Museum as a result of China’s efforts to strengthen the protection of minority cultures. In addition to being a base for Yao cultural research, the Baiku Yao Ecological Museum also facilitates the training of local ethnic minority autonomous region and township management personnel.