Wangshangtun Leisure Tourism New Village

Wangshangtun Leisure Tourism New Village

Wangshangtun is located in the southern part of Lihu Yao Ethnic Township, Nandan County, about 4 kilometers from the township government seat. The entire village is inhabited by the Bai Ku Yao ethnic group. The residential area covers 4,717 square meters, with a total cultivated land area of 378 mu, including 238 mu of paddy fields and 140 mu of dry land, and an ecological forest area of 260 hectares. The main pillar industries include kiwifruit, walnuts, natural yellow cocoons, Yao Mountain chickens, and Yaoxiang black pigs. Wangshangtun enjoys a superior geographical location, surrounded by pristine ecological forests and layered peaks, with a network of underground caves and stunning natural landscapes. The Bai Ku Yao people are honest, simple, hardworking, brave, and have a rich and genuine folk culture, offering a colorful display of traditional customs.

In early 2010, the Nandan County Party Committee and County People’s Government designated Wangshangtun as the pilot project for village appearance renovation in the county. The project involved the complete reconstruction of 72 households and the facade renovation of 14 others. Additionally, the road network, drainage system, power supply and lighting systems were upgraded, and 22 public facilities were built, including a cultural square, stage, lotus pond, drainage ditches, basketball court, parking lot, and cultural center. The overall layout centers around the village, preserving its original state and primarily showcasing the daily lives of residents, supplemented by some organized performances. A suitable number of tourism service facilities have also been added to help guide visitors in gradually understanding Bai Ku Yao customs through their daily life.

Currently, Wangshangtun has become the first tourist attraction in Lihu Yao Ethnic Township that integrates sightseeing, folk performance, agritainment, and leisure wellness, featuring distinctive ethnic characteristics and standing out uniquely in the county’s folk culture tourism industry.

◆ Scenic Area Resources

Natural Resources

Wangshangtun is situated in a mountain basin in the central part of Lihu Yao Ethnic Township, surrounded by mountains on three sides and covered with dense forests, making it a relatively isolated small mountain village. The village still preserves ancient Bai Ku Yao living customs, and there are caves connected to the Ganhe Underground River, providing excellent conditions for developing unique village tourism. The basin where Wangshangtun is located has a relatively open terrain, with a pond within the village and the outlet of the Ganhe Underground River located two kilometers in front of the village, allowing for the creation of a tourism route connecting to the underground river as a distinctive village tourism development feature.

Cultural Resources

As a unique human phenomenon, the primitive Bai Ku Yao village holds significant value for social, historical, cultural, and tourism research. Bai Ku Yao clothing also possesses great aesthetic, artistic, and cultural research value, as well as appeal for sightseeing and collection. Therefore, the Bai Ku Yao primitive village can host specialized tourism such as scientific expeditions, as well as mass sightseeing tourism. Through the development of tourism, the Bai Ku Yao can gradually achieve prosperity while preserving their traditional customs.

Folk and Specialty Resources

Folk customs mainly include Bai Ku Yao toast songs, whispered songs, marriage and funeral customs, long banquet tables, night market gatherings, top-spinning, cockfighting and bird-fighting, traditional costume-making, and historical farming tools. Local specialties mainly include Yao Mountain chickens, Yaoxiang black pigs, and corn liquor. The architecture is dominated by white walls and gray tiles, complemented by traditional Yao King-printed costumes and bronze drums. The houses are arranged in a distinctive and charming layout with strong ethnic characteristics.

◆ Scenic Area Facilities and Services

The tourist area is fully equipped with lighting facilities, including street lamps, and has installed loudspeakers. Resting facilities for visitors are reasonably arranged to meet their needs for sightseeing and relaxation. Public toilets are available free of charge and meet the needs of special groups such as people with disabilities and the elderly.

Visitor Center

The visitor center covers an area of over 160 square meters and is equipped with telephones, audiovisual systems, promotional materials, and professional staff providing consultation, complaint handling, and resting facilities. It features an exhibition area for ethnic costumes and accessories, and a dedicated handmade costume-making association, ensuring thoughtful service and authentic goods.

Tour Guides

Eight local Bai Ku Yao tour guides have been trained, two of whom also serve as hosts for folk performance programs.

Performance Troupe

Over 40 skilled performers have been trained for folk performances, covering two main segments: dance and bronze drum performances. Performances are accompanied by the beat of bronze drums and the rhythm of gongs and drums, inspiring the dancers to perform gracefully.