Paifang Ecological Folk Village

Paifang Ecological Folk Village

Longsheng Various Nationalities Autonomous County, Sishui Township, Licha Village, Paifang Tun is located on the golden tourism route between Longsheng and the Hot Springs. It is 6 kilometers from the county town and 26 kilometers from the hot springs, offering convenient transportation. In the 19th year of the Guangxu reign during the Qing Dynasty, to commend Deng Tangshi’s philanthropy and devotion to love, and upon her passing at the age of 100, the emperor issued an imperial edict to establish the memorial archway. “Exemplar of Longevity, Recognized by the Emperor” — this is the origin of the name “Paifang” (Archway). Currently, the village has 30 households and 132 residents, comprising five ethnic groups: Miao, Yao, Dong, Zhuang, and Han. Neighbors treat one another with mutual respect and kindness, enjoying harmonious relationships, ethnic unity, and social harmony. It is a typical model village for ethnic unity in Longsheng Various Nationalities Autonomous County.

Paifang boasts a beautiful environment with green mountains and clear waters. The area is natural, serene, leisurely, elegant, and retains an original ecological vibe. The quaint village gate, neat and clean pebble-paved paths, and distinctive wooden stilted houses built along the mountains exude ethnic charm. Red lanterns hang under the eaves, while the surroundings of each home are pleasant, with fragrant grass and green trees complementing each other. The river meanders in front of the village, highlighting the comfortable environment. The tidy and beautiful village, coupled with the simple and warm-hearted villagers, presents a vivid picture of rural prosperity under favorable policies — clean villages, prosperous lives, and harmonious civilization. This showcases the thriving scene of a new socialist countryside. Paifang attracts numerous tourists who come to enjoy farm life, stay in rural homes, and experience farmstead fun. Local resources have been transformed into economic advantages: the phoenix chickens, green ducks raised by villagers, as well as fruits, vegetables, and hundred-acre all-season orchards, are popular among visitors from far and wide.

The scenic area is nestled amid green mountains and clear waters, featuring a natural, tranquil, leisurely, and elegant ecological setting with an untamed charm. It showcases the folk customs of various ethnic groups in Longsheng Various Nationalities Autonomous County. The cultural wonders and the spiritual beauty of its picturesque landscapes create unparalleled beauty. Here, you can find a sense of peace and tranquility absent in city life, and experience the dreamlike melodies of folk songs found only in poetry... With its winding streams full of poetic charm, the ambiance of folk traditions, glimpses into cultural heritage, deep breaths of fresh oxygen from nature, and the fragrance of plants and trees across the seasons. “Golden pavilions crown scenic gardens, slanting sunlight bathes green hills, jungle mists like silk ribbons, and clear streams wind around the gardens” — this is the true portrayal of Paifang. Stepping inside, you’ll encounter unique local bonfire evenings and rich folk tourism activities, allowing you to fully experience the customs and cultures of Longsheng’s various ethnic minorities without being limited by travel schedules.

In the process of exploring how to effectively integrate ethnic cultural resources with tourism economy, Paifang Ethnic Culture Park has continuously gained valuable experience and earned recognition from all sectors of society. Its brand of folk culture tourism has achieved a certain level of influence both domestically and internationally. As a folk culture tourism destination developed from ethnic cultural resources, it helps preserve and pass on ethnic culture through development. Now radiating with charm, it attracts a large number of tourists. On the journey toward building a new socialist countryside, all villagers actively responded to the call of the township Party committee and government. Following the requirements for constructing a new socialist countryside — “develop production, ensure prosperous living, foster civilized rural culture, maintain tidy villages, and promote democratic management” — they took the “Aobei Model” of rural spiritual civilization construction (“renovate without demolishing, build civilization from within”) as a blueprint, carrying out unified planning and cooperative development. Focusing on the “Six Improvements” (i.e., improving water supply, roads, toilets, kitchens, renovating dangerous houses in the village, and upgrading the village environment), they made great efforts to adjust the agricultural industrial structure, inherit and promote ethnic culture, develop ethnic culture tourism, and strive to achieve the “Four Beauties” (i.e., “beautiful industries,” “beautiful lives,” “beautiful folkways,” “beautiful environments,” and “beautiful systems”). This has fostered in Paifang an atmosphere of ethnic unity, cultural advancement, and scientific development, making it a model site for rural spiritual civilization construction in Longsheng.

Building upon a complete transformation from its former state of dirtiness, disorder, and dilapidation, Paifang has also ventured into farming and breeding, gradually carving out a comprehensive economic development path integrating breeding – biogas – planting – ecology – tourism. Today, Paifang features comfortable surroundings with lush grass and trees complementing each other, while the meandering river in front of the village highlights the serene essence of the mountain hamlet.

Source: Longsheng County Tourism Bureau