Boat-shaped thatched cottages in Baicha Village

Boat-shaped thatched cottages in Baicha Village

The traditional architectural craftsmanship of the Li ethnic group is reflected in these thatched houses, and the cottages in this village are a classic example of the boat-shaped dwellings typical of Li homes. Nowadays, throughout the Li-inhabited regions, such thatched houses are quite rare, and Baicha Village is the best-preserved settlement.

Boat-shaped House

The boat-shaped house is the fruit of Li architectural wisdom developed over millennia. Though built with simple materials, its construction is highly refined, incorporating a wealth of the Li people’s building ingenuity.

Overall, the structure resembles an upside-down boat. These ground-level boat-shaped cottages are long and wide, with low thatched eaves — a design beneficial for wind and rain resistance. The house is divided into front and rear sections, with doors at both ends. Three tall pillars stand in the middle of the thatched cottage; in the Li language, they are called “ge’e,” symbolizing men. On either side are six shorter pillars, called “geding” in Li, symbolizing women — signifying that a family is made up of both men and women.

The interior floor is made of packed mud. Villagers dig clay from outside, level the ground, pour water over it, then tread it flat with their feet. They dry or air the floor repeatedly until it becomes very smooth and hard.

The Li boat-shaped house is akin to the stilted houses of the Miao people, or the bamboo houses of the Dai in Yunnan — all are traditional architecture of China’s ethnic minorities.

In the southeast of the village is a cluster of grain storage barns. The barns are elevated on stone foundations to keep them off the damp ground and protect against rodents. Wooden beams are laid across the foundation, covered with planks to form the flooring. The top is supported by round beams, and the roof is constructed with bamboo and wood, then thatched to shield against rain. Both the inside and outside of the barns are coated with a layer of clay and mud, while the flooring is sealed with a 4 cm thick mud layer — all serving a sealing function.

Fire prevention is crucial for thatched houses. In the village, adults extinguish fires with water or plant ash before leaving home. In case of fire, a gong is immediately struck. Anyone nearby who fails to return and help fight the fire, according to village rules, is fined “three hundreds” — that is, 100 jin of rice, 100 jin of liquor, and 100 jin of meat. Though this may seem like a local regulation, it actually reflects the culture of the ethnic minority.

Baicha Village preserves traditional Li culture. Here you can see elderly women weaving Li brocade, using a now-rare technique — tie-dyeing, where threads are tied before dyeing. You may also witness women brewing Shanol rice wine; the tradition of growing Shanol rice and making homemade wine continues here. There’s also the Li people’s water-crossing gourd — a rare form of transport. Legend has it that when crossing rivers, people would put their clothes in the gourd, seal the opening, and hold the gourd as they swam across.

Address:

Baicha Village, Dongfang City