Ashida Yi Village

Ashida Yi Village

Ashida Yi Village is a national A-level tourist attraction.

Ashida is a Yi ethnic village in Yinjiang Town, Eastern District, located near Bao’anying, where the airport is situated. The village features terraced slopes, orchards stretching as far as the eye can see, ponds scattered across the landscape, and residences built along the water. It integrates ecological forests, economic forests, orchards, leisure resorts, and sightseeing spots, covering an area of 10,000 mu, and is the South Asian Tropical Dry-Hot Valley Agricultural Science and Technology Demonstration Park of the Eastern District.

During the windy season, visitors can enjoy the lofty blue sky as clear as jade, the gentle mountain breeze as soft as cotton, the majestic mountain ridges resembling the sinews of a strong man, and the crystal-clear pools like the bright eyes of a maiden. Standing on the ridge of Bao’anying Mountain, one can take in the entire architectural layout of the Madi and Guazi’ping areas across the river, as well as the panoramic view of the Lanjian Mine and the distant continuous mountain ranges. Walking along the winding country roads and weaving through the dense fruit tree groves, the faint fragrance of mangoes, longans, pomegranates, and unnamed plants with colorful blossoms mingles with the earthy scent, allowing people to truly experience the rural atmosphere away from the city. When tired, rest under the shade of a tree, watch the clouds roll by, listen to the mountain breeze, and breathe in the fragrance of fruit blossoms; when thirsty, head to a nearby farmhouse for a sip of mountain spring water or homemade tea — everything feels so carefree and peaceful.

In the rainy season, the mountains and fields are covered in lush greenery, with fruits of all sizes and colors hanging from the branches, ready to be admired, tasted, or purchased at will, bringing joy as one pleases. Visitors can also go boating on the water or play board games and enjoy tea at the resort. The hazy mountain scenery, the abundant fruit harvest, and the simple local customs all evoke a feeling of being in a “Shangri-La.”

Aside from its ecological agriculture, Ashida Village also boasts rich ethnic traditions. The Yi people here are known for their love of singing and dancing, using music and movement to express emotions during festivals, weddings, funerals, and courtships. With the sound of flutes or lusheng (a reed-pipe wind instrument), Yi folk songs resonate throughout the village — whether sung solo, in duets, or by larger groups, the performances are spontaneous and varied.

During Torch Festival or other grand celebrations, under the glow of blazing pine torches, they dance joyfully to lively rhythms, performing Guozhuang and Datiao dances that ignite the atmosphere with excitement.

The Yi people here also enjoy drinking youcha (oil tea). They roast a small clay teapot over the hearth, add square tea leaves, rice, and rapeseeds, stir-fry until fragrant and smoking, then pour in mountain spring water to boil. Afterward, they add sheep (or cow) fat and a pinch of salt to create a richly aromatic and flavorful tea suitable for all ages, often served to guests. They also like to drink “rotating wine.” Homemade spirits are brewed from sorghum and corn, while sweet rice wine is made from glutinous rice. When guests arrive, everyone sits on the floor around the hearth, passing around large bowls of liquor in a communal drinking ritual accompanied by lively conversation — this is called “rotating wine.” “Gansheng” is a traditional Yi dish served to guests. It consists of finely chopped lean pork from the hind leg or tenderloin, mixed with tender olive branches stripped of their outer skin, scraped light-blue bark pounded into paste, and combined with pickled vegetables, cilantro, minced ginger and scallions, Sichuan peppercorns, and chili powder for a delicious and refreshing flavor. Additionally, whole lamb soup and roasted lamb are also among the area’s distinctive and premium delicacies.

Descending from Ashida, one cannot help but pause amidst the sights of the Shaba High-End Flower Cultivation Base. This base was the first in Panzhihua City to construct greenhouses for fresh-cut flower production. The greenhouses, resembling fluffy white clouds, are scattered across several acres of land in Shaba Village, Yinjiang Town, adjacent to the Jinsha River. Here, a wide array of mid- to high-end flowers thrive, including snow-white lilies, verdant gladioli, and fiery red gerberas, which command high prices in the Dounan Flower Market. Varieties such as roses, carnations, crabapple, and pitcher plants also vie brilliantly for attention, each displaying its unique charm. Wind-resistant landscaping plants such as false betel palm, cinnamon, small-leaved banyan, and fountain palm sway gracefully in the breeze.