Tuan Shan Village

Tuan Shan Village

Tuan Shan Village was historically inhabited by the Yi people. To this day, Tuan Shan has preserved the distinctive features of a rural settlement in southern Yunnan from the 19th century, along with its social and cultural environment. The ancient architecture in the village consists of three types: traditional Han-style blue-brick courtyard houses, Yi-style earthen-roofed houses, and hybrid Han-Yi buildings with tiled eaves and earthen roofs. It was included in the 2006 World Monuments Watch list as an "ecologically intact village that preserves the architectural character of the 19th century" and for having "Yunnan’s most exquisite collection of ancient dwellings."

The layout and decoration of Tuan Shan’s residences share similarities with those of homes in the Jiangnan region. All buildings face east and are backed by west walls, with gray-tiled roofs, whitewashed exterior walls, and blue-brick skirting. Each house centers around a courtyard, with the main gate usually located on one side of the principal structure. Access to the main courtyard is through passageways of varying shapes, leading to single-courtyard, double-courtyard, or triple-courtyard layouts. The floor plans encompass major styles of traditional Yunnan residential architecture, such as “four-sided courtyards with five skylights,” “three wings with one screen wall,” and “pavilions with winding corridors.”

The residences in Tuan Shan are built compactly and comfortably, particularly noted for the exquisitely carved woodwork between beams and window frames. The wooden carvings feature human figures, animal poses, plant patterns, and geometric designs, all crafted using various carving techniques based on the shape of the motifs. Combining openwork and relief carving, every detail is rendered with exceptional skill, leaving visitors in awe. This grandeur quietly reflects the owners' pursuit of "refined elegance" after achieving prosperity.

In addition to wood, brick, and stone carvings, painted calligraphy and paintings also play a significant role in decorating the buildings. Poetry couplets adorn the courtyard walls, and one building’s ceiling alone features over 100 painted artworks, showcasing the scholarly and refined cultural atmosphere of the former residents.

Address: Xizhuang Town, Jianshui County, Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture

Type: Ancient Town/Village

Recommended Visiting Time: 2–3 hours

Phone: 0873-7807366

Opening Hours:

8:00-18:00

Transportation

Tuan Shan Village is located 13 kilometers west of Jianshui County.

① Getting to Jianshui County

② From Jianshui County to Tuan Shan Village

1. Yellow minibuses at the rural bus station outside the north gate of Jianshui County can take you directly to Tuan Shan Village. The fare is around 5 RMB, and the journey takes about 30 minutes. Minibuses returning to Jianshui stop near the entrance of Tuan Shan Village’s east gate.

2. A taxi from Jianshui County to Tuan Shan Village costs approximately 50 RMB.

Ticket

Admission: 50 RMB per person