Youling Folk Yao Village (Thousand-Household Yao Village)

Youling Folk Yao Village (Thousand-Household Yao Village)

Youling Folk Yao Village (Thousand-Household Yao Village) is a Guangdong Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The Youling Thousand-Household Yao Village in Liannan Yao Autonomous County, Qingyuan, features stunning scenery and vibrant ethnic culture. It is home to two national intangible cultural heritage items — the Yao people’s Shuage Hall performances and the Yao long drum dance — as well as one nationally recognized “Folk Song King” and one provincially recognized “Folk Drum King,” which have captured global attention. Upon entering Youling, watch the dances and listen to the songs, as the rich ethnic flavors unfold like a painting. In 1998, Youling Village was awarded the title of “Home of Chinese Folk Art” by the Ministry of Culture.

The Youling Thousand-Household Yao Village is located southwest of Liannan County (in northwestern Guangdong), situated on a mountainside about 800 meters above sea level. The stilted houses are built along the hillside and are home to the world’s only Liannan “Eight Rows of Yao” people, with a history of over a thousand years. The Yao village has a long history — at its peak, it had nearly 900 houses, over 1,000 households, and more than 5,000 residents, hence the name “Thousand-Household Yao Village.” The residences are built in tiers, arranged in an orderly fashion, all constructed with blue bricks or wood. The entire village spans over 1,300 meters in length and over 900 meters in width, making it the most culturally rich, vivid, and historically well-preserved ancient Yao village among the Liannan Eight Rows of Yao, with the highest reputation. It is an excellent destination for photography, painting, and sightseeing.

The Youling Thousand-Household Yao Village was initially built during the Tang Dynasty, expanded in the Song Dynasty, and flourished in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. At its peak, it had nearly 900 houses, covering nearly 400 acres, with over 1,000 households and more than 7,000 residents, thus earning the title “Thousand-Household Yao Village.” The current village covers an area of 225 acres. Historically, the ancient Yao village was home to Yao families with surnames such as “Chen, He, Qi, Li, Long, Pan, Shen, Zhu, Deng, Fang, and Tang.” The Tang surname arrived latest in Youling, but over time, many migrated away, leading to a decrease in Yao houses and residents. “Currently, the ancient village has 873 residents, over 300 houses, and three main surnames: Tang, Pan, and Fang.”

Location

Youling Village, Liannan Yao Autonomous County, Qingyuan City, Guangdong Province

Further Reading:

· Eighth Batch of Guangdong Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units