The Ancient Town of Naxun

　　Located in Menglian Dai, Lahu and Va Autonomous County in Yunnan Province, the Ancient Town of Naxun is China’s last remaining ancient Dai town. The area boasts beautiful natural surroundings, picturesque landscapes, and a land rich in talent.

　　The Ancient Town of Naxun has a history of over 700 years. “Naxun” means “inner city” in the Dai language. The town’s architecture is a fusion of traditional Dai and Han styles, reflecting early exchanges between inland and frontier regions. In 1289 (the 651st year of the Dai calendar), King Hàn Pàfǎ of the Dai people established the Dai town of Naxun in Menglian. The Yuan Dynasty government set up the “Mulianlu Military and Civilian Prefecture” here. In 1406 (the fourth year of the Yongle era in the Ming Dynasty), the Ming government established the “Menglian Tusi Office,” under the jurisdiction of the Yunnan Regional Military Commission, and granted Hàn Pàfǎ’s grandson the surname Dao, appointing the eighth-generation descendant Dao Paísòng as an official of the sixth rank. In 1709 (the 48th year of the Kangxi era in the Qing Dynasty), during the reign of the 19th-generation Tusi, the court conferred the title of “Hereditary Xuanfu Tusi of Menglian” and granted the fourth rank. With the establishment and consolidation of the Tusi system, the Menglian Tusi also formed a relatively complete governing structure. The Tusi, known as Zhào Hèhǎn, was the highest authority, supported by nine Gēngnèn and twelve Zhàolǎng. Among the nine Gēngnèn, the first to fourth were internal officials (handling internal affairs), the fifth to ninth were external officials (handling external affairs), and the twelve Zhàolǎng were third-tier officials. In April 1949 (the 1311th year of the Dai calendar), Menglian was liberated, marking the end of the Tusi system. Over 660 years, a total of 28 Tusi rulers governed the region. As the Tusi rule continued, the Ancient Town of Naxun was gradually improved and expanded, becoming the political, economic, cultural, and religious center spanning hundreds of miles within the Xuanfu Tusi governance area (including Menglian, Lancang, and Ximeng).

　　Naxun consists of “three towns and two settlements” (Upper, Middle, and Lower Towns, as well as Mangfanggang and Mangfangmao), arranged hierarchically from top to bottom. During the Tusi era, the Upper Town was where the Tusi and their servants lived, the Middle Town housed officials and their families, and the Lower Town was home to lower-ranking officials. Mangfanggang and Mangfangmao were villages where forestry officials and hunters resided. The Menglian Xuanfu Tusi Office was located at the highest point of the Upper Town, with Buddhist temples in both the Upper and Middle Towns standing majestically nearby. The Menglian Xuanfu Tusi Office, known in the Dai language as “Hèhǎn,” meaning “Golden Palace,” gave the Tusi the title “Zhào Hèhǎn,” or “King of the Golden Hall.” The office was once burned down during the Qing Dynasty but was rebuilt between 1878 and 1919. Ascending stone steps leads visitors to the Xuanfu Tusi Office in the heart of the ancient town. Covering an area of over 10,000 square meters, it is the largest surviving Tusi administrative building from the Qing Dynasty in Yunnan, and among the 18 such structures in the province, it remains the best-preserved. The complex includes a main gate, council hall, main hall, east and west wing rooms, granaries, and kitchens. The grand council hall has two stories; the ground floor, cool and spacious, was historically used for officials’ rest and now serves as a spot where visitors sit on railings, sipping tea. Removing shoes in accordance with Dai customs, one ascends to the second floor, where precious artifacts and murals depicting the history of the Tusi Office await. These include exquisite bamboo weavings, rare palm-leaf scriptures, gold and silver ornaments, as well as official robes, flags, golden umbrellas bestowed by past dynasties, documents bearing both Chinese and Dai scripts, and everyday items used by the Tusi. Among them, a python robe gifted by a Qing emperor stands out, embroidered with clouds, birds, dragons, and waves — dazzling and extraordinarily luxurious.

　　In the tranquil and serene Buddhist temples, one can see triple-eave structures with hip-and-gable roofs. The walls of the main halls are adorned with vivid murals that recount the legends of the Dai people. A kind-hearted elderly monk explained that with the introduction of Buddhist culture, the Dai developed their own script, and religious festivals evolved into ethnic celebrations. Religious and folk activities merged, giving rise to the unique literature, art, music, dance, and architecture of the Dai people.

　　The Ancient Town of Naxun, located in a remote border area with a long history, has been one of the political, economic, cultural, and religious centers of southern Yunnan since the Yuan Dynasty. After the founding of New China, it became the capital of the Menglian Dai, Lahu, and Va Autonomous County.

　　Speaking of the Ancient Town of Naxun, you may find it unfamiliar, but it holds a sacred place in the hearts of Dai people across Southeast Asia, as it is home to the successive Tusi offices of the Dai — the Menglian Xuanfu Tusi Office.

　　Though ancient in history, the old town still retains the characteristics and charm of a classic Dai settlement. It encompasses a rich tapestry of Dai Tusi culture, including religious architecture, cuisine, clothing, festivals, music, dance, and folklore, all of which hold significant historical and artistic value. In recent years, an increasing number of ethnic minority visitors from both within and outside China — especially Dai people from neighboring countries such as Myanmar and Thailand — have come to Naxun to explore its heritage. In 2001, the People’s Government of Yunnan Province designated the Menglian Naxun Ancient Town as a historic and cultural city of the Dai people. It is also the last remaining ancient Dai town in China. Relevant authorities are currently preparing to nominate it as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.