Ximeng Wa Ethnic Eco-Tourism Area

　　     Ximeng Wa Autonomous County is situated in the southwest of Yunnan Province and the west of Pu'er City. It is surrounded by Lancang Lahu Autonomous County to the east, northeast, and southeast, borders Menglian Dai, Lahu and Wa Autonomous County to the south, and adjoins Myanmar to the west and northwest, with a national border line stretching 89.33 kilometers.

　　     Ximeng is a frontier ethnic autonomous county predominantly inhabited by the Wa people, along with other ethnic minorities such as the Lahu and Dai. Ethnic minorities make up 94% of the total population, among which the Wa account for 72%. It is one of only two Wa autonomous counties in China.

　　

　　     In the 1950s, Ximeng’s social structure was still in the late stage of primitive society and the early stage of slave society, maintaining production and lifestyle practices such as "slash-and-burn agriculture," "wood carving for record-keeping," and "knot tying for counting." Customs included communal drinking and shared meals. Pottery, musical instruments, paintings, and dyed textiles made using primitive methods hold significant scientific research value and visual appeal. The area’s rich collection of folk legends and songs and dances retain the unique style of the primitive Wa tribal culture.

　　

　　     Ximeng County boasts numerous tourist attractions, including the Mengsuo Longtan–Longmoyia Scenic Area, Likan Waterfall Scenic Area, Muyiji Sacred Valley Scenic Area, Wa Mountain Banyan King, Pazhai Eco-Natural Folk Village, Wa Mountain Sea of Clouds, Wa Mountain Heavenly Lake, the ruins of the Sanfozu Buddhist Temple, and the first border village—Naduoba in Mengka Town. There are also a variety of colorful festivals and activities such as the Wooden Drum Festival, New Rice Festival, cattle sacrifice, and ceremonial worship.

　　

　　

　　     The Wa people, the predominant ethnic group in Ximeng, are often referred to as the “Indians of the East.” The Awa culture, forged through centuries of history, carries forward the unrestrained spirit of the Awa people and the value of primitive equality.

　　     Ximeng once gained nationwide fame through the song “The Awa People Sing a New Song,” introducing the world to this ethnic group that emerged from the late stages of primitive society.