Qiemao Tusi Manor

　　    Qiemao Tusi Manor is located within Malu Yi and Miao Ethnic Township. This township features a fairly balanced mix of karst and erosional landforms, predominantly consisting of low to mid-elevation mountains, with deep river valleys and steep, rocky slopes. Local specialties include tea, Sichuan pepper, konjac, gallnut, eucommia bark, raw lacquer, and tung oil trees. During the Ming Dynasty, the "Jiluo Zexi" — one of the "Eighteen Zexi" along the Chishui River controlled by the Yongning Pacification Commission of Sichuan — was owned by the proprietors of Qiemao Manor. The rulers of the "Eighteen Zexi" were the ancestors of the owners of the "Datun Tusi Manor" in Bijie. In the first year of the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty (1736 AD), the Qiemao area was incorporated into Qianxi Prefecture of Guizhou Province. Qiemao Manor consists of a carved hanging flower gate, upper and lower halls, a flower hall, study rooms, boudoirs, embroidery towers, tea rooms, dining rooms, granaries, barracks, as well as defensive stone carvings and other structures. Its existence not only reflects the long-standing historical reality of the Tusi system’s dominance in northwestern Guizhou, but also provides important physical material for the study of ancient architecture in southern China. To this day, the Qiemao Tusi Manor still preserves the traditional lifestyle and cultural customs of the local ethnic groups, and is a popular destination for experiencing ethnic culture and participating in related activities. (No images available yet. Contributions welcome.)