Yanban Yan Miao Village

　　    Yanban Yan Miao Village is under the jurisdiction of Tiema Village, Alatown, Fenghuang County. It lies 500 meters downstream of the moat of Huangsiqiao Ancient Town — China’s best-preserved stone city. The village is 26 kilometers from Fenghuang Ancient Town and 10 kilometers from Tongren Airport. It is conveniently accessible via the Fengda Second-Class Highway.

　　    Introduction

　　    Yanban Yan Water Village Miao Settlement consists of several small, scattered villages with a small population. However, the area features numerous distinctive weirs. These weirs are built by standing large bluestone slabs upright and placing millstones on top. The local Miao people have a special love for water — they build their houses right by the streams or even over the water. They live with the water, make a living from it, and find joy in it. The most unique feature here is the Yanban Yan, and it is also the most indispensable part of their daily lives. That’s why the settlement is named Yanban Yan.

　　    In front of the village, fields and streams crisscross in a winding maze. Along the water are rows of waterwheels and stone mills. In the stream lie massive natural bluestone slabs. Where the water flows out, there are islets; where it flows in, there are waterfalls, forming many unique stepped cascades. Over the water are rows of bluestone weirs, and atop them are various-shaped stepping stones. Across the ditches lie huge bluestone slab bridges... The landscape of mountains, rivers, and fields, together with waterwheels, stone mills, bluestone weirs, bluestone bridges, and stepping stones, create a series of breathtaking scenes.

　　    The mountain-water fields and the waterwheels, stone mills, bluestone weirs, bluestone bridges, and stepping stones complement one another, forming one exquisite painting after another.

　　    Getting off at Huangsiqiao Ancient Town and taking a boat downstream, you can enjoy the pristine, simple, natural scenery of this water village Miao settlement, full of the authentic charm of Miao life. The hospitable Miao people will welcome you with their mellow gate-blocking wine.