I. Must-see scenic spots
• Zhaimen Niutou array: The fortressmen of Wengding Wazhai Village is a very distinctive place. There are walls full of cow heads, which is very shocking. When entering the fortress, someone will also be welcomed by drums.
• Secret Land of the Divine Forest: The divine forest is a holy place of the Wa people. The ancient trees are towering and full of mystery, but girls can't enter.
• Wooden Drum Room: Wooden Drum is an important totem of the Wa people. In the Wooden Drum Room, you can participate in the "Lamu Drum" ceremony for free to experience the spirit of cooperation between indigenous tribes.
•Wa Palace: Wa Palace is the place where Wa leaders live. Now you can experience the dress of the Wa king here, and take photos very well.
• Observation deck: There are three observation decks in the scenic area, of which observation deck No. 2 is the best check-in point, overlooking the beautiful scenery of the whole village. The scattered thatched huts are surrounded by mountains, presenting a unique beauty.
II. Traffic Guide
•Fre: The flight time from Kunming to Cangyuan Washan Airport is about 1.5 hours, and then take a taxi or bus from the airport to Wengding Wazhai, which takes about 1 hour's drive.
• EMU + car: It takes about 4 hours to take the bullet train from Kunming to Lincang, and then take a bus from Lincang to Wengding for about 2 hours.
•Self-driving: From Lincang, follow the 200-kilometre mountain road to Wengding. Due to the large number of corners, it is recommended to prepare motion sickness medicine.
III. Ticket information
The ticket price is 55 yuan/person, including the round-trip cost of tickets and sightseeing buses. In addition, the rental price of Wa clothing is 50 yuan / 2 hours, and the price of facial painting is 20 yuan.
IV. Opening hours
The opening hours of the scenic spot are 8:30-18:00, and the park will be closed at 16:30.
V. Characteristic folk culture
(1) Core folklore activities: connecting tradition and life with rituals
• Touch your black: This is the most representative folk activity of the Wa people, which is usually held on festivals (such as the Wa New Rice Festival, May Day/National Day, etc.). People smear each other with the homemade "Nimblo" (a black paint mixed with pot bottom dust, spices and butter). The darker the paint, the deeper the blessing. Participants can feel the enthusiasm and frankness of the Wa people in the laughter interaction.
• Lamu Drum: The wooden drum is the "divine drum" of the Wa people, which is regarded as a tool to use the gods. Lamu drum is one of the most solemn ** rituals of the Wa people. The whole village will work together to pull the huge trunk (mostly toon or mango trees) back to the village from the mountain forest. In the process, it is accompanied by shouting and singing and dancing, which is not only awe of nature, but also a manifestation of tribal cohesion. Visitors can participate in the simplified experience in the wooden drum room.
•New Rice Festival: Every year in mid-August of the lunar calendar, the Wa people celebrate the New Rice Festival, marking the maturity of rice harvest. The villagers will first invite the ancestors and gods of Xinmi**, then cook new rice and kill New Year pigs to invite relatives and friends. During the banquet, they will sing ancient Wa songs and dance to show their gratitude for the bumper harvest. Foreign tourists can also be invited to share delicious food and feel the fireworks of the tribe.
(2) Faith and Totem: Natural Awe Engraved in Life
• Nature worship and divine forest culture: The Wa people believe that everything has spirits, especially mountain gods and tree gods. The "divine forest" near the village is the core area of **. The ancient trees are towering, cutting and noise are prohibited, and women are forbidden to enter (because in Wa tradition, women are considered to "invade gods"). Men need to follow the guidance of the guide to reflect their absolute awe of nature.
• Cow head totem: The cow skull hanging can be seen everywhere in the fortress, eaves and ** venues. This is an important totem of the Wa people. The bull's head represents strength and wealth. In the past, Wa hunters hung the hunted bison skull, which gradually evolved into ** and decorative symbols. The wall-covered bull's head array had a strong visual impact, which was also a witness to tribal history.
(3) Traditional art: recording culture with song, dance and crafts
Wa song and dance:
• Hair swing dance: It is a traditional dance of Wa women. Dancers wear black Wa dresses and shake their long hair with the drum beats. The movements are strong and powerful, which not only shows the agility of women, but also implies the implication of "smearing away bad luck". There are regular performances in the scenic spot every day, and tourists can watch and even learn from it.
• Ancient Wa songs: Most of them are folk songs handed down from word to mouth. The content covers tribal history, natural legends, production and life. The singing voice is high-pitched and simple. It often cooperates with flutes, wooden drums and other musical instruments. Listening to a song can intuitively experience the cultural memory of the Wa nationality.
Handicrafts:
• Wa brocade: The brocade woven by women with a traditional waist machine is mainly black, red and yellow. The patterns are mostly geometric, animal and plant patterns, which can be made into skirts, backpacks, etc. There are villagers knitting on site in the village. Visitors can buy finished products or experience simple weaving.
• Bamboo weaving process: Bamboo is inseparable from Wa life. Bamboo baskets, bamboo benches, bamboo mats and other bamboo products can be seen everywhere. Craftsmen weave with local bamboo. They are skilled techniques, and the finished products are both practical and ornamental. It is a good gift.
(4) Living customs: tribal wisdom hidden in details
•Food culture: characterized by hot and sour and original ecology, "chicken rotten rice" is the highest etiquette for guests. The chicken is shredded and cooked with rice, willows, fennel, etc., with a strong fragrance; "Wa-flavored cowhide" is marinated with cowhide with kohlrabi root and millet spicy, which tastes gluteny; there is also self-brewed water wine, which is not high but mellow, reflecting the bold eating style of the Wa people.
• Architectural culture: Traditional residential houses are "dry railing" thatched huts, the roofs are paved with thatch, the walls are made of bamboo and wood, the lower floor raise livestock, put sundries, and live on the upper floor. It not only adapts to the humid climate of the mountainous mountains, but also conforms to the concept of "human, livestock and natural symbiosis". Nowadays, there are still a large number of such traditional buildings in the village, which is a living "Wa Architectural Museum".
VI. Accommodation Recommendation
• Holiday Inn Wengding: Located in Wengding Wa Village, the price is about 200 yuan/night, which allows you to better experience the original ecological living environment.
• Golden Wa Hotel: Located in Cangyuan County, it is cost-effective and suitable for tourists who pursue a comfortable accommodation environment.
• Wengding Wa Folk Culture Inn: In Wengding Village, the inn has traditional Wa decoration and facilities, which allows you to deeply experience Wengding's folk culture.
VII. Specialty food
• Chicken rotten rice: The Wa people are called "hamburger" in Chinese, which is a unique and most famous dish of the Wa people. It is made of chicken, rice, fennel, willow, burmese coriander, millet spicy, etc., with a strong aroma.
•Wa-flavored cowhide: the main ingredients are cowhide, kohlrabi root and pepper. The chili is wrapped in cowhide and has a unique taste.
• Boiled fish with sour bamboo shoots: sour, spicy and delicious, is one of the specialties of the Wa people.
• Water wine: Wa homemade rice wine with a mellow taste.
VIII. Points to note
(1) Cultural customs and etiquette taboos
1. Respect the Wa faith and strictly abide by the regulations when entering the "divine forest". Women are not allowed to enter. Men should also follow the guidance of the guide before entering, and do not touch ** objects or take photos at will.
2. When participating in the "Touch You Black" folklore activity, you need to understand the rules in advance. This is a way of Wa blessings. If you don't want to be painted, you can politely inform the staff in advance to avoid misunderstandings.
3. Dress appropriately and avoid wearing short skirts, shorts or overly exposed clothes, which is a basic respect for local culture and can also reduce mosquito bites.
4. Before shooting local villagers and traditional buildings, be sure to obtain the consent of the other party, especially the elderly and children, and do not shoot at will to avoid arouse disgust.
(II) Environmental and safety protection in mountainous areas
1. Wengding Wazhai is located in mountainous areas. There is a large temperature difference between day and night. Even in summer, you need to bring thin coats or long-sleeved clothes. In winter, you need to prepare warm coats to prevent catching a cold.
2. Most of the scenic spots are slate roads or dirt roads, and some sections are slippery, especially on rainy days. It is recommended to wear non-slip sneakers or hiking shoes to avoid wearing high heels and prevent falling down.
3. There are many mosquitoes in mountainous areas, and some mosquitoes may carry germs. They need to prepare powerful mosquito repellent and anti-mosquito patches in advance. You can use mosquito nets when sleeping at night to avoid mosquito bites.
4. The signal in some areas of the scenic spot is weak. When playing alone, you need to inform your companions or family members of the itinerary in advance to avoid going to unopened areas to ensure your own safety.
(3) Food and accommodation reminders
1. Wa delicacies are mainly sour and spicy, such as chicken rotten rice, boiled fish with sour bamboo shoots, etc. People with gastrointestinal sensitivity can tell the store in advance to put less spicy food, avoid gastrointestinal discomfort, and drink an appropriate amount of local water and wine to avoid overdose.
2. If you choose to live in a homestay in the village, you need to confirm the accommodation conditions in advance. Some homestay facilities are relatively simple. You can bring your own toiletries and portable slippers to improve your living comfort.
3. When eating or staying, you can take the initiative to communicate with local villagers to understand Wa culture, but you should pay attention to moderation, do not inquire about private topics at will, and maintain friendly communication.
(4) Other practical considerations
1. The opening hours of the scenic spot are 8:30-18:00, and the admission to the park will be stopped at 16:30. You need to arrange the itinerary reasonably, reserve enough time to play, and avoid missing important scenic spots or folk performances.
2. Protect the ecological environment of villages, do not discard garbage at will, do not pick local plants and fruits, do not destroy traditional buildings, and maintain the primitive style of "the last primitive tribe in China".
3. Redeem an appropriate amount of cash in advance. Some small stores or homestays may not support mobile payment to avoid inconvenience caused by payment problems.
If you want to find a place to escape the noise and touch the real national culture, the Wengding Wazhai must be worth it. It is waiting for you in the depths of the mountains, waiting for you to measure history with your footsteps, record beauty with your eyes, and feel this unique primitive and warmth with your heart.