Lancang, Yunnan: Feeling the Cultural Charm of "Lahu (West)" in Longzhupeng Old Village

"Our village is a border village, really makes people feel very remote, but many people come from far and wide, there are students from all over the country to do cultural research, once also received Japanese friends." Li Yu is Lancang Lahu Autonomous County, Nuofu Township, South Village, Longzhupeng old village people group leader, every time there are distant guests to the village, he voluntarily acted as a "tour guide".

The Longzhupeng Village is one of the villages in Lancang County that still has a complete traditional Lahu culture. When you walk into the village, the ancient and unique pole-and-post Lahu dwellings are scattered naturally in the mountain passes, and the houses are two-story, wood structure-based, traditional green tile hanging, the upper layer of the housing, the lower layer of the livestock or put the living utensils, and the nature as one.

The drums of Longzhupeng Old Village are a very recognizable cultural landscape in the village, and people even call this place "Shengu Lahu". The drums in the village are placed in pairs, there is a pair in the center of the village, and a pair in front of the "Buddha Room". "Our drums here are also divided into male and female, can not be randomly knocked." Li Yu said, our patron saint is Mupa Mipa, that is, "heaven and earth", whenever we need to pray to heaven and earth, we will ring the sacred drums, while drumming, while dancing, "sacred drums Lahu" has become the village's cultural card.

In addition, the Lahu costumes of Longzhupeng Old Village are very different from those of other towns in Lancang County, and are a highlight of Lahu costume culture. The vast majority of villagers in the village will hand-sew clothing, they like to sew on the clothing in the silver, embroidery and other embellishments, clothing work is relatively fine, men and women of all ages have their own characteristics and styles of clothing, go out and like to carry a cross-body bag. The women's dresses are waist-length, and the skirts are long enough to reach the top of the feet. They are all made of black cloth with red strips or embroidered with red line patterns, which are beautiful and chic.

Relying on the unique cultural resources, the local planning from 2017 to enhance the village environment, the villagers' habitat comprehensively improved, built a Lahu style prominent folk inn, restored the Lahu primitive family sample homes, the construction of a viewing platform and viewing trestle, supporting the tourism toilet. Now, the old village of Longzhupeng is glowing with new vitality.