Recently, Xiao Qunfeng, a 68 years old man from Wa ethnic group, took on his ethnic costume and came to the observation deck while making tea for visitors and introducing local customs and stories.

Village gates. wooden drum rooms, granary, etc., of Wengding Village of Cangyuan Wa Autonomous County in Yunnan’s Lincang City, had completed the site reconstruction and upgrading with joint efforts. Over one year after being destroyed by a fire, Wengding Village reopened to tourists on Dec. 28, 2022.

Aerial photo taken on Dec. 8 shows the Wengding Village under reconstruction. (Xinhua/Jiang Wenyao)

“It finally comes back,” said Xiao Qunfeng from Wengding Village. When he saw Wengding gradually restoring its original image after reconstruction, he could not hold back his excitement. 

Aerial photo taken on Dec. 8 shows the Wengding Village under reconstruction. (Xinhua/Jiang Wenyao)

Wengding means a place where clouds and mist are floating in the Wa language. Wengding Village used to be one of the Wa villages with the complete preservation of the history, culture, and characteristic buildings of the Wa ethnic group in Yunnan. On Feb. 14, 2021, a raging fire engulfed Wengding Village, with hundreds of traditional Wa straw huts burnt to ashes.

After the reconstruction work started, Cangyuan County stepped up the construction of all types of infrastructure with the help of villagers to show a better Wengding to tourists. 

Aerial photo taken on Dec. 8 shows the Wengding Village under reconstruction. (Xinhua/Jiang Wenyao)

According to Xiao Wenjun, the General Party Branch Secretary of Weng Ding Village, the new Wengding Village, with 119 households, will be built as a modern living space with tourism services and other functions based on the intangible cultural heritage and traditional customs of Wa ethnic group.

Photo taken on Dec.8 shows workers carrying out greening and reconstruction in Wengding Village. (Xinhua/Jiang Wenyao)

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(Editors: Ines, Rachel)