Zhoucheng, located beside the Yunnan-Tibet Highway, 38 kilometers away from Xiaguan, is the largest natural village in Yunnan Province, with an area of 4.7 square kilometers and a population of 8,868, almost all of whom are Bai. Zhoucheng is not only famous for butterfly spring, but also because it still preserves various traditional customs of the Bai people, and is known as the living fossil of Bai folk customs.
The stone road outside the house and the tap water in front of every household are the characteristics of Zhoucheng Bai village. The slate road is as dense as a spider's web, and the gurgling spring water flows along the seven-turn and eight-turn roadway, which is simple and quiet. The white-walled and blue-tiled buildings on both sides of the roadway are the traditional stone-walled civil structures of the Bai people in Zhoucheng, and there are three treasures in Dali. Stone walls are not a portrayal of this architectural feature. Zhoucheng dwellings are generally three squares, one wall, four entrances and five patios. "Three pavilions and one illuminated wall" is a closed courtyard, which is surrounded by a two-story wing on both sides of the main house and a wall opposite the main house. Four-in-one and five-patio refers to a quadrangle building with buildings on all sides, four small patios at the junction of four corners and a big patio in the middle. The main house is backed by Cangshan, facing east from west.
The ancient stage, which was built in the 21st year of Guangxu in Qing Dynasty (A.D. 1895), is a masterpiece of Bai architecture in Zhoucheng. The stage is a beam-lifting building with a single eaves resting on the top of the mountain, and it is a public place for the residents of Zhoucheng to enjoy festivals, songs and dances. The two big green trees in the square in front of the ancient stage are Feng Shui trees in Zhoucheng Village. At night, the night street in Zhoucheng is held under the big green trees.
Some people say that the Bai women in Zhoucheng are like a wasp and a magpie! The women in Zhoucheng are slim, graceful, brightly dressed and lively. In particular, the Baotou embroidered by them embodies the beautiful scenery of Dali. You see, that curved bag is like a crescent moon in Erhai Lake. Gorgeous embroidery represents Shangguan flowers; Bai Liusu at the top is like snow at the top of Cangshan Mountain; The tassels hanging on the ears are floating in the wind, showing the wind in Shimonoseki.
In the past, the ancestors of the Bai nationality in Zhoucheng rode horses and carried goods to foreign countries and went fishing in the sea, which became an ancient topic for the elderly. However, the ancient traditional habits of Zhoucheng Bai people in business and handicraft processing have been passed down. Tie-dyeing handicraft with a history of more than 300 years shines brilliantly in the new era. Tie-dyeing, also known as skein dyeing, commonly known as tie-cloth, is to tie a white cloth with stitches according to the drawn pattern, dye it with natural plant dyes, and take out the stitches after washing, which is beautiful and simple. Today, there are more than 250 kinds of tie-dyed products in Zhoucheng, which are exported to Europe, America and Southeast Asian countries, earning more than 2 million dollars for the country every year. In Zhoucheng, everyone can tie cloth, from 10-year-old girls to 60-year-old grandmothers. Zhoucheng was named as the hometown of Bai tie-dyeing art by the Ministry of Culture. In addition, Zhoucheng's traditional Bai embroidery products are also deeply loved by domestic and foreign tourists, and the products are exported to all countries in the world. There are also many Bai people engaged in the catering industry in Zhoucheng, and hot and sour fish has also become the specialty of Zhoucheng Bai hotel to entertain guests.
The Bai people in Zhoucheng mainly believe in Buddhism, and there are Buddhist temples such as Yinxiang Temple and Longquan Temple in Zhoucheng. Like other Bai villages, Zhoucheng also worships the Lord. There are two main temples in Zhoucheng. The owner of Lingdi Temple is Du Chaoxuan, a python-chopping hero near butterfly spring. The owner of Jingdi Temple is Zhou Chengzu, Zhao Mulang. They are all legendary heroes and ancestors, and they are the local protectors of our village.
In Zhoucheng, you can still see the ancient and elegant bride costumes in the Bai wedding. The corolla on the bride's head is mainly red, and there are many small yellow and green pompoms, like a tall little flower mountain. A red robe similar to cheongsam should be torn off the lower part of the front skirt before entering the in-laws' house to show a good wife and mother from now on. A small mirror hung on the chest with red wool indicates that you and the groom are soul mates and are also a mirror for exorcism. The bride also wears sunglasses, which is said to ward off evil spirits.
In addition to the Spring Festival, Dragon Boat Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival, the Bai people in Zhoucheng have traditional national festivals such as March Street, Around Three Souls and Torch Festival. Zhoucheng Bai Torch Festival is particularly eye-catching in the Bai village in Dali dam area, which is famous for its many torches and large torches.
If you want to know about the Bai people, please come to Zhoucheng Bai village. When you know Zhoucheng, you know Bai people.