Tianmen Buyi Ancient Village: 600 Years of History, 178 Stilted Buildings

Tianmen Village in Liupanshui hides the legendary story of a Buyi ethnic group's ancient village with over 600 years of history. The village's name comes from the fact that villagers need to climb steep mountain walls and pass through the "Tianmen" stone gate, where only a ray of sky can be seen, to leave the village. Its stilted buildings are well-preserved, featuring a wood and tile structure that is warm in winter and cool in summer. There are 178 buildings still standing, some of which are over a century old, making them an epitome of Buyi residential culture. The legend of Mount Wuwang is passed down in the village. It is said that Wu Sangui once surveyed the terrain here, but missed the opportunity to build a city due to miscounting the mountain peaks, leaving behind traces of trenches. In addition, traditional Buyi skills such as embroidery, weaving, and suona making have been passed down from generation to generation. The bronze drum is regarded as a sacred object for communicating with heaven and earth, and folk activities such as the "March 3rd" Bodhi tree sacrifice continue to this day. With its unique natural and cultural landscape, Tianmen Village has won the titles of "Chinese Traditional Village" and "National Ecological and Cultural Village" many times.