Changdi Bouyei Ethnic Town in Luoping County, Qujing

Changdi Bouyei Ethnic Township (长底布依族乡) is located in Luoping County (罗平县), Qujing City (曲靖市), in the Yunnan Province (云南省), China. Situated in the eastern part of Luoping County, it shares borders with Wusha Town (乌沙镇) in Xingyi City (兴义市), Guizhou Province (贵州省) to the east, Zhongshan Township (钟山乡) and Banqiao Town (板桥镇) to the southeast, Jiulong Town (九龙镇) to the west, and Laochang Township (老厂乡) and Fuyuan County‘s Yuwang Township (富源县雨汪乡) to the north. This township is the only Bouyei (布依族) ethnic township in Yunnan and is also recognized as a sports-advanced township. The township covers a total area of 94.9 km². By the end of 2019, the registered population of Changdi Bouyei Ethnic Township was 18,931.

Administrative and Geographic Overview

  • Area: 94.9 km²

  • Population (2019): 18,931

  • Postal Code: 655803

  • Location: Eastern Luoping County, Yunnan Province

  • Governing Villages: 6 Villages and 59 Natural Villages

  • Township Government: Changdi Village (长底村)

Historical Evolution

  • Qing Dynasty: Part of the Eastern Region.

  • Republic of China (1940): Divided into Jiulong Township (九龙乡) and Kuazhe Township (块泽乡).

  • 1958: Became part of Banqiao and Hongxing Commune.

  • 1984: Part of Banqiao and Laochang District.

  • 1988: Changdi Bouyei Ethnic Township was officially established.

Administrative Division

By the end of 2019, Changdi Bouyei Ethnic Township had:

  • 6 Village Committees: Changdi (长底), Fada (发达), Bazuo (把左), Benkuai (本块), Desha (德沙), Shipenshui (石盆水).

  • 63 Villager Groups and 59 Natural Villages.

As of 2020, the township includes 2 communities and 4 administrative villages.

Population and Ethnic Composition

  • Total Population (2019): 18,931

  • Han Chinese: 13,596 (75.9%)

  • Bouyei (布依族): 3,641 (84.6% of the minority population)

  • Yi (彝族): 541 (12.6% of the minority population)

  • Other Ethnic Groups: Hui (回族), Hani (哈尼族), among others (24.1% of the total population).

The township maintains a relatively small urban population, with an urbanization rate of 4.3% and a total population density of 192.1 people per km².

Ethnic Culture

Changdi Bouyei Ethnic Township has preserved many Bouyei traditions, including:

  • Second Day of the Second Month (二月二): A dragon worship ritual for blessings.

  • Third Day of the Third Month (三月三): A mountain song festival.

  • Sixth Day of the Sixth Month (六月六): A rice cultivation celebration.

Cultural Preservation and Education

  • The Changdi Central Primary School offers elective courses in Bouyei weaving, batik, and other ethnic arts.

  • The Bouyei Cultural Heritage Center (布依文化传习馆) houses more than 200 items, including traditional tools, clothing, and crafts.

  • Bouyei dance teams regularly perform, and the “Intangible Cultural Heritage in Schools” program has been introduced.

Economic Development and Special Industries

Agriculture

The township’s agriculture is focused on the following key industries:

  • Citrus Cultivation: Over 3,000 acres of citrus orchards, including varieties like Wokan (沃柑) and Choukan (丑柑), with an annual yield of more than 200 tons in 2024.

  • Organic Rice: 1,500 acres of organic rice, utilizing the “rice-fish symbiosis” ecological model.

  • Winter and Spring Vegetables: Planting 1,500 acres of vegetables, primarily for local markets in Yunnan and Guizhou.

The township’s development is supported by the “Party branch + cooperative + base + farmer” mechanism, which has significantly improved the economic situation of local farmers. Through the Shanghai-Yunnan Cooperation Project, more than 76 households have seen their incomes rise by over 5,000 yuan annually.

Tourism

Changdi Bouyei Ethnic Township promotes cultural tourism, with several key attractions:

  • Jiulong Waterfall Group (九龙瀑布群): A National 4A-level Scenic Area, the waterfall group features a total drop of more than 300 meters. A glass viewing platform was added during its 2022 renovation.

  • Shulong Mountain Village Relics (淑龙山寨遗址): A municipal-level cultural heritage site, featuring stone-built fortifications from the Ming and Qing dynasties.

  • Changyuan Hot Springs (长源温泉): This hot spring has a daily water output of 800 cubic meters at a temperature of 42°C, along with a wellness resort area covering 5,000 m².

The township also offers unique tourism products such as:

  • Jiulong River Drifting (九龙河漂流)

  • Fruit-picking experiences

  • Bouyei Long Table Feasts (布依长桌宴)

In 2024, the tourism industry generated over 300,000 yuan in revenue.

Infrastructure and Transport

The township is well connected through its “two horizontal and one vertical” transportation system:

  • Railway: The Nan-Kun Railway (南昆铁路) passes through Changdi, with a freight station handling 500,000 tons annually.

  • Roads: National Highway 324 (324国道) runs through the township, and the Shan-Kun Expressway (汕昆高速) has an interchange at Changdi.

  • Rural Roads: All 59 natural villages are connected by paved roads, and there is 100% public transport access to all administrative villages.