Hainan Betel Nut Valley Li and Miao Cultural Tourism Zone is located in the Ganshiling Nature Reserve, Sandao Town, Baoting Li and Miao Autonomous County, Hainan Province. It is a national 5A-level tourist scenic area.
The scenic area is nestled among more than ten thousand graceful and slender betel nut trees. It is composed of cultural experience areas such as the Intangible Cultural Heritage Village, Ganshi Li Village, Guyin Miao Family Village, and Tianye Li Family Village. The scenic area covers an area of 509 mu. There are ten national intangible cultural heritages in the scenic area, which can be regarded as the "living fossils" of Hainan's ethnic culture. There is a characteristic building in the scenic area, the boat-shaped house, which is a traditional house where the Li people live and has a unique shape and cultural connotation.
History and Culture
The history of Betel Nut Valley can be traced back to a long time ago. Here was originally a village where the Li people lived in compact communities. The Li people are one of the earliest inhabitants on Hainan Island, with a long history and unique culture. As time went by, the Miao people around gradually migrated here and lived together with the Li people, forming a situation where Li and Miao cultures blend with each other.
During the long development process, the people of the Li and Miao ethnic groups created rich cultural heritages, such as the Li people's traditional spinning, dyeing, weaving and embroidery techniques, bark cloth making techniques, pottery making techniques, and the Miao people's embroidery, batik, etc. These cultural techniques have been passed down from generation to generation and have become the shining pearls in the treasure house of Chinese national culture.
Later, in order to better protect and inherit these excellent ethnic cultures, the local government and enterprises jointly created Hainan Betel Nut Valley Li and Miao Cultural Tourism Zone, which centrally displays the cultural elements scattered in various villages, allowing more people to understand and feel the charm of Li and Miao cultures.
Main Attractions
Intangible Cultural Heritage Village
The Intangible Cultural Heritage Village is a concentrated area in the scenic area for displaying national intangible cultural heritages. Here, you can see the display and inheritance of many national intangible cultural heritages, such as the Li people's traditional spinning, dyeing, weaving and embroidery techniques, bark cloth making techniques, and pottery making techniques. Tourists can watch the craftsmen making products on-site at close range and learn about the production processes and cultural connotations of these ancient techniques.
Ganshi Li Village
Ganshi Li Village was formed by the protection of a Li village with a history of several hundred years. A large number of traditional Li buildings, the boat-shaped houses, as well as granaries, dormitories and other buildings are preserved in the village. Walking in it, you can feel the strong flavor of Li people's life and learn about the Li people's housing culture, farming culture, etc.
Guyin Miao Family Village
Guyin Miao Family Village showcases the cultural characteristics of the Miao people. Here, you can appreciate traditional Miao costumes, silver ornaments, embroidery and other handicrafts, and also watch Miao song and dance performances. The Miao people's embroidery is colorful and exquisitely patterned, and the silver ornament making process is superb, all of which fully reflect the wisdom and creativity of the Miao people.
Tianye Li Family Village
Tianye Li Family Village takes the rural scenery as the background and shows the farming culture of the Li people. Tourists can see the Li people's traditional agricultural production tools and learn about the farming lifestyle of the Li people. In addition, you can also participate in some farming experience activities, such as transplanting rice seedlings and harvesting, to feel the fun of labor.
Orchid Log Cabin
The Orchid Log Cabin is hidden deep in Betel Nut Valley, surrounded by various beautiful orchids. The architectural style of the log cabin is unique and integrated with the surrounding natural environment. Here, you can relax, admire the beauty of the orchids, and feel the tranquility and beauty of nature.
Delicacies
Bamboo-tube Rice
Bamboo-tube rice is one of the traditional delicacies of the Li people. It is made by putting fresh glutinous rice and ingredients such as meat and vegetables into a bamboo tube and roasting it over charcoal fire. Bamboo-tube rice has a strong fragrance of bamboo, the rice is soft and glutinous, and the ingredients are delicious.
Three-color Rice
Three-color rice is a traditional delicacy loved by the Li people. It is made by dyeing glutinous rice into yellow, black and red colors with the juice of turmeric, maple leaves and wild plants respectively, and then steaming it. Three-color rice is brightly colored, soft and glutinous in taste, fragrant in flavor, and symbolizes good luck.
Miao People's Five-color Rice
Miao People's Five-color Rice is similar to the Li people's Three-color Rice, but it has more colors, including red, yellow, blue, white and black. It is also made by dyeing glutinous rice with the juice of natural plants and then steaming it. It tastes sweet and is a necessary delicacy for the Miao people to celebrate festivals.
Li People's Pickled Vegetables
Li People's Pickled Vegetables are one of the characteristic dishes of the Li people. They are made from vegetables such as green vegetables and radishes through the process of pickling and fermentation. Li People's Pickled Vegetables taste sour and delicious and have the effect of stimulating the appetite and aiding digestion.
Admission Tickets
The ticket prices of Hainan Betel Nut Valley Li and Miao Cultural Tourism Zone vary according to different ticket types. The adult ticket price is 96 yuan per person; children (under 1.2 meters in height), the elderly over 70 years old (with valid identification documents), active-duty military personnel (with valid certificates), etc. can be exempted from the ticket; students (with student ID cards), the elderly between 60 and 69 years old (with valid identification documents), etc. can enjoy preferential tickets, and the price is 48 yuan per person. In addition, there are some package tickets in the scenic area, which include tickets and sightseeing cars and other items, and the price is determined according to the specific contents of the package tickets.
Opening Hours
The opening hours of the scenic area are from 08:00 to 17:30. It is recommended that tourists arrange their itineraries reasonably within the opening hours to fully visit the scenic area.
Tour Routes
If you have enough time, it is recommended that tourists start the tour from the Intangible Cultural Heritage Village, where you can have an in-depth understanding of the intangible cultural heritages of the Li and Miao ethnic groups. Then go to Ganshi Li Village to experience the traditional housing culture and lifestyle of the Li people. After that, go to Guyin Miao Family Village to enjoy the characteristic culture and song and dance performances of the Miao people. Finally, you can go to Tianye Li Family Village to experience the farming life and stroll in the rural scenery.
If you are short of time, you can focus on visiting the Intangible Cultural Heritage Village and Ganshi Li Village. These two areas centrally display the essence of Li and Miao cultures.
Transportation
- Self-driving: Starting from Sanya, drive along the Hainan Ring Expressway, get off the expressway at the Sandao Town exit, and then follow the road signs to reach the scenic area. The whole journey is about 30 kilometers, and the driving time is about 40 minutes.
- By Bus: Take the bus bound for Baoting and Wuzhishan at Sanya Bus Terminal and get off at the entrance of Betel Nut Valley Scenic Area.
- Tourist Special Line: Some hotels in Sanya have tourist special line buses directly to Betel Nut Valley Scenic Area. Tourists can consult the hotel reception in advance to know the specific schedules and times.
Must-visit Attractions
- Intangible Cultural Heritage Village: It centrally displays the national intangible cultural heritages of the Li and Miao ethnic groups and is an important place to understand the essence of Li and Miao cultures. Here, you can see many craftsmen making traditional handicrafts on-site and feel the charm of ancient techniques.
- Ganshi Li Village: It preserves a large number of traditional Li buildings and living scenes, allowing tourists to deeply experience the traditional culture and lifestyle of the Li people. The boat-shaped houses and other characteristic buildings are good places for taking photos.
- Guyin Miao Family Village: It showcases the unique culture of the Miao people, such as exquisite embroidery, silver ornaments and enthusiastic song and dance performances. Here, you can appreciate the unique charm of Miao culture and feel the hospitality of the Miao people.
Tour Tips
- Learn about the performance times of the scenic area in advance and arrange your itinerary reasonably to avoid missing the wonderful song and dance performances.
- You can taste the local characteristic delicacies in the scenic area, but pay attention to food hygiene.
- If you are interested in Li and Miao cultures, you can participate in some cultural experience activities organized by the scenic area, such as learning embroidery and pottery making.
- When visiting in summer, take sun protection and heat prevention measures, and carry items such as sun hats, sunglasses and sunscreen.
Precautions
- Respect the local ethnic cultures and customs, and do not touch or damage the displayed cultural relics and handicrafts casually.
- Obey the instructions of the staff in the scenic area, abide by the regulations of the scenic area, and do not enter the unopened areas without permission.
- If you bring children or the elderly, pay attention to their safety to avoid accidents during walking.
- There are many mosquitoes in the scenic area, so it is recommended to bring mosquito repellent products.