To the villagers who have been here since their ancestors found this perfect hideout, their property is, in some way, their treasure.

The only medium that connects the villagers to the outside world is a narrow and meandering cavern.

Translated and edited from Sina.com.cn
Original author: Xiao Yuwen
Photo by Xiao Yuwen

The most precious experience is usually the hardest to pursue. This theory applies perfectly to my journey to Bamei, the small idyllic village well hidden in the mountain ranges in southeastern Yunnan province.

The village is part of the Wenshan state of Yunnan province, which borders Vietnam. Compared to the many famous tourist destinations in Yunnan, such as Kunming, Lijiang and Dali, Bamei is so unknown that you can say it has been forgotten. Before the local government discovered its tourism value, there was no electricity or telephone in the village. The only medium that connects the villagers to the outside world is a narrow and meandering cavern. And before that, you have to take a seven-hour bus from the nearest city to reach the village.

No star-rated hotels, no candle-lit restaurants, no internet access. The village is almost devoid of any modern devices. However, the village's isolation has two benefits- the natural scenery and local tradition are at their prime and the travel cost is unbelievably cheap.

The locals are mostly of Zhuang ethnic minority, who are known for their hospitality and wine-making skills. At night, the village is lit up not by city lights, but by a bonfire. Familiar or unfamiliar, people join each other in dances and round after round of drinks.

In Bamei, you sleep under the star-studded sky and you wake up to the roosters' crowing. To the villagers who have been here since their ancestors found this perfect hideout, their property is, in some way, their treasure.