Duyun City View. Wu Dongjun/photo  

Duyun has a long history and unique customs. Here, humanity and nature blend harmoniously, forming a unique landscape. Let's walk into Duyun and feel the charm of this city.

Through the long river of time and space, the history of Duyun reverberates in our ears. It used to be an important post station in ancient times, and a vital passage from the Central Plains to the southwest. During the Ming Dynasty, Duyun had become the political, economic and cultural center of Qiannan. The long history has left Duyun with rich cultural heritage, such as Jianjiang Miao Village, Shiban Ancient Street, Doupeng Mountain, etc. These ancient buildings and landscapes witness the vicissitudes of Duyun's history and tell the story of the city's past glory.

When Xu Xiake entered Guizhou, he traveled westward from Shiban Street in Duyun. So far, Shiban Street still remains. After protection and restoration, Shiban Street not only regains its former prosperity, but also becomes more prosperous. On the long flagstone street, antique buildings are arranged in an orderly manner, as if passing through the tunnel of time and space. We have entered a long time and witnessed Xu Xiake's steps forward. Every stone slab, brick and tile records historical stories and is full of thick flavor of years.

Walking through this ancient street, I felt the carefree life atmosphere, as if I heard the ancient people talking and laughing, and saw the children chasing and playing on the street corner. Walking on the flagstone street, one cannot help thinking that these antique buildings and flagstone roads are witnesses of time, and they record the vicissitudes of the ancient city. Now, we can also leave our footprints on this land and feel the beauty precipitated by the years.

Duyun, a city with multiple cultures, is like a rich and colorful cultural treasure embedded in the land of southern Guizhou. The cultures of different ethnic groups blend here, forming unique folk activities, adding endless charm to the city.

Duyun has the beauty of multiple cultures and folk customs. Here, we can feel the collision and integration of different cultures, and also find the joy of life in food. Walking along the streets and alleys of Duyun, you can feel the blending of different cultures such as Buyi, Miao, Shui and so on. The bronze drum dance of the Buyi nationality not only has the beauty of dance, but also contains profound cultural heritage. When the festival comes, the young men and women of Buyi nationality wear their best clothes, play bronze drums and dance happily to celebrate their own festivals. Their dance rhythm is bright and lively, full of life breath, which makes people can not help but be infected.

The flagstone street is full of excitement. Xiao Wei/photographer

Miao culture is also brilliant. The bench dance of Miao nationality is a dance full of local flavor. In the harvest season, Miao children will hold benches and knock out clear sounds, singing and dancing to celebrate the harvest. Their dance is simple and natural, which makes people feel the enthusiasm and vitality of the Miao family.

The culture of Shui nationality is unique. Duan Festival is one of the most important festivals of Shui people. On this day, the Shui people will gather together to hold a grand celebration. Their costumes are gorgeous and exquisite, full of national characteristics. The celebration of the Dragon Boat Festival makes people feel the unique charm of the aquarium culture.

In addition to the rich folk culture, Duyun's food culture also makes people linger. Fish in sour soup is an authentic delicacy in Duyun. The fresh Qiannan fish is selected, and the sour and hot taste of sauerkraut is matched, which makes people have endless aftertaste. Miao's chicken with pickled cabbage is a delicacy full of local flavor. It is stewed with native chicken, sauerkraut and chilli. It tastes delicious and makes people salivate. There are also steamed dishes of the aquarium, which are made of various seasonal vegetables, tofu, meat and other ingredients, and are nutritious, healthy and delicious.

Each mouthful of delicious food here is full of national feelings and historical memories, which makes people feel the depth and breadth of the city while satisfying their taste buds.

The natural scenery of Duyun is refreshing. Doupeng Mountain, located in the west of Duyun City, is the natural name card of this city. The mountains are magnificent, with overlapping peaks, and are reputed as "the first mountain in Guizhou". Climbing to the top of the mountain, people feel as if they are in a fairyland. In addition, Duyun's picturesque green waters and mountains, such as the Jianjiang River set off by green bamboos and the Bainiao River with clear water and fish jumping, make people linger.

From the Shiban Ancient Street, we came to the bank of Jianjiang River, which meanders at the foot of Doupeng Mountain. The river water is clear to the bottom, shining in the sunlight, like a silver chain crossing the green fields. Walking along the river, you will find a collection of birds, singing like songs, and unconsciously immersing yourself in the embrace of nature.

Citizens take a boat trip in Duyun Shanmu Lake Park. Xiao Wei/Photo Gallery of Guizhou

Duyun is known as the "Bridge City on the Plateau" because there are nearly 100 bridges with different architectural styles across the Jianjiang River that encircles the whole city. The ancient Baizi Ancient Bridge, the Jianjiang Leaning Bridge with the largest slope among the large and medium-sized bridges in China, the Silver Lion Bridge with carved jade railings, the Rainbow Bridge flying in the sky, the elegant and meaningful Moon Bridge... A series of bridges with unique style, integrating classical sentiment and modern style, grand view and fiber silk show, are all known as "Bridge Museum". Standing on the top of Doupeng Mountain, watching the Jianjiang River flowing on this land, I felt the harmony between man and nature, and understood the greatness of life and the beauty of nature.

When night comes, Duyun's nightlife has a special flavor. This city with tea fragrance and leisure life is more vivid and energetic at night. In the night market, there are a variety of snacks. Spring rolls bigger than your face, ice powder with vinegar, Duyun Chongchong Cake, Ink Chongjiao Fish... make you drool. Sitting on the bank of Jianjiang River, blowing the fresh wind, eating the spicy and delicious barbecue, and then having a bowl of Duyun's unique vegetable and sour soup, which is sour, refreshing, greasy and memorable.

Duyun is a city worth exploring and discovering. Here, we can feel the precipitation of history, the blending of culture and the beauty of nature. Whether it is ancient architecture, folk activities or natural landscape, people deeply feel the unique charm of Duyun, full of more expectations and yearnings.

Source | Rural Geography

Article | Li Jinfu

Edit | Liu Shuang

Second instance | Xie Yuqian

Third instance | Zhao Lin