Meet Olivia!

My Taobao delivery savior, Olivia, along with hotel manager Wenrong offered to take me to see one of Guiyang’s popular attractions–Yelong Valley–a stone fortress conceived and constructed by a local artist and residents over a 20-year period. Let’s enjoy the day together!

Here’s a little about the Beiyu people of which Olivia is a part:

The Buyi (also spelled Bouyei or Puyi) ethnic group is an ancient agricultural community of about 3.5 million people living mostly in southwestern China. [1, 2]

Where They Live

Main Province: Most Buyi people live in Guizhou province, especially in areas like Anshun, Guiyang, and the Qiannan and Qianxinan autonomous prefectures.

Other Areas: Smaller groups live in neighboring Yunnan and Sichuan provinces, as well as parts of northern Vietnam. [1, 2, 3]

History and Farming

Rice Culture: The Buyi have farmed rice in river valleys and plateaus for over 2,000 years. People often call them the “Rice Ethnos”.

Language: They speak a Tai-kadai language that is closely related to the Zhuang language. Most Buyi people also speak Mandarin Chinese. [1, 2, 3, 4]

Culture and Crafts

Batik Art: The Buyi are famous for their traditional indigo-dyed batik fabrics featuring complex, symbolic patterns.

Festivals: Major celebrations include the Third Day of the Third Lunar Month (worshiping land and mountain gods) and the Sixth Day of the Sixth Lunar Month (honoring field and earth spirits).

Music: Folk songs are passed down orally to record their history, tell stories, and celebrate weddings or festivals. [1, 2, 3, 4]

Jamaican in Asia — Then and Now

I last visited and roamed through mainland China in 2011. Now, after 15 years away, I am going back to discover what has changed and what remains the same!

China 2011 → China 2026

▶ Follow the journey on YouTube

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