Buyi-Dorf

The Na Hui Bouyei Village sits inside the Wanfenglin karst basin near Xingyi, and is one of the oldest continuously inhabited Bouyei (Buyi) settlements in the area. The village is hemmed in by the same conical limestone peaks that define the wider scenic area, with the river, irrigated rice fields, and old banyan trees forming a near-perfect composition that has been painted and photographed for generations.

The Bouyei are one of the larger ethnic-minority groups of southwest China, concentrated in Guizhou and the adjacent parts of Guangxi and Yunnan. Their language belongs to the Tai-Kadai family, their traditional religion is animist with strong ancestor-veneration elements, and their cultural signature — indigo batik cloth, silver jewelry, antiphonal courtship singing, and stilted wooden houses with tile roofs — is visible everywhere in Na Hui. The village's older houses follow the traditional Bouyei plan, with stone foundations, rammed-earth or wooden walls, and central courtyards used for drying rice and chilies in autumn.

Visiting Na Hui is mostly about walking slowly and looking. There is no fixed circuit — small lanes run between houses, fields, and the riverbank, and most visitors spend an hour or two wandering, photographing, and stopping at family-run noodle stalls. Local foods to look for include five-color glutinous rice (dyed with plant extracts), sour soup with fish, pickled mustard greens, and various chili-based dips served with grilled eggplant or tofu.

The main draw of Na Hui, beyond the village itself, is the integration of the settlement with the karst landscape. The peak-forest backdrop, the patchwork of fields, and the slow pace of village life combine in a way that few places in China still achieve — most karst scenic areas have been heavily commercialized, but Na Hui remains a working village where most residents still farm.

For independent travelers, Na Hui is easy to combine with a half-day e-bike or bike loop around the Wanfenglin valley. Come in the morning or late afternoon for the best light on the peaks, bring small cash for snacks, and be respectful of residents' privacy when photographing homes and people.