Culture&Life | Cultural museum run by local villager witnesses changes of ancient Naxi village in Yunnan

LIJIANG, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Living in Yuhu village at the foot of the Yulong Snow Mountain, He Jielin has witnessed the changes in this ancient Naxi village.

From the 1980s to the 1990s, He Jielin and his wife could only live off the land. Like other villagers, the couple made a living by cutting wood, picking medicinal materials, and digging sand, which caused great damage to the forest and the environment. However, people in the village remained poor.

In 2004, as the village started to develop tourism, He Jielin began to raise horses and cattle, founded home inns, and gradually, his living condition was improved.

In June 2020, He Jielin renovated his old residence, turning it into the village's first museum on Naxi ethnic culture. Tourists were attracted to his museum to experience various activities related with local culture.

After studying in South Korea, He Jielin's daughter He Yuyue also joined the family business, running the museum together with his father.

"My father knows a lot about the Naxi ethnic culture, which attracted many tourists. I am also learning hard, so that I could spread the culture just like my father," said He Yuyue. Meanwhile, she also shares her daily life on social media in an effort to attract more young visitors.

Currently, the cultural museum of He's family has become a must-see attraction for tourists at Yuhu village. The father and the daughter hope to earn 300,000 yuan (about 41,452 U.S. dollars) this year.