Nayong County 纳雍县

Setting and landscape

Nayong sits where the Yunnan–Guizhou Plateau steps down toward the central Guizhou uplands. The highest point is Laigebao Mountain (癞疙宝大山) at 2,476.4 metres in the northwest, the lowest is 1,052 metres at Chahekou (岔河口) in Lezhi (乐治) in the east, and the average is 1,684 metres. Two river systems drain the county: the Zongxi–Guazhong (总溪河－瓜仲河) flowing northeast and the Nayong River (纳雍河) flowing southeast. Karst is widespread, with blind valleys, underground rivers and peak forests. The mean annual temperature is 14.8°C, with rain on about 217 days a year.

Neighbours are Zhijin (织金) and Liuzhi (六枝) to the southeast, Shuicheng (水城) to the southwest, Bijie and Hezhang (赫章) to the northwest and Dafang to the northeast. Nayong station is on the Zhijin–Liupanshui railway, finished in 2015.

History

In the Warring States period the area lay within the Yelang (夜郎) kingdom, and in 221 BC the Qin placed it in Hanyang county (汉阳县). In 1665 the Qing carved Dading prefecture (大定府), today's Dafang (大方县), out of the Shuixi (水西) lands, and Nayong belonged to it. A preparatory office for a new county opened in 1941, and the county government was set up on 1 July that year. The name comes from the Nayong River in the south of the county and also plays on the phrase "纳民雍熙" (bringing the people into harmony).

What to see

The county lists the Zongxi River gorges, known as the "Little Three Gorges", the Diaoshuiyan Waterfall (吊水岩瀑布), the Guoshihe Reservoir (过狮河水库) with its azaleas, and karst caves including Taoyuan (桃园洞), Pengjia (彭家洞), Xuanwei (宣慰洞) and Bailong (白龙洞). Historic sites include the Wanshou Bridge (万寿桥), the travelling palace of Lady Shexiang (奢香行宫) and the old battlefield at Hou'erguan (猴儿关). About 30 square kilometres of dove trees (珙桐) grow here, which the county describes as China's largest natural stand, and the State Forestry Administration named Nayong the home of the dove tree.

Miao, Yi, Bai, Buyi and Hui are among 22 minority groups. The Miao reed-pipe dance Gunshanzhu (滚山珠) and Qingmiao dress (箐苗服饰) are national intangible heritage; Xiaohuamiao dress (小花苗服饰), Miao "flying songs" and Nayong Nuo opera (纳雍傩戏) are on the provincial list.

Food and local products

Nayong grows nearly 300,000 mu of tea and holds the title "home of high-mountain ecological organic tea". It is the birthplace of the Manaohong (agate-red) cherry (玛瑙红樱桃). Other products include walnuts, bamboo fungus (竹荪), eucommia (杜仲) and gastrodia (天麻), and a flat-bedded black marble named "Namoyu" (纳墨玉).

Highlights

• Dove tree forest 珙桐: About 30 square kilometres of dove trees; the State Forestry Administration named Nayong the home of the dove tree.
• Gunshanzhu 滚山珠: Miao reed-pipe dance on the national intangible-heritage list.
• Zongxi River 总溪河: River scenery known as the Little Three Gorges.
• Manaohong cherry 玛瑙红樱桃: Cherry variety that originated in Nayong.