Nuodeng Old Village 诺邓古村

About Nuodeng Old Village

The Yunnan Gazetteer records two Han-dynasty salt wells in Yunnan, and the historic Yunlong well is identified as today's Nuodeng well; the village itself has about 1,300 years of history, while the well is dated more than 2,300 years old. Through the Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties Nuodeng was known across western Yunnan for its salt production; the Ming dynasty made it the seat of one of seven national 'salt tax superintendent' offices, whose former yamen building survives intact in the village.

The village retains numerous Ming- and Qing-dynasty buildings, including the Jade Emperor Pavilion, a Confucius temple, a martial temple, a Dragon King temple and a Lingxing gate, and carries honours including 'China Historical and Cultural Village' and 'China Traditional Village'. Nuodeng ham, made possible by the local salt, was exported to Myanmar, India and Vietnam during the Ming and Qing dynasties and gained wider fame after being featured in the documentary 'A Bite of China'.

What to look for

• the former salt-tax superintendent's yamen building
• the Jade Emperor Pavilion and the village's other Ming- and Qing-dynasty temples
• the tiered hillside residential quarters
• Nuodeng ham production

Location & getting there

Getting to Nuodeng Old Village

Identify the main visitor approach and any separately managed houses, museums or performances. Ask before entering residential spaces or photographing residents.

• Search for 诺邓古村 with 大理白族自治州 and 云龙县.