The Sanctuary of the Golden Deer: A Journey into the Timeless Nuogan Ancient Village on Jingmai Mountain

A Hidden Gem in the Tea Mountains

1.Deep within the lush tea mountains of Lancang: Lahu Autonomous County in Pu'er City, Yunnan Province, lies Nuogan Ancient Village (Nuogan Guzhai). Hidden in a valley north of the Nanlang River at an altitude of approximately 1,500 meters, this village is a pristine example of a traditional Dai settlement that has remained largely untouched by modernity. The name "Nuogan" carries a poetic meaning in the Dai language: "the place where the deer drinks water." According to local legend, the ancestors of the villagers were led to this fertile, water-rich valley by a golden deer over a thousand years ago. Recognizing it as a sanctuary bestowed by nature, they settled here, cultivating tea and building their homes. Today, Nuogan is a core component of the "Cultural Landscape of Old Tea Forests of the Jingmai Mountain," which was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2023. Unlike many commercialized tourist towns, Nuogan retains a profound silence and primitive authenticity, offering a glimpse into a lifestyle that has harmoniously coexisted with nature for centuries,.

The Architectural Heritage of the Dai

2.The visual charm of: Nuogan lies in its incredibly well-preserved traditional architecture. The village is a dense collection of "Ganlan" style wooden stilt houses, built entirely from local timber and capped with dark grey tiles. These two-story structures are designed for practical living: the lower floor is typically used for livestock and storage, while the upper floor serves as the living quarters for the family. The houses are arranged organically along the gentle slopes of the valley, creating a layered landscape that blends seamlessly with the surrounding ancient tea forests. From the viewing platform near the village entrance, the rooftops appear like a sea of dark waves amidst the green mountains, presenting a scene reminiscent of a traditional Chinese ink painting. Walking through the narrow, stone-paved alleys, visitors can observe the intricate wood carvings and the daily life of the residents, from women weaving colorful textiles on their porches to elders drying tea leaves under the sun,.

3.A Spiritual Center: The Village Heart and Temple

4.The spiritual life of: Nuogan revolves around two central landmarks: the Village Heart (Zhaixin) and the Nuogan Buddhist Temple. The Village Heart is a pile of stones located at the geometric and spiritual center of the settlement, representing the soul and unity of the community. It is a sacred space where major festivals and rituals are conducted. Overlooking the village is the Nuogan Temple, a magnificent Theravada Buddhist structure with golden spires and intricate decorations. It stands as a beacon of faith, contrasting beautifully with the rustic wooden houses below. The temple grounds offer one of the best vantage points for panoramic views of the entire village and the surrounding tea mountains. The atmosphere here is one of tranquility and reverence, reflecting the deep-rooted Buddhist traditions of the Dai people,.

Guardians of the Ancient Tea Forests

Nuogan is inextricably linked to the history of Pu'er tea. The village is surrounded by vast ancient tea gardens, part of the millenary "Forest-Tea Coexistence" ecosystem. The villagers have maintained traditional tea cultivation methods for generations, believing that the tea trees are a legacy left by their ancestors. Visitors can walk into these ancient forests, touch the moss-covered trunks of tea trees that are hundreds of years old, and experience the unique "Under-Forest Tea" planting technique. In the village, almost every household produces tea, and the air is often filled with the fragrance of roasting tea leaves. Guests are frequently invited into local homes to taste the roasted tea by the fire pit, a tradition that warms both the body and the spirit,.