The Fairyland in the Mist: Hiking the Ancient Cliffside Path to the Secluded Wuli Village

A Lost Paradise in the Clouds

Nestled in the northern reaches of Bingzhongluo Township in Gongshan County, Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture, Wuli Village (also known as Wengli) is a place that truly lives up to its name—"Inside the Mist." Located on the east bank of the roaring Nu River, this secluded hamlet is often cited by Chinese National Geography as one of China's most beautiful villages. Unlike more accessible tourist towns, Wuli sits isolated on a gentle slope, backed by towering emerald mountains and facing the turquoise river. It is famous for its ethereal atmosphere; in the mornings and after rain, clouds and mist often rise from the river valley, wrapping the traditional wooden houses and terraced fields in a white veil, making the village look like a celestial dwelling floating in the sky.

The Architecture of Stone and Wood

1.The charm of Wuli: Village lies in its pristine preservation of indigenous architecture. The village is home to the Nu and Tibetan people, who have lived here for generations in harmony with nature. The landscape is dotted with dozens of traditional wooden log cabins (known as Mulengfang) and slab-stone houses. These structures are built using local timber stacked to form walls and large slate stones used as roof tiles, a unique style adapted to the canyon's climate. Surrounded by lush walnut trees and golden cornfields, these rustic homes blend seamlessly into the green slopes, creating a picture-perfect example of highland pastoral life. The village remains largely untouched by modern development, retaining a primitive, quiet beauty that transports visitors back in time.

The Ancient Tea Horse Road on the Cliff

2.Perhaps the most iconic feature of Wuli: Village is its entrance. Historically, the village was accessible only via a narrow section of the Ancient Tea Horse Road carved directly into the sheer vertical cliffs overlooking the Nu River. This 1.5-kilometer path, known as the "Wuli Cliff Path," is a surviving testament to the legendary trade route that once connected Yunnan with Tibet and beyond. Walking along this perilous yet spectacular trail, visitors can feel the history of the mule caravans that once transported tea and salt through these treacherous mountains. To one side is the hard rock face, and to the other, a sheer drop to the turbulent river below. This path offers not only a thrilling adventure but also some of the best vantage points for photographing the village across the river, framed by the dramatic canyon walls.

A Sanctuary of Harmonious Living

Wuli Village is a microcosm of the "Land where Gods and Humans Coexist"—a title given to the broader Bingzhongluo area. Here, diverse ethnic groups and religions (including Tibetan Buddhism and Christianity) exist side by side. The lifestyle is slow and rhythmic, dictated by the farming seasons. Visitors walking into the village will find a tranquil world where villagers work in the fields, livestock roam freely, and the only sounds are the rushing river and the wind in the valley. Whether viewed from the Nu River First Bay observation deck or explored on foot via the cliffside path, Wuli Village represents the ultimate escape into the wild, poetic beauty of the Nujiang Grand Canyon.