Baima Villages - Traditional dress is common

Along the valley leading to Wanglang Nature Reserve are several Baima villages. Baima homes are still built using their ancient architectural style and many of the Baima people wear traditional dress. Two of the villages offer simple lodging and traditional food. The Baima are a very attractive and lively people - they love to sing and dance and are warm and welcoming hosts.

Comments from members an eco-tour group that visited the Baima villages in the summer of 2000:

“It was a lovely, fantastic experience.” 
"It was excellent. I thoroughly enjoyed it."
"The people were warm and hospitable."
"I was honored to participate."
"It was very entertaining. I enjoyed the participatory dance."
"The roast goat gave a festive feeling."
"The food was the best of the entire trip, delicious."
"I appreciated eating and drinking traditional foods and dishes."
“The Baima made me feel very much at home.”

There are about 3000 Biama people in the world, 1300 of them live in a handful of little villages in this valley, and another 700 live in other parts of Pingwu County. Baima are an indigenous minority, possibly related to Tibetans. Part of their language is similar to Tibetan, but that may be because the Baima have lived in close proximity to the Tibetans for hundreds of years. Trade routes (horse trails) lead from the Baima villages, through Wanglang Reserve, and over high mountain passes to the Tibetan areas of Jiuzhaigou and Songpan.