Lijiang, as a tourist destination in Yunnan, has been popular among tourists around the world. Located in the northwest Yunnan, there is Naxi ancient city only secondary to Kunming. Relying on unique national culture and magnificent natural scenery, it has attracted numerous visitors from the world. 

When it comes to Lijiang, you may immediate come up with Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Lashi Lake as well as Shuhe ancient town in a peaceful setting. You never know that a house of chieftain—Mu Fu Mansion, is embraced by Lijiang ancient city secretly. The world is amazed at its beauty. 

History of Mu Fu Mansion 

There is an old saying that in Lijiang: “missing Mu Fu Mansion, you are not having a trip in Lijiang.” 

Throughout Chinese history, Yunnan is mistaken for a label of “a land of savagery”. When talking about traditional building of Yunnan, a majority of people might remain impressed with rough bamboo tower covered by bamboo forest. When you travel to Yunnan firstly, it is unbelievable that traditional architectural complex as glorious as that of the Central Plains is available in the northwest Yunnan, setting off by snow mountain in the plateau. 

Just as its name implies, Mu Fu Mansion was house of local chieftain whose surname is Mu in Lijiang. The owner of Mu Fu Mansion is called as “Master Mu” by local people. It is said that surname of Han ethnic group is not adopted by Naxi ethnic group in Lijiang. In 1382, Ajia Ade, chieftain of Naxi ethnic group, paid allegiance to the governor of the Ming dynasty. Zhu Yuanzhang, the Emperor Taizu of Ming, granted a surname of Chinese character called “Mu” which is transformed by “Zhu”, without one falling leftwards and one rightward stroke. Mu Fu Mansion is “the Forbidden City” of Lijiang in Yunnan province. 

“There is The Imperial Palace in the north and Mu Fu Mansion in the south”. Mu Fu Mansion, being a magnificent mansion of architectural art, not only fully reflects styles of Han ethnic group in the Ming dynasty but also preserves primitive and straightforward styles left from Tang and Song dynasties.

Current situation of Mu Fu Mansion 

Mu Fu Mansion and other buildings are severely damaged in 1996 when Lijiang suffered from violent earthquake. In the process of post-disaster reconstruction, the World Bank provided a large amount of fund for Mu Fu Mansion. Local government reasonably arranged human and material resources to elaborately design and plan Mu Fu Mansion on the principle of “as it is”. After three years, original magnificence and resplendence of Mu Fu Mansion are recovered. 

Now, Mu Fu Mansion remains at the foot of snow mountain. With unchanged solemn and magnificent momentum over several hundred years, it will continue to guard Naxi ancient city forever. 

（本文图片部分引自微游云南）