Any discussion of the long history and Li cultural heritage of Dongfang, located in the southwestern part of Hainan Province, is bound to include a mention of the boat-shaped houses of Baicha Village in Jiangbian Township.

Looking down at Baicha Village from on high, the boat shaped houses peep out from the greenery, bringing the past to life once more. (Photo: Dongfang Media Center)

These boat-shaped straw-thatched dwellings are the traditional homes of the local Li People, and are named for their resemblance to upside-down boats. There are 81 of them in Baicha, making this one of the most well-preserved traditional Li villages in the province. In 2008, Baicha's boat-shaped houses were added to China's national intangible cultural heritage list.

Boat-shaped houses in Baicha Village, Dongfang. (Photo: Dongfang Media Center)

Baicha Village is located in Jiangbian Township, about 60 km. from downtown Dongfang. It takes over an hour to drive there from downtown, but it’s definitely worth the trip. In 2021, the Baicha Visitor Center opened alongside the highway, giving the area’s travel industry development a big boost.

Now, the village has also set up Baicha Destination Station, which houses the Baicha Museum, Culture & Creative Exhibition Hall, Li & Miao handicraft workshops, local cuisine tasting areas, boutique hotels, research and education bases, and more.

“During this year’s National Day holiday, Baicha Destination Station welcomed many visitors who fell in love with Li and Miao clothing, handicrafts, and cultural and creative products,” said Tang Qiuchen, director of the station. Tang added that in the future Li pottery and rattan weaving experiences will be offered, giving travelers even more reasons to schedule a visit.