Shimenkan
石门坎
A Miao village deep in the Wumeng Mountains. A century ago, British missionary Samuel Pollard ran a school here and created a Miao script, leaving behind a school, church and football field.
Shimenkan lies in Shimen Township, Weining County, deep in the Wumeng Mountains where Yunnan and Guizhou meet. In 1905, the British missionary Samuel Pollard came here and, together with local Miao people, built a school and a church. He created the “Pollard Miao script,” giving the Large-Flowered Miao people a writing system for the first time. The area once had the earliest modern school, hospital, football field and swimming pool in the region, and it trained many Miao intellectuals. It was known as the highest cultural area of the Miao in Southwest China. Today visitors can see the Guanghua Primary School (the former school site), the church, Pollard's grave, old Miao-script stone inscriptions and the Natural Bridge, and experience this unique history of education. Touring: walking through the village takes about 2 hours, and you can chat with villagers to learn about Miao culture. Getting there: about 3 hours by mountain road from the Weining county seat, or approach from Zhaotong in Yunnan. Self-driving is recommended. Notes: this is a remote mountain area with simple food and lodging, so bring enough fuel and cash. Respect local religious and ethnic customs, and ask permission before photographing people.
Opening hours
All day