China’s last armed village

China’s last armed village

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An ethnic Miao woman walks through a field cloaked in morning fog in Guizhou province.

Located in a remote part of southwest China, Basha is an ethnic Miao settlement with a population of 2,200. In a country with stringent gun controls, the village is believed to be the last community authorised by the Chinese state to make and own firearms.

. CONGJIANG, China. REUTERS/Jason Lee

44-year-old ethnic Miao man Gun Liangma fires his gun during a shooting practice.

Although people in Basha no longer subsist on hunting, guns and gunpowder pots have become part of their traditional dress, and firing towards the sky is a ritual to welcome guests.

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Slideshow

Gun Liangma teaches his 10-year-old son, Gun Diuliang, about guns at their home.
. CONGJIANG, China. REUTERS/Jason Lee

Gun Liangma teaches his 10-year-old son, Gun Diuliang, about guns at their home.

45-year-old Gun Yuangu walks with his grandson.
. CONGJIANG, China. REUTERS/Jason Lee

45-year-old Gun Yuangu walks with his grandson.

Gun Diuliang knocks his gun with the back of a knife to tamp down the gunpowder before shooting practice.
. CONGJIANG, China. REUTERS/Jason Lee

Gun Diuliang knocks his gun with the back of a knife to tamp down the gunpowder before shooting practice.

Gun Yuangu pours steel balls from a dried gourd as he prepares for shooting practice.
. CONGJIANG, China. REUTERS/Jason Lee

Gun Yuangu pours steel balls from a dried gourd as he prepares for shooting practice.

Gun Liangma makes a target.
. CONGJIANG, China. REUTERS/Jason Lee

Gun Liangma makes a target.

Gun Yuangu fires his gun near his house.
. CONGJIANG, China. REUTERS/Jason Lee

Gun Yuangu fires his gun near his house.

Gun Liangma and Gun Diuliang shoulder their guns as they walk home after shooting practice.
. CONGJIANG, China. REUTERS/Jason Lee

Gun Liangma and Gun Diuliang shoulder their guns as they walk home after shooting practice.

Gun Diuliang closes the gate to a field.
. CONGJIANG, China. REUTERS/Jason Lee

Gun Diuliang closes the gate to a field.

Gun Yuangu (right, in yellow) serves noodles during lunch with neighbours.
. CONGJIANG, China. REUTERS/Jason Lee

Gun Yuangu (right, in yellow) serves noodles during lunch with neighbours.

An ethnic Miao man sleeps with his head resting on his gun.
. CONGJIANG, China. REUTERS/Jason Lee

An ethnic Miao man sleeps with his head resting on his gun.

Gun Yuangu uses a twig and engine oil to lubricate a gun.
. CONGJIANG, China. REUTERS/Jason Lee

Gun Yuangu uses a twig and engine oil to lubricate a gun.

Miao craftsman, Gun Laosheng, makes part of a gun at a small workshop.
. CONGJIANG, China. REUTERS/Jason Lee

Miao craftsman, Gun Laosheng, makes part of a gun at a small workshop.

An Miao man cuts his toenails with a knife.
. CONGJIANG, China. REUTERS/Jason Lee

An Miao man cuts his toenails with a knife.

60-year-old Gun Ladiu holds his gun and a dried gourd used to hold wine, in a shop in Basha.
. CONGJIANG, China. REUTERS/Jason Lee

60-year-old Gun Ladiu holds his gun and a dried gourd used to hold wine, in a shop in Basha.

Miao men fire their guns during a farewell ceremony for tourists.
. CONGJIANG, China. REUTERS/Jason Lee

Miao men fire their guns during a farewell ceremony for tourists.

Gun Liangma takes aim during a performance for tourists.
. CONGJIANG, China. REUTERS/Jason Lee

Gun Liangma takes aim during a performance for tourists.

45-year-old ethnic Miao man Gun Yuangu (right) and other villagers share the money they earned from performing.
. CONGJIANG, China. REUTERS/Jason Lee

45-year-old ethnic Miao man Gun Yuangu (right) and other villagers share the money they earned from performing.

"I immediately fell in love with the village, it was so pristine that it seemed to be from a completely different era."
Jason Lee, Reuters Photographer

It took me more than 12 hours on plane and long-distance bus to travel from Beijing to what is believed to be the last community authorised by Chinese government to keep guns – the village of Basha. Located in a grand mountainous area of Southwestern China, the village is a relatively mysterious place to most people, even in China, because it is remote and has a poor economy.

On my arrival I instantly noticed one of the area’s unique privileges – the marvelous natural scenery. I decided to take a walk around Basha like a tourist, before getting onto my main assignment – to photograph the gun owners. I immediately fell in love with the village, it was so pristine that it seemed to be from a completely different era.

Most villagers follow their ethnic traditions, they wear a special style of clothing and practice traditional farm work and craftsmanship. Owning guns is apparently the most distinguished tradition, as citizens in China are not allowed to own any type of firearm. It is said that the villagers’ ancestors escaped to this area to get away from war. For centuries guns and broadswords have been carried to defend them from invaders and to hunt for food.

Many men in Basha still carry their weapons on their shoulders when they go out. But the guns are more like embellishments, there are no longer invaders and hunting is banned under Chinese law. A craftsman, who learnt the skills of gun making from his grandfather, told me that his son had lost interest in the craft and would rather go to the big city and earn money as a migrant worker. In a nearby county, 7.5 kilometers (4.5 miles) from Basha, there are advertisements for iPhones and Samsung Galaxies.

Local authorities in Basha have taken advantage of the old traditions to boost tourism. A group of gunmen give performances to visitors, which bring the villagers some income.

Is it ironic that the last and only gun tribe in China fire their weapons only to welcome visitors? I don’t know. To be honest, I am not even sure whether this tradition will survive to the next generation.

. CONGJIANG, China. REUTERS/Jason Lee

Wooden houses are seen through morning fog in the village of Basha.