Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture (Northern Yi: /nɛ˨˩ʂa˧/) is an autonomous prefecture occupying much of the southern extremity of Sichuan province, People's Republic of China. Its seat is Xichang. Liangshan covers an area of and has over 4.8 million inhabitants as of 2020. It has the largest population of ethnic Yi (or Nosu) among China's prefectures. Liangshan contains a number of isolated villages high up on its cliffs, often known as "cliff villages".
Xichang has the Xichang Qingshan Airport and the Xichang Satellite Launch Center. The prefecture also features a substantial network of railways for both passengers and freight.
Governance
Liangshan Prefecture Public Security Bureau The Liangshan Prefecture Public Security Bureau () is the primary law enforcement agency of Liangshan. It contains an economic crime investigation unit, a patrol unit, a narcotics unit an immigration unit, a cyber-crime unit, a traffic police unit, a SWAT unit and a forestry unit. As of 14 December 2023, 19 of the 30 people on the Liangshan Prefecture Public Security Bureau's most wanted list had been arrested.
In 2023, the Liangshan Prefecture PSB solved 4025 cases, the highest in all of Sichuan.
Line of duty deaths Between 2004 and 2025, 30 officers of the Liangshan Prefecture PSB (including child agencies) have died in the line of duty, of which between 2013 and 2023 10 of which were from the narcotics unit (along with narcotics units of child agencies) or in narcotics related incidents.
Liangshan Prefecture Fire and Rescue Department The Liangshan Prefecture Fire and Rescue Department (凉山州消防救援支队) is in charge of firefighting and disaster relief within the prefecture. In 2025, the agency had a budget of 37 million Renminbi and operated 56 firefighting vehicles.2025 Liangshan Prefecture Fire and Rescue Brigade budget, retrieved 13/3/2025 Prior to October 10, 2018 it was known as the Liangshan Fire Department (凉山州公安消防支队).
Liangshan Prefecture Forest Fire Department The Liangshan Prefecture Forest Fire Department (凉山州森林消防支队) is a wildfire suppression agency of Liangshan. Prior to October 10, 2018 it was known as the Liangshan Detachment.
History The Xichang Forest Fire Battalion of the Liangshan Forest Fire Department has put out a total of 200 wildfires since 2021.
Line of duty deaths During the , 27 firefighters of the Liangshan Prefecture Forest Fire Department died while putting out the fire.
People's Armed Police Liangshan Detachment The People's Armed Police Liangshan Detachment (凉山武警支队) is in charge of paramilitary law enforcement and disaster relief duties. It contains a special operations unit for counter-terrorism operations.
History On October 20, 2014, the People's Armed Police Liangshan Detachment's Meigu County rescued 4 people during a rockslide.
In 2015, the People's Armed Police Liangshan Detachment rescued 8 people during a traffic accident.
In 2017, the People's Armed Police Liangshan Detachment rescued 4 people during fires.
On April 2, 2020, the People's Armed Police Liangshan Detachment deployed 300 soldiers to assist in fighting wildfires.
The People's Armed Police Liangshan Detachment deployed 165 soldiers during the June 26, to assist with disaster relief efforts.
Equipment
QBZ-95 - Used by special operations unit QSZ-92 - Used by special operations unit Crossbow
Terrain and climate
The Anning River, which runs into the Jinsha River (Yangtze River headwaters), is the main river in the area.
Owing to its low latitude and high elevation, Liangshan has a mild climate. Under the Köppen system, the prefecture belongs to the humid subtropical zone (Köppen Cwa). Winters feature mild days and cool nights, while summers are very warm and humid. Monthly daily mean temperatures range from in January to in July. Unlike much of the province, which lies in the Sichuan Basin, humidity levels in winter are rather low, but like the rest of the province, rainfall is concentrated in the months of June through September, and the prefecture is virtually rainless in winter.
Cliff villages Due to the mountainous terrain, many villages that lie among the mountain cliffs of Liangshan Yi are isolated from the rest of Sichuan. They are called cliff villages as they tend to be isolated and lie at vertical heights of about . Access to these cliff villages tends to be through vines of trees along the cliffs and steep ladders made of ropes. In 2016, the state run The Beijing News reported one such village called Atulie'er where children climbed up a rope ladder for two hours to reach their home from school, often leading to falls and deaths. In light of this, the local government constructed a special steel ladder (dubbed "Stairway to heaven") in November 2016 for people to climb up and down in a safer manner.
Subdivisions Liangshan directly controls two county-level cities, 14 counties, and 1 autonomous county.
Map Name Hanzi Hanyu Pinyin YiYi Pinyin Population Area (km2) Density(/km2)Xichang CityOp Rro Shyp712,4342,655268.33Yanyuan CountyCe Mo Xiep350,1768,38841.74Dechang CountyDep Cha Xiep214,4052,28493.87Huili CityNyi Ddix Shyp430,0664,52795.00Huidong CountyHop Do Xiep362,9443,227112.47Ningnan CountyNip Nap Xiep170,6731,667102.38Puge CountyPu Jjyt Xiep155,7401,90581.75Butuo CountyBux Te Xiep160,1511,68595.04Jinyang CountyShyx lo Xiep165,1211,587104.04Zhaojue CountyJuo Jjop Xiep251,8362,69993.30Xide CountyXit Ddop Xiep165,9062,20675.20Mianning CountyRruo Nuo Xiep351,2454,42379.41Yuexi CountyVyt Tuo Xiep269,8962,257119.58Ganluo CountyGa Lo Xiep195,1002,15690.49Meigu CountyMo Ggu Xiep221,5052,57386.08Leibo CountyMop Bbo Xiep223,8852,93276.35Muli Tibetan Autonomous CountyMup Li Op Zzup Zyt Jie Jux Dde Xiep131,72613,2529.94
Ethnic groups in Liangshan, 2010 census Nationality Population Percentage Yi 2,226,755 49.13% Han 2,155,357 47.55% Tibetan 60,679 (2000) 1.49% (2000) Mosuo and Mongol 27,277 (2000) 0.67% (2000) Hui 18,385 (2000) 0.45% (2000) Miao 11,912 (2000) 0.29% Lisu 9,121 (2000) 0.22% (2000) Buyei 5,459 (2000) 0.13% (2000) Nakhi 5,199 (2000) 0.13% (2000) Others 8,751 0.22%
National Priority Protected Sites Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture contains 4 National Priority Protected Sites
, added in 2006 as part of the , added in 2006 as part of the
, added in 2006 as part of the Tea Horse Road, added in 2013 as part of the
Dingshan Bridge and Lingguan Inscriptions in Yuexi
Yalong River Trails in Mianning Songping Pass
gourmet food Tuotuo meat: Pork or mutton cut into large chunks and cooked before eating, is an important food for Yi festivals and entertaining guests.
Yi ethnic group's roasted suckling pig: roasted over charcoal, with a crispy skin, commonly served at festival banquets.
See also Asteroid 121001 Liangshanxichang
Notes
References
External links Official website of the Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture government