Deep within a valley in Southwestern China lies a unique village that seems to exist only in fairy tales – known as the “village of dwarfs”.
The Zuchong County in the city of Neijiang (Sichuan Province, Southwestern China) is renowned for its picturesque landscapes, ancient relics, and wonderful people. However, hidden deep in the Zuchong Valley is a special village that seems to belong only to fairy tales – the “village of dwarfs”.
This special village is called Yangmingzi. Adult residents here have an average height ranging from 80 to 120 cm. The cause of this peculiar phenomenon has yet to be determined.
According to Sohu, locals recount that in the 1930s, the village nestled in this valley was suddenly swept by a storm one night. The villagers thereafter suffered from joint pain, unusual leg cramps, and became limping.
Children in their developmental stages show more pronounced physical changes, particularly those aged 3 to 4 years. Their skulls and joints become thicker and sturdier but also cease to grow afterward.
At that time, the villagers believed it was an infectious disease but could not identify the source of the pathogen, the mode of transmission, or find an effective treatment. They helplessly watched as “dwarfism” spread and affected the entire village.
In today’s medical age, this condition is referred to as “dwarfism”. Cases of this disease have been discovered worldwide, but not concentrated like in Yangmingzi village.
Some X-ray results from the villagers indicate that the body joints are not only localized deformities but that the gap between the hip joint and the femoral head is fused with the pelvis, making it difficult for the patients to walk and move. Such bone changes severely compress the growth space, resulting in halted height development.
Experts speculate that during the natural disaster in the 1930s, the stored food in the village became moldy. With blocked transportation and treacherous terrain, relief efforts were challenging, so the villagers had no choice but to consume the moldy food to alleviate their hunger.
Fusarium is a type of mold that, if ingested, can inhibit the growth of cartilage tissue, affecting normal development. Prolonged consumption of this mold can damage bones and gradually lead to joint deformities, ultimately resulting in the appearance of the villagers as we see today.
For half a century, the villagers of Yangmingzi lived in shame about their appearance and isolated from the world. As time passed, they learned to face everything calmly and view life with optimism.
Today, the village is equipped with its own police and fire services. Additionally, the residents have decided to build their homes inspired by fairy tale culture, transforming this place into a tourist attraction and generating income for themselves.
