The Mystery of the "Zhalai Village People": The History of Zhalai Village and Its People's Portraits
As the saying goes, "the land nurtures the people." However, what puzzles outsiders and even the villagers themselves is this: born and raised in the same place, speaking the same authentic Yongchang dialect, and clearly marked as having ancestral roots in Gansu Province and being of Han ethnicity on their household registration documents, the portraits of the people from Zhalai Village reveal a strikingly different appearance compared to the typical features of Han Chinese—black eyes, black hair, and yellow skin. Many have brown or blonde hair, blue or gray eyes, and are physically taller and more robust than people from surrounding villages... making them look more like Westerners. The distinct appearances of the Zhalai villagers have also drawn the attention of scholars and experts. They believe that behind the unique looks of the villagers may lie an unknown secret. Thus, an investigation began.