Qiǎojiā

Qiaojia lies in the deeply cut river country of northeastern Yunnan, near the Jinsha River and the routes connecting Yunnan with Sichuan. Steep slopes and contrasting elevations created different possibilities for cultivation within short distances. River crossings and mountain paths were crucial to exchange, while local communities used knowledge of terrain and water to sustain farming and travel. This was a region where movement could be difficult without being absent.

The wider Dongchuan region was known for copper mining in the Ming and Qing periods. Historical accounts locate important mining districts along the eastern side of the Jinsha, in areas associated with later Qiaojia and neighbouring Huize. The difficult mountain routes connected mining, agriculture and river crossings.