Sītuó

Situo lies in the Ailao Mountains southwest of Shiping, in a country of steep valleys and Hani settlements. The Yuan established Hani Circuit here after conquering the region, employing existing local leaders as hereditary officials. Under the Ming, Situo became one of several native chieftaincies subordinate to Lin'an Prefecture. The office continued into the Qing in the hands of the Li family, linking the mountain communities to the provincial government through an established local line of authority.