Mile (Hani language: Miqleiq Siif; Yi: ꂱꇍꏃ) is a county-level city located in Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan province, China. It is named after the Maitreya Buddha, for which there was a temple located on a nearby mountain, making it the only city in China named after a Buddha. It is a center for sugar and tobacco production in Yunnan.

History

Mile has been known since at least 116 BC in written history. In 1290 it was established as a prefecture and in 1770 as a county. It is the birthplace of Ming dynasty politician Yang Shengwu (杨绳武), Qing dynasty merchant Wang Chi (zh:王炽) and Republic era general Zhang Chong and mathematician Xiong Qinglai. In 2014, Mile County was upgraded as a county level city.

Administrative divisions

At present, Mile City has 10 towns and 2 townships.

Demographics

Mile has a population of 570,100 as of 2021, including 44.9% ethnic minorities.

Ethnic groups

The Mile County Gazetteer 弥勒县志 (1987:689-699) reports the following Yi subgroups. The local Yi people have a ceremony to worship their fire god once a year.

Climate