From guns to books: Teenager of 'last gunman tribe' goes to university

Gun Yuanli poses with his firelock. [Photo/China News Service]

Gun Yuanli, 19, was admitted to the Minzu University of China with a high score of 530 this July, becoming the first-ever student to be admitted to a top university in his village. The Basha Miao village, where Gun grew up, is known as the last "gunman tribe" of China. Located in Congjiang, Southwest China's Guizhou province, Basha Miao village is built on the hillside and is surrounded by towering old trees. Adult men of Basha always wear buns and carry knifes on their waists and firelocks on their backs.