The Wanli reign of the Ming dynasty was the heyday of Tusi Mu. Mu Zeng, the 13th Tusi (the hereditary tribal leader recognized as an imperial official) from the Mu family built Tusi Mu’s Mansion covering an area of around 66,667 sq m.

During the Chongzhen reign, traveller Xu Xiake came to Lijiang. When overlooking north Lijiang from a north window of the interpreter’s house, he found a group of majestic architectural complexes, saying that they are as beautiful as imperial palaces. These architectural complexes are Tusi Mu’s Mansion. Xu Xiake stayed in Lijiang for 16 days, seeing and recording Lijiang in its heyday, and became a close friend of Mu Zeng.