Festivals in February

Chinese New Year

Festival time in 2011
The New Year's Day is on Feb 03. The Lunar New Year is the biggest festival in the Dong ethnic area. It is an important season for family union. Lots of acitivities held in every family.

Welcome the goddess SaSui
In Sanjiang, Liping and Congjiang counties, the Dong hold commemorative activities to honor their "Grandmother". A procession of young men and women carry hunting rifles to mimic going off to battle, in memory of a Dong heroine, Xing Ni, who died for the Dong's freedom over 1000 years ago. Known as "Sasui" (Grandmother in Dong language), many villages have erected temples in her horror.

Laodangque Ceremony
'laodangque' means singing and dancing in the hall. On the lunar New Year's Day, they dance hand in hand around the altar to a special Duoye rhythmical beat, singing, remembering the happiness from their youth, and enjoying themselves to their hearts' content.

In the first circle around the fire sit the village elders and invited guests; next, a circle of women, and then a circle of young men. The mother of each girl sits nearby. A contest proceeds, when male and female singers pair off. The themes of the songs express love and beauty, heavily veiled in metaphors and subtle allusions,. The male singer starts the improvisation and the women responds.

Carrying the Governors Parade
An interesting folk activity remaining among the neighboring villages of TangAn, Jitang and Zhaoxing, has a history of 300 years. It has an obvious local cultural characteristic.

Lusheng Festival in Kaili

Festival time in 2011
On Feb 21, big ceremonies will be hosted by local government of Kaili, people dress up to take part in all kinds of activities, and it is also one of the few chances for professional photographers.

Singing and dancing ceremony

As the music and dancing begins, the whole village is cheering up. The lovely Miao girls walk and dance in the sun and their cheeks burn with excitement while they flirt with handsome young men, each of whom is searching for a beauty worthy of his strength and handsomeness. At the same time, you will find many elders are happily watching the the cock fighting competitions, trading at the daylong markets, etc.

Must-see Villages in Guizhou and Guangxi
Basha Zhaoxing Tang'An Xijiang Sanjiang Longsheng