Xinguang Village Korean Ethnic Folk Village

Xinguang Village Korean Ethnic Folk Village

Situated 15 kilometers west of Kouqian Town, Yongji County, Jilin City, this village is surrounded by mountains and water, offering picturesque views. Xinguang Village is characterized by Korean ethnic customs and relies on its local resource strengths to vigorously promote tourism, using the tourism industry to boost the village's overall economic development and raise both collective and individual incomes. Xinguang Village was the first in the Jilin region to develop Korean ethnic folk tourism. The village fully capitalizes on its distinctive Korean characteristics, geographic advantages, and natural resources, making good use of existing tourism resources and infrastructure. In line with the requirements for building a new socialist countryside, it focuses on developing Korean ethnic folk tourism. Together with Songhua Lake and Beidahu, it forms a scenic tourism belt and has now become a unique attraction along the Beidahu Ski Resort tourism route.

Xinguang Village Minority Korean Ethnic Folk Village is located in Chundeng Township, Yongji County, about 35 kilometers from Jilin City. It is a tourist attraction primarily focused on experiencing Korean customs. The wooden-framed houses in Xinguang Village Korean Ethnic Folk Village have four-sided sloping roofs covered with thatch, straw, or tiles, and the walls are mostly mud plastered with whitewash. Nowadays, brick-and-tile residences are becoming increasingly common. China's Korean ethnic minority, numbering over 2 million people, mainly resides in the three northeastern provinces, with over 60% living in Jilin Province. The Korean ethnic minority has its own language and script, although its language family remains undetermined. Among China's ethnic minorities, the Korean minority enjoys relatively high material living standards and a high level of education. Historically engaged in land reclamation, they have contributed to the cultivation of cold-resistant rice and the production of high-quality rice in Northeast China. The music and dance of the Korean ethnic minority are renowned nationwide. The Korean people are passionate about sports, value hygiene, practice civility and courtesy, and are especially commended for their virtues of respecting the elderly and caring for the young.

Xinguang Village, along with Songhua Lake and Beidahu, has formed a scenic tourism belt. The traditional Korean houses—wooden-framed with thatched roofs and whitewashed walls—allow visitors to deeply experience the cultural essence of the Korean ethnic group. The village also offers characteristic Korean ethnic folk performances. The musical and dancing locals will even invite you to join them. You can also experience traditional Korean sports and games such as seesaws and Korean swings, allowing tourists to understand and experience various aspects of Korean ethnic culture and customs.

The traditional attire of the Korean ethnic group is highly distinctive. Young women often wear luxurious, brightly colored long dresses, while middle-aged women also wear elegant long skirts, though usually in more subdued colors. Men prefer short jackets paired with vests, loose trousers, and often wear long robes when going out. Children also wear long dresses, adorned with colorful satin trimmings at the cuffs, adding bright splashes of color.

Korean ethnic wedding ceremonies are elaborate and are held twice—once at the bride’s home and once at the groom’s. The Korean ethnic family follows the custom of “men working outside, women managing the household.” The wedding customs of the Korean ethnic minority are very lively, and their tradition of respecting the elderly is highly praised. They also follow a dietary habit of eating four meals a day. There is also a unique custom called “pounding clothes.” Around the time of the Mid-Autumn Festival, women take apart and wash bedding and clothes, then air and starch them. Once semi-dried, the items are folded into rectangles and beaten on a wooden block, a practice known as “pounding clothes.”