Xiao Huang

Xiao Huang

Introduction Xiao Huang is located more than 20 kilometers from the county town and is the collective name for three administrative villages: Xiao Huang, Gao Huang, and Xin Qian, with a total of 662 households and over 3,000 residents. Surrounded by green mountains and with a small stream flowing gently through the village, the stilted wooden houses are nestled against the hills and by the water.

Xiao Huang is widely renowned in the Dong region as a “cradle of Dong songs.” In the Dong language, Dong songs from Xiao Huang are called “Ga Xiao Huang,” meaning “songs of Xiao Huang,” which shows that they form a unique and distinctive system. There is also a local saying: “Food nourishes the body, songs nourish the soul.” The history of the Dong people and the hardships of their ancestors are passed down to the next generation through songs. Dong songs come in a variety of forms—covering life, love, and labor—and among them, the Grand Song of the Dong people is considered the most refined. The Dong Grand Song is a form of multipart, unaccompanied choral music. In Xiao Huang, almost anyone can gather a group to sing Grand Songs, and there’s no need to assign specific parts for high or low voices—yet the singers coordinate seamlessly during performances. The village has as many as 26 song teams. The Dong songs of Xiao Huang have even been performed in France. On regular days, you’ll mostly hear solo singing, duets, or small group choruses, but the true Dong Grand Songs are only performed during festivals. The most grand event is the Mid-Autumn Singing Competition held on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month. During this time, all three administrative villages organize singing contests, and every song team takes part in the performances. It’s much livelier than military-style singing competitions. Next is after the third day of the Lunar New Year, when male and female song teams from the three villages invite each other to share songs and perform Grand Songs together. That’s when you’ll see more young people, and the atmosphere is livelier and more playful.

Accommodation

If you’re unlucky with timing, you can also contact the Congjiang Tourism Bureau to arrange a Grand Song performance for a fee of 400 yuan per session. You must stay at least one night in Xiao Huang, but there are no hotels there—you’ll have to stay with local families. Transportation: There is only one village-level road leading to Xiao Huang, and there are no buses. You can take a motorbike taxi from Gaozeng. The drivers usually ask for 30 yuan, but you can try to bargain. Be prepared though—the road conditions are very poor.

Kaili City, Guizhou Province