The Miao New Year is the most important annual festival for Miao villages, especially in Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village—the largest Miao ethnic settlement in China and even the world—where the long-lasting and intense festive spirit leaves an unforgettable impression.
This year, the date for celebrating the Miao New Year in Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village has been set. The most lively and grand celebration will take place on November 14th (the 18th day of the 10th lunar month). Mark your calendar now and head to Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village to immerse yourself in the rich festive atmosphere of the Miao people.
After the autumn harvest, a year of hard work finally bears sweet fruit. Celebrate the Miao New Year, savor Miao flavors, and witness the renewed vibrancy of Xijiang. Laughter, cheers, delicious food, and dancing... The warm and hospitable Miao people welcome their own happiness in the most grandiose way.
The history of the Miao people in Xijiang stretches back a very long time, all the way to the Chiyou Tribe around 559 BC.
Legend has it that Chiyou was captured and killed during the Battle of Zhuolu, which coincided with the end and beginning of the Miao lunar year. In reverence of Chiyou’s achievements, his descendants made the tenth lunar month the start of the year, celebrating the New Year and honoring ancestors and Chiyou.
What does the festive spirit of Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village taste like?
During the Miao New Year, in addition to traditional activities such as slaughtering pigs, chickens, and ducks, making glutinous rice cakes, and fishing, there are also more exciting folk performances like playing lusheng (a reed-pipe wind instrument), bullfighting, and bird-fighting. Throughout the festival, people visit relatives and friends, drink, sing, and young men and women go on romantic outings in search of partners—truly a romantic affair.
Entertainment is an indispensable part of the Miao New Year. Laughter symbolizes the enthusiasm of the villagers for life, and smiling faces are everywhere.
Oxen that usually plow fields become fierce competitors with eyes full of determination, ready to battle their rivals. Chicken fights are even more thrilling—the birds in combat can be aptly described as having “furious crests and bristling feathers.”
“Silver” Attire for Peace and Prosperity. On this day, all the villagers—men, women, old, and young—as well as relatives and friends from nearby villages—dress up in their finest. They wear dazzling silver horns, shimmering silver lock ornaments, and the clinking of silver pieces creates a pleasant sound, forming the unique “sea of silver” that characterizes the Miao New Year in Xijiang.
Reed-Pipe Music and Dance to Celebrate Life. Music is joy, and every note is a melody. The unique tones of the lusheng, paired with traditional Miao melodies and lively footwork, resonate deeply with the soul. Cheerful sounds emerge from the lusheng, transforming into beautiful music of celebration—“Celebrating Life”—floating far away and lingering in the heart.
Celebrating the Miao New Year wouldn’t be complete without a reunion dinner, which in Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village lasts from the afternoon until late at night.
After a year of hard work, there’s finally time to enjoy the fruits of the harvest. Chickens, ducks, and fish raised for months become delicious dishes on the table, sharing that sense of abundance with others and multiplying the joy.
Platters of hearty dishes are served steaming hot, filling the air with mouthwatering aromas. A variety of delicacies are laid out on long tables, bursting with color. Some are busy in the kitchen, while others “call the shots” at the table—it’s a lively scene.
Against the backdrop of a magnificent sunset, the reunion dinner tastes even better with the beautiful scenery. The gentle twilight serves as the perfect stage lighting, highlighting the dishes in their most appealing form. Toasts, singing, tasting, and conversation... It’s the warmth felt only when hearts come together.
As night falls slowly and starlight dots the sky, the reunion dinner continues under a new backdrop. Children clamor for meat, and the greasy mouths of adults become the moments they most want to capture—that carefree joy, that innocence untouched by worldly concerns, all set against the most beautiful night sky.
The murmuring sound of flowing water drifts gently by, and bright lights outline the silhouettes of stilted houses. The bowls on the table gradually empty, but there’s still so much left to say. Everyone wants to talk all night—sharing the joyful news from home, talking about how much the children have grown...
Thousands of lights drift into dreams. Now is the best time to listen to the soft whispers of the myriad lights in the Miao village. The warm orange hue becomes the brightest color in the night sky, capturing a glance from a beautiful dream and illuminating the path home.
Nestled between two mountains, countless stilted houses stretch from the valley up the slopes. On rainy days, count the raindrops dripping down the eaves. On sunny days, watch the clouds roll by. Peaceful and cozy, these are the long years spent with the stilted houses.
Come celebrate the Miao New Year in Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village, where you can admire breathtaking night views that refresh the soul, savor the rich festive atmosphere that fills the air, drink a bowl of rice wine, try your hand at batik painting, or admire a piece of silver jewelry... In this tranquil setting, experience the timeless culture that has flowed for thousands of years.
The rich festive spirit quietly seeps into the night, lingering over Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village, mixed with the aroma of food, the warmth of human connection, and the simplicity of happiness... Capture a wisp of it, and the taste will leave an unforgettable impression—it’s the most familiar flavor.