Recently, the Third Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village "Youfang Journey" and the Event of 100 Couples Visiting Xijiang, aimed at inheriting the distinctive cultures of ethnic minorities and enriching the folk cultural essence of the Xijiang scenic area, was successfully concluded at the Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village scenic area, known as the "cultural center of the Miao people."
Young men and women who meet through the Youfang activities
Showcasing Miao culture and exploring its cultural essence
It is reported that as the planner and organizer of the event, the Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village Cultural Tourism Development Co., Ltd. has successfully held three editions of the "Youfang" event. This event has become an important channel for excavating and inheriting traditional Miao culture, enriching the cultural content of folk tourism, and further enhancing the visibility and reputation of Xijiang. Over the years, the scenic area has organized distinctive and effective festival events, using the traditional Miao youth "Youfang" culture as a format to create a beautiful calling card for Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village’s opening-up to the world, build a cooperative platform to accelerate the development of the cultural tourism industry, and truly help Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village go further.
Love under the stars in Xijiang, encounter pure romance with Miao dance performances
Walking along the ancient streets of Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village, you can see elderly people sitting leisurely and peacefully in the shade of stilted houses, soaking up the sun. Inheritors of intangible cultural heritage explain ancient Miao culture in detail to visitors in their workshops, while at the village entrance, twelve gates of welcoming wine and traditional Miao dances are performed by native locals, attracting many tourists. One grandma, nearly seventy years old, never misses a single dance, no matter the season—be it summer or winter, rain or scorching sun. She said, “I dance here not for anything else, but because every time I dance, there are so many tourists watching, and I love hearing them say, ‘So this is Miao dancing, it’s really beautiful.’” Though her words are simple, they convey a deep sense of pride in Miao culture from the heart.
Love under the stars in Xijiang, visitors enjoy the Miao long-table banquet
“As the largest Miao ethnic settlement in China and even the world, Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village preserves a lot of Miao culture. There is still much we haven’t fully excavated and presented. In the past, tourists’ impressions of the Miao people were limited to Miao songs and dances and stilted houses. But we will organize more and richer events like this in the future,” said Wang Ying, General Manager of Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village Cultural Tourism Development Co., Ltd.
Embroidery by women can be seen throughout the Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village scenic area
Inheriting the cultural bloodline, strengthening the cultural brand
It is understood that the organizers of this "Love Under the Stars in Xijiang – Encounter Pure Romance" event specially designed segments for intangible cultural experiences, allowing two young people who have taken a liking to each other to feel and learn about the traditional handicrafts of Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village’s unique intangible cultural heritage (such as batik, Miao silverwork, flying songs, and embroidery), while also elevating their mutual affection.
Ms. Li from Shandong and Mr. Wang from Hebei, who met through this event, also participated in the 100 Couples activity. They told reporters, “We’re very grateful for this event, which allowed us to get to know each other through such an ancient and pure method. We learned about batik and realized just how complex Miao batik is. Miao women know exactly how much time goes into planting the plants, spinning the thread, and weaving and dyeing the fabric, so they cherish the material deeply and paint the wax with great care. It’s just like how two people meet, fall in love, and stay together—it takes time and heartfelt cherishing.”
Batik, one of the Miao intangible cultural heritages
The 100 Couples event allowed 66 couples from all over the country to truly experience Miao wedding customs, from the “bride kidnapping” to the “long-table banquet” and finally to the “village elders witnessing the love declaration.” All activities were arranged according to Miao marriage traditions, attracting many onlookers.
Wang Ying, General Manager of Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village Cultural Tourism Development Co., Ltd., told reporters: “In the early stages of development, Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village scenic area stood out with its magnificent natural scenery. Going forward, while continuing to protect its natural advantages, the area will focus more on cultural heritage to stand out. Xijiang possesses the world’s richest and most well-preserved Miao culture, which we need to deeply explore and inherit. Only in this way can we better build a national cultural tourism brand for the scenic area and promote the tourism development of Leishan Xijiang.”
As an important Miao activity, “Love Under the Stars in Xijiang – Encounter Pure Romance” received support from numerous cultural experts. They believe that China’s traditional festivals are colorful and rich in cultural meaning, preserving the unique cultural memory of the Chinese nation. We must hold a reverent attitude toward the historical and cultural heritage created by our ancestors and attach great importance to the protection of ethnic and folk cultures. The Miao “Youfang” is an important traditional festival in China, embodying the Chinese nation’s pursuit of love and a beautiful life. It is a sediment and crystallization of Chinese historical culture. (Photos/text by Shi Zhongyun)