Recently, the third edition of the Xijiang Thousand Households Miao Village "Youfang Journey" and the event bringing 100 couples to Xijiang, organized by the Leishan Xijiang Thousand Households Miao Village Cultural Tourism Development Co., Ltd. with the aim of inheriting ethnic minority cultures and enriching the folk culture of the Xijiang scenic area, was successfully concluded at the Xijiang Thousand Households Miao Village — known as the “center of Miao culture.”
One of the Miao intangible cultural heritages: batik
Meanwhile, the event featuring 100 couples allowed 66 couples from across the country to truly experience Miao marriage customs, from the “bride kidnapping” ritual to the “long-table feast” and the “village elders witnessing the love declaration.” All activities were arranged in accordance with traditional Miao wedding customs, attracting many tourists to stop and watch.
Wang Ying, General Manager of the Xijiang Thousand Households Miao Village Cultural Tourism Development Co., Ltd., told reporters: “In its early development, the Xijiang Thousand Households Miao Village scenic area stood out with its magnificent natural scenery. In the future, while preserving this natural advantage, we will focus even more on leveraging our cultural heritage. Xijiang boasts the world’s richest and most well-preserved Miao culture, which we must deeply explore and pass down. Only in this way can we better build the scenic area’s brand for ethnic cultural tourism and promote the tourism development of Leishan Xijiang.”
As an important Miao activity, “Youfang in Xijiang: Encounter Pure Love” received support from many cultural experts. They believe that China’s traditional festivals are colorful and rich in cultural meaning, preserving the unique cultural memories of the Chinese nation. We must hold a reverent attitude toward the historical and cultural legacy created by our ancestors and place great importance on protecting ethnic and folk cultures. The Miao people’s “Youfang” is an important traditional event in China, embodying the Chinese nation’s pursuit of love and a beautiful life. It is a crystallization and sediment of Chinese historical culture. (Photos/text by Shi Zhongyun)