介绍:
Thirty-five kilometers northeast of Leishan County, Xijiang is the largest Miao village in China. There are some 1,000 households in the village, which is why it is also known as 'China's Miao stockade village of one thousand households'.
The village cluster, considered an open-air museum, displays the authentic and well-preserved distinctive culture and customs of the Miao people. Visitors can take a look at original Miao dances, customs, rites, costumes and silver ornaments. Ms Wang is one visitor discovering Miao culture in Xijiang.
"This is my first time here. This place is so special. I find the local architecture very appealing. I also appreciate the beautiful scenery and genuine friendliness of the people here."
Miao architecture is characterized by distinctive wooden houses dotted with bamboo groves, built tier upon tier on the hillside. Xijiang is set on two large slopes covered by wooden houses. The houses are so tightly packed along the slopes they look like trees in a forest.
Lying amidst green mountains, the village enjoys a beautiful setting, with the terraced fields rising up along the slopes and the crystal-clear Baishui River flowing through. The river, which begins in the primitive forest area near the main peak of the Miaoling Ridge, cuts the village in two.
Cobblestone paths wind through the village, connecting every house.
In the morning, the houses higher up on the slopes are bathed in shades of brown and gold from the morning sun. As the sun rises, everything emerges brightly and clearly. In the evening, it offers an even more spectacular view when it's lit up.
Oboyan from the Netherlands is visiting Xijiang with his parents, and is impressed by the beauty of the village.
"This village is well known. This is typical of a Miao village in China. You won't need to see any more if you come here. The river here is especially beautiful, with clear, green water that runs all the way through the village."
Dubbed a "living fossil of Miao ethnic culture" by historians and researchers, Xijiang is a cultural relic under provincial-level protection.
The village is also a center for grand festivals and celebrations of Miao people in the area. Famous festivals include the Lusheng, New Year, and harvest celebrations, during which the Miao people worship their ancestors and celebrate the autumn harvest. The celebrations are marked with songs and dances accompanied by the Lusheng, a Miao wind instrument.
Drawn by its natural beauty and cultural attractions, more than 1 million visitors have come to Xijiang over the past 7 months. The development of tourism here has brought both fame and profit to this particular village. But the situation was quite different ten years ago. Liu Bin runs his inn in Xijiang. Originally working in Shanghai, Liu was attracted by this picturesque village and moved here in 2005.
"In the first year, when I bought two houses to run the inn here in Xijiang, there were very few visitors. The worst time was when I didn't have a single guest for 52 days in a row. But the situation changed three years later. Now, my hotel is busy all year around and the occupancy rate is up to 80%. "
In the last few years, the local government has invested a good deal of money to restore the houses to their original appearance, in an effort to designate the village as a tourist destination. As such, the main street and riverfront area are relatively new and have lines of stalls aimed at attracting tourist revenue.
Wei Tongxian works at the Publicity Department of Leishan County.
"Before the tourism industry developed in Xijiang, most of the locals made a living by growing crops or leaving the village to work as migrant workers in big cities. The people left behind in the village were mainly seniors and children. But now as tourism grows fast in Xijiang, many who traveled outside are coming back. The tourism and hospitality industries have supported some 1200 full-time jobs here. "
Now, many local families in Xijiang offer accommodation for tourists. In any restaurant, visitors are treated with the best food and wine. Sounds of cheering and toasting often ring out from the restaurants.
The long table feast is a traditional way of hosting guests among the Miao people. Many local dishes are displayed on a long table, with visitors sitting on one side and the host family on the other. The hostess, usually a housewife, gives everyone a cup and fills it with rice wine. As soon as the wine is poured, she sings a folk song inviting everyone to drink wine. Other family members sing one by one and toast the guests. It's a local custom that guests cannot refuse to drink.
Indeed, the pristine lifestyles of the Miao people here are admired by travelers and their loyalty to tradition is something that city dwellers lack.
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