From more than 40 countries and regions, 160,000 local people of the Miao ethnic group adorned themselves in lavish traditional costumes to celebrate their traditional New Year festival in Leishan county in Southwest China's Guizhou province on Nov 23.
Unlike national Chinese New Year which is determined by the lunar calendar, Miao New Year aligns with the harvest, marking the beginning of a year for Miao people. Given its unique cultural significance, the nonstandard New Year celebration was listed as an item of national intangible cultural heritage in 2008.
Since 2000, Leishan county has been holding the annual galas, directed and performed by local Miao people, in order to protect and inherit unique songs, dances, embroidery and other traditional techniques of the Miao people.
In this culturally-rich event, thousands of local Miao people walked in traditional Miao costumes in a parade, showcasing splendid ethnic culture to audiences.
Guests could also get a taste of the lively culture through other spectacles, such as a long table banquet that served 5,000 guests at a time, exhibitions for Miao embroideries, ethnic song and dance performances and a Miao singing competition.
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People of Miao ethnic group dress up in traditional, colorful costumes to celebrate their traditional New Year festival in Leishan county, Guizhou province on Nov 23. [Photo/xinhua] |
