The fifth Shoulder Pole Cultural Tourism Festival was held at Xialuo village in Jinchengjiang district, Hechi, on April 8 to 9, to celebrate the cultural heritage of the Zhuang ethnic minority.

The festival put on show many of the practices that have taken place over centuries and that are still preserved in the modern day and utilized to attract rural tourism.

Activities such as sacrificial ceremonies, folk culture exhibitions and performances, shoulder pole athletics, embroidered ball throwing, folk singing and fishing took place over the two day festival.

Another activity that took place was a bull fighting competition. A total of 16 bulls from Guizhou province and other areas in Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region fought as a part of the festival.

Organized bull fighting has been a traditional observance during certain festivals in China by ethnic minorities including the Miao and Zhuang ethnic groups. Though some may find it barbaric, it has been practiced for more than 500 years, as an act of prayer for bumper harvests and social peace.

A member of the Zhuang ethnic community chants the Shoulder Pole Ode at the opening ceremony for the fifth Shoulder Pole Cultural Tourism Festival. [Photo by Peng Changling / xinhuanet]

Shoulder pole dance at the opening ceremony for the fifth Shoulder Pole Cultural Tourism Festival. [Photo by Peng Changling / xinhuanet]

Bull fighting competition during the fifth Shoulder Pole Cultural Tourism Festival. [Photo by Peng Changling / xinhuanet]

Edited by Owen Fishwick