Grand Songs of Dong ethnic group echo with the world

The Grand Songs express the deep respect and aspiration of the Dong people towards the natural world. [Photo/ddcpc website]

Children from Southwest China's Guizhou province sang the Grand Songs of the Dong ethnic group at the China National Arts and Crafts Museum in Beijing on Oct 18 for guests of the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation.

The Grand Songs, one of the most famous forms of folk art of the Dong ethnic group, revolve around themes of nature, such as the sky, earth, mountains, rivers, plants, and animals.

In 2009, the Grand Songs were included in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Aside from the Grand Songs, the Dong ethnic group has two other treasures: the Drum Tower and the Fengyu Bridge. These two structures are symbols of Dong villages.

Dong villages are mostly built near mountains and rivers and can be categorized into several types based on their location and layout. As the largest gathering area of the Dong ethnic group in China, Guizhou is rich in Dong cultural attractions.

The Dong ethnic group also has a unique language, traditional clothing, and a multitude of festive occasions, such as the Dong New Year Festival, Sama Festival, and Wrestling Festival, each with its own highlights that reflect the deep culture and rich ethnic qualities of the Dong people.