Guizhou's Miao ethnic group celebrates Zhaolong Festival

Miao people welcome guests with wine during the Zhaolong Festival. [Photo/ddcpc website]

Miao villages in Leigong Mountain National Nature Reserve, Southwest China's Guizhou province, celebrated Zhaolong Festival on March 17, which is also the day of the dragon in the Year of the Dragon.

The festival is celebrated every 13 years, with about 10,000 Miao people from 21 villages in Guizhou's Taijiang county dancing and singing together. It is usually celebrated on a lucky day in the second month of the lunar year.

The festival is a ritual performed by various native Miao villagers to honor the dragon. Miao people believe that the dragon resides underground in their villages, and is responsible for bringing prosperity in agriculture and animal husbandry.

During the Zhaolong Festival, each household raises funds to purchase offerings, including a male water buffalo or mountain dragon, a black-haired pig, a black-head drake, 12 fish, 12 sticky rice cakes, a jar of wine, and a barrel of glutinous rice.

After the ritual, Miao people perform the lusheng dance and eat the offerings.