Miao people celebrate New Year in Guizhou

The 2024 Leishan Miao New Year and Guzang Festival are underway in Guizhou's Leishan county. [Photo/colorful Guizhou network]

The 2024 Leishan Miao New Year and Guzang Festival opened on Nov 10 in Leishan county, Southwest China's Guizhou province.

The Miao New Year is the grandest annual festival of the Miao ethnic group and one of Leishan's national intangible cultural heritage items. It has been held in Leishan 24 times.

A 5,000-person table banquet was introduced during the festival’s opening ceremony. Online and offline tickets were sold out as soon as they were released, with a revenue of over 495,000 yuan ($68,434).

Miao people dress in traditional costumes to celebrate the Miao New Year. [Photo/colorful Guizhou network]

To offer visitors the best tourism experience, Leishan planned snack, specialty dining, and agricultural product display and sales areas at Minzu Square, Mugu Square, and Tianliang Square.

Leishan launched various product sales activities to showcase its silver jewelry, embroidery, and other characteristic ethnic crafts. It also highlighted famous agricultural and special products such as tea, Gastrodia elata, and honey, increasing the locals' incomes.

The 2024 Leishan Miao New Year and Guzang Festival are the largest in recent years, with 47 villages participating, accounting for one-third of all villages in the county.

Relying on these events, Leishan launched an experiential tourism project, which allowed visitors to immerse themselves in the festive atmosphere of 10 different villages.

Visitors enjoy the long table banquet in Leishan. [Photo/colorful Guizhou network]