China Popular Itineraries |
|
|
|
|
Zhuang Minority
The Zhuang people, the most populous of the ethnic minorities in China, are one of the major ethnic groups in Guangxi. As far back as 3,000 years ago, the Zhuang people had already settled in Guangxi in the Left and Right river valleys and along the Hongshui and Liujiang rivers.
 |
|
Zhuang Minority | They have their origin in a branch of the ancient Baiyue people. The Zhuang have their own language and use the written Zhuang language created in 1955. The Han language is also widely used. The Zhuang people are born singers and dancers and they have regular gatherings. They also follow the custom of Masquerading as the Ancients. During the lunar New Year, the villagers masquerade as historical characters in a parade and perform the Spring Ox Dance. There are many traditional Zhuang festivals.
The Dong Minority
With a population of over 280,000, the Dong people live mainly in the Sanjiang Dong Autonomous County.
The Dong people have their ancestral origin in the Baiyue people and have grown out of a branch of the Xi'ou people of the Qin and Han period. They are creators of colorful art and literature, and are skilled architects of wooden and stone structures. Their drum towers and the wind and rain bridges are the most famous of their masterpieces.
 |
|
The Dong Minority |
The Dong women favor silver jewellery. After a woman gets married, she visits her husband only on holidays or on special occasions, until she becomes pregnant. The Dong believes in polytheism and worship natural objects, such as an ancient tree, huge rock, well or bridge.
Being a Guest in a Dong Home
The houses of the Dong are built of timber and bark from fire trees. The upper storey is the living quarters and the lower ground is reserved for animals. During the hunting season, the men go up to the mountains to look for game. According to tradition, hunters always share their catch with their companions.
The Dong are a hospitable people who greet visitors with oil -tea. To make it, the host will first pour the oil into an iron pot and add glutinous rice to make puffed rice. The second step is to roast peanuts and soybeans. Next, the puffed glutinous rice is fried together with tealeaves and ordinary rice. Finally, some lukewarm water is added into the mixture, and salt is added before it is boiled again.
The oil-tea is put into a bowl, and other ingredients such as deep-fired peanuts, rice cakes, rice noodles and stir-fried pig internal organs are spread on top of the soup. While the guest is having tea, the host will keep adding more tea and ingredients into the guest¡¯s bowl, for the Dong have the rule: The host should not stop serving his guests until they put down their chopsticks.
 |
|
The Yao Minority | The Yao Minority
The Yao people in Guangxi are concentrated mainly in the Guilin, Wuzhou, Baise, Hechi and Liuzhou areas, with a total population of more than 1.3 million. As there are many branches of the Yao people here representing those in other regions, Guangxi is regarded as the home of the Yao people in China. The Yao have many branches, which collectively became known as the Yao people after the founding of the People¡¯s Republic of China. It is customary for the Yao man to marry into the woman¡¯s family. The first child takes the mother¡¯s surname, and the second, the father¡¯s. There are differences in the spoken languages of the various Yao branches. As they have no written language of their own, they generally use the Zhuang and Han languages. The Yao people have a rich store of folk literary works. Besides belief in witchcraft and Taoism, nature, ancestor and totem worship is also popular.
 |
|
The Miao Minority | The Miao Minority
There are over 4.2 million Miao people in Guangxi. They live in compact communities mainly in the Rongshui Miao Autonomous County and Longsheng and Sanjiang counties.
The ancestors of the Miao people lived in Hubei and Hunan provinces during the Zhou Dynasty. By the Qin and Han dynasties, the majority of the Miao people had already settled in the Wuling, Zangke, Yuesui, Ba and Nan areas, and a small number in the Liujiang River valley.
The Miao people believe in ancestor and nature worship, and that everything has a soul. They believe that their ancestors and spirits can help them avoid disasters and disease, and answer their wishes for children and wealth. |
|
