7th 'Jiong Culture' Festival of Miao Ethnic Group Held

The 7th Fenghuang County "Jiong Culture" Festival of Miao Ethnic Group was recently held at Laoyapo, Guanshangping Village, Qiangongping Town, Fenghuang County. People from the Miao ethnic group from across the county, dressed in their traditional costumes, gathered to celebrate the festival with tourists.  

The event began with the "Ba Dai Xiong" of the Miao ethnic group, guiding participants to pray for blessings of harmony among the people, favorable weather, and a bumper harvest. Afterwards, over 50 performing troupes from across the county, dressed in their splendid attire, staged wonderful performances one after another. The folk programs feautred powerful dance dedicated to worshipping Chiyou, a majestic dragon dance, authentic folk dances, Miao martial arts performance, and melodious Miao songs. These performances were captivating and delighted the audience, showcasing the charm of rich ethnic culture to visitors from all around.

The Miao people regard Chiyou as their ancestor. The "Jiong" is also known as the "Chiyou Altar," which is typically set up on the highest peak near the village. The worship ceremony during the "Jiong Culture" Festival is a traditional ritual for Miao people in Fenghuang County to pay tribute to Chiyou. In 2023, the "Chiyou Altar and Chiyou Worship" ceremony, including related activities, was included in the provincial intangible cultural heritage list.

In recent years, Fenghuang County has been focusing on promoting ethnic unity and progress through activities. The county government has fully explored valuable ethnic cultural resources, encouraged and supported the inheritance, development, and innovation of ethnic cultures, and made efforts to promote the prosperity and development of various ethnic cultural undertakings.