Bouyei traditions take center stage in Wudang celebration

The Bouyei community's "Liuyueliu" Ethnic Culture Festival was held in Pianpo Bouyei ethnic township, Wudang district, Guiyang. It included a range of cultural events, such as traditional performances, folk song duets, bonfire gatherings, roadside concerts, and entertaining rice paddy fish-catching competitions.

The Bouyei people in Pianpo Bouyei ethnic township set up a "gate blocking" ceremony at the gate to welcome distinguished guests. [Photo/Guiyang Daily]

As one of the most important traditional festivals of the Bouyei ethnic group, "Liuyueliu" has its roots in agricultural practices.

For over 20 years, Pianpo has hosted this festival. Traditionally, we make zongzi (sticky rice dumplings), visit relatives, and worship ancestors, praying for good harvests and health," said Chen Xingqiao, fourth-generation inheritor of the Bouyei Sisters' Flute tradition. "It's also a time when young people gather to sing love songs and find their partners. 

Pianpo is recognized as one of China's first "Ethnic Minority Characteristic Villages" and a "Beautiful Leisure Village". It displays rich ethnic traditions and pristine landscapes. The township has developed a rural tourism industry, offering homestays, summer escapes, and ethnic cultural goods. In 2024, it welcomed 161,000 visitors, earning 18.4 million yuan ($2.6 million) in tourism revenue.