Where can I experience authentic Hmong life? If you ask this question, I think the first answer that many people think of is the Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village Scenic Spot located in Leishan County, Southeast Guizhou. Yes, Qianhu Miao Village, as an area that preserves the "primitive ecology" culture of the Miao people, has welcomed tourists from all over the world in recent years. There is not only authentic Miao-style life here, but also the largest Miao village in the world. These buildings are stacked on top of each other and look very imposing. Today I will take everyone into the Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village to see what to see and how to play here.
First of all, let me introduce the traffic situation. In terms of transportation, you can choose high-speed rail and planes. If it is a high-speed rail, it will arrive at Kaili Station. As for the plane, you can choose to arrive at Guiyang Airport or Kaili Huangping Airport. Of course, Kaili Airport is close to the scenic spot, but there are few flights, and it is far away to Guiyang. But you can transfer to the high-speed train to Kaili Station after arriving in Guiyang. So in summary, I personally recommend the big traffic part, you have to find ways to get to Kaili. After arriving in Kaili, it is only 40 kilometers away from the scenic spot. You can also take a bus or rent a car, which is more convenient and casual!
When we arrive at Qianhu Miao Village, what should we do to have the best experience? I have a few tips here!
1. Experience the wine culture It is no exaggeration to say that it would be a pity if you do not experience the wine culture when you arrive in Miao Village. You can be overwhelmed or allergic to alcohol, but you must not refuse to try it. You can explain your situation and then try it. Because in Miao Village, wine represents all kinds of feelings. The highest understanding of Miao Village is also expressed through wine. So in Miao Village, you must not miss the experience of wine culture.
First enter the Qianhu Miao Village Scenic Area, and you will encounter Barrier Wine. There are a total of 12 door-blocking wines, and there are many sayings. This is the grand etiquette for the sons and daughters of the Miao family to welcome distinguished guests from afar. Start with the first course: congratulations wine. The following are: kindness wine, hardworking wine, brave wine, smart wine, beautiful wine, sensible wine, honest wine, magnanimous wine, longevity wine, rich wine, and finally happy wine. These 12 bowls of wine are 12 blessings from Miao girls to you, and this is also the first time all tourists have full contact with wine culture after coming to Miao Village.
Immediately after the meal, the Miao people are happy without wine. At the dinner table, they have to prepare big meat for the guests, but no matter how good the meat is, it can't compare with fine wine. What they value more is to infect tourists with alcohol. The highest etiquette of the Miao family in hospitality is "high mountains and flowing water". What is meant by "high mountains and flowing water"? In fact, it is to use the method of superimposition, with several toasting girls standing on one side, each of them is taller than the other, overlapping layers. Using the principle of gravity, let the wine flow down, and finally reach the bowl where the guests drink. The Miao family stipulates that the singing will not stop and the wine will not stop, the more wine, the stronger the friendship! It is said that Guizhou people have a good capacity for alcohol, just look at the high mountains and flowing water. Generally, it is difficult for outsiders to drink with an open stomach. But what if you can’t drink it? There is also a little trick here, if your alcohol capacity is not good enough, you can't drink anymore, you must not block or touch the bowl with your hand, because once you do this, you will really drink it all in one gulp. You can tell the girls who are toasting to show mercy by raising your hand!
Finally, I would like to give you a kind reminder. The quality of wine in Miao Village is very good, and it is basically brewed from grain. So even if you drink more, you won't feel a headache when you wake up the next day. Of course, although the wine is good, try not to be greedy!
2. If you want to talk about the characteristics of the food culture of the Miao family in the long table banquet, in addition to "high mountains and flowing water", then you have to talk about the long table banquet. The scale of the real long table dinner is particularly large, but the frequency is not too much. For example, long-table banquets are used for weddings, full-moon wine, etc., and the largest long-table banquets are of course during the Miao New Year. But for tourists, it may not be possible to catch up with the correct time. then what should we do? In fact, in the Qianhu Miao Village Scenic Area, many restaurants also provide long table banquets for tourists. One is to taste authentic Miao dishes, and the other is to let you experience the charm of long table banquets. Of course, these long table banquets are all miniature versions, just imitating the experience.
This time our group experienced it in a restaurant called "Chuhe". When it comes to scale, compared to Miao Nian's long table banquet, this one is extremely small. But although the scale is small, the five internal organs must be complete. In fact, the biggest highlight of experiencing a long table banquet is to have a sense of ceremony.
When it comes to the sense of ritual, what is indispensable at the long table banquet is the toast "high mountains and flowing water" we mentioned earlier. This is an absolute part of the long table banquet. But in addition to "high mountains and flowing water", there is another link that is quite innovative. That is "good fortune". This blessing is carried out by means of an egg painted in purple. Diners break the eggs with their foreheads, leaving red marks on their heads. Do not wash them that day, and let this "good luck" accompany you all day. This implication is to wish the diners "good luck and everything goes well" in the coming days. Although the form is a bit far-fetched, but as a classic of local customs, tourists are also very cooperative and willing to accept this special blessing of going to the country to do as the Romans do!
Many dishes on the long table banquet are linked to the unique culture of the Miao nationality. For example, the dish in the picture below is called "drum Tibetan meat". Its origin is related to the Miao traditional festival "Guzang Festival". The Guzang Festival is a grand ceremony for the Miao people to worship their ancestors. It is said that it is held only once in thirteen years, and it is very grand. Guzang meat is mainly black pork breast pork belly or big fat meat, which is two feet wide and two liang in weight. It is boiled in white water without salt or pepper. When diners eat, they are accompanied by condiments such as chili peppers. Of course, when our guests eat this dish, it is best to eat more and talk less. After eating and drinking, we can’t just say it directly. We must speak Miaojiagu Tibetan: when we are full, we should say "the warehouse is full", and we can’t drink. It is auspicious to say "the water is rising" and so on. Then celebrate the Guzang Festival! There is a saying in the Miao family: "When the Guzang Festival is held every thirteen years, you have to eat a lump of meat and a bowl of wine."
3. Taste the charm of Miao Village architecture. In addition to the authentic Miao feelings, the most important reason for attracting tourists to Qianhu Miao Village is that the architectural style here is very special. Whether you look closely or look at it from a distance, they all have different charms. And it is especially suitable for photography enthusiasts, who can easily produce blockbuster movies.
Generally speaking, the best place to shoot big scenes in Qianhu Miao Village is on the viewing platform. The best shooting time is morning and evening. The morning is probably between 7 and 8 o'clock, because in Qianhu Miao Village in winter, the sunrise is usually at 7:30. But the time of sunrise does not mean that there is enough light, so the general shooting time in the early morning is around 7:30 to 8:00. In the evening, it is about half an hour before and after the sun goes down. If you are shooting the lights of Miao Village, then it is also possible to go after dark.
Then it's the details. Many buildings in the Miao Village are made of wood and have unique shapes. In addition, Miao people in traditional costumes can be seen everywhere on the street, these are very good shooting materials. You can even change your clothes yourself to experience the Miao style, which is also beautiful.
Having said these three points, what do you think of Qianhu Miao Village in Xijiang? As the largest and best place to experience Miao culture, Qianhu Miao Village is also inspired to bring the most traditional and authentic Miao culture to all tourists. Coupled with the convenient transportation now, Qianhu Miao Village has become an important scenic spot resource in Southeast Guizhou. To visit the Miao Village and taste the taste of Miao, go to Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village!
(The pictures and texts are all original by Lao Huang Take You to Travel, without permission, no embezzlement is allowed)