China News Service, Liuzhou, February 3: Chinese and foreign tourists jointly "check in" the charm of the thousand-year-old Dong village

　　Author Liu Juncong

　　February 3rd was the Lunar New Year in the South. In the Bazhai Scenic Area of ​​Chengyang, Sanjiang Dong Autonomous County, Liuzhou City, Guangxi, dozens of Dong people lined up in a long line, carrying glutinous rice, rice wine, and red wine on their shoulders, accompanied by bursts of deafening firecrackers. Pigs cross Gulouping and Fengyu Bridge to escort the well-dressed bride home.

The picture shows people carrying glutinous rice and wedding candies to send relatives off. Photo by Liu Juncong

　　As the Spring Festival approaches every year, this wedding tradition with Dong characteristics - "the bride returns home" is very eye-catching. Mr. Chen from Nanning, Guangxi, experienced carrying a red pig smeared with pig blood and labeled with the word "福", and he still had more to say: "I came here just to experience the authentic Dong New Year flavor."

　　On that day, Chengyang Bazhai, which has a history of thousands of years, was filled with lanterns. The Dong people's New Year flavor spread in the village, attracting many tourists from home and abroad. In front of the Yongji Wind and Rain Bridge, Dong men and women in gorgeous costumes sang road-blocking songs and offered road-blocking wine to tourists; in front of the warm fire pond, Dong people played musical instruments and sang songs; tourists who loved taking photos put on bright lights. Wear the gleaming Dong costumes and "check in" while walking around the Dong village.

　　Kong Anfa, an international student from Bosnia and Herzegovina who came to China last year, said after visiting with her companions that the “Dong-flavored” experience was refreshing for her. "I am slowly getting to know China. It turns out that China's Spring Festival culture is so diverse, and the traditional folk culture of the Dong people surprises and intrigues me," she said.

　　The special delicacies of the Dong family also make tourists salivate. Wu Niyan, the county-level representative inheritor of Sanjiang glutinous food culture, has rushed to make a large number of five-color glutinous rice and triangular rice dumplings, which are delicacies that Dong people love during New Years and festivals.

The picture shows Dong people dancing the "Duoye" dance. Photo by Liu Juncong

　　"Since the farmland is far away from home, the hunger-resistant glutinous rice has become a must-have for Dong people in their work. The five-color glutinous rice means good luck and good harvests. We believe that eating it can bring good luck throughout the year." Wu Niyan said.

　　Relying on the Dong people's custom of carrying out "Yue Ye" (that is, a group of villages visiting another village) during the New Year, on that day, the 2024 National Spring Festival "Village Gala" and "Spring Comes to Thousands of Households" mass cultural main venue activities were held in Chengyang Held in Bazhai. More than 1,200 people from 22 mass art teams from all over Guangxi participated in the performance at the main venue, including more than 1,000 villagers' mass art teams.

　　At the same time, a grand Dong family banquet was also taking place. Amidst the toasts of "yahoo", tourists from home and abroad gathered at a long table to taste glutinous rice cake, local chicken, and local pork in the diffuse atmosphere of fireworks, and feel the strong flavor of Dong New Year. (over)