Gao Zhai village

(Gao Zhai village is in Bai Jin township, Huishui county, Guizhou province, south-west China. The Miao villagers are known as 'Iron Beating Miao' although there is no obvious reason for that visible today.)

After a walk around Bai Jin township whilst lunch was cooking and then enjoying our lunch at a local restuarant, we drove on to Gao Zhai village which is part of the township. We were greeted by 4 little girls resplendent in their festival costumes who danced for us. They were then joined by three women and 4 men who played lusheng pipes and continued the dances. There was an attractive backdrop to the dances provided by mountains on the far side of the valley facing the village where the Miao villagers were harvesting rice in the fields. The houses of the village were set into more mountains which rose up sharply from the narrow valley. We had a small demonstration of embroidery - particularly couched outlines - and we were able to buy some textiles from the older women. It was a pleasant visit to a village which had been open to visitors for some years and we were graciously received by the head man and the other villagers.

all text & images © Pamela A Cross

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