Qiannan Culture

People in Qiannan prefecture are plain, hardworking, kind-hearted and hospitable. Each ethnic group with their own intelligence and wisdom created a better home at the same time to create a colorful ethnic culture, forming a unique customs. Festivals and entertainment activities with profound cultural heritage, as well as beautiful folk handicrafts and residential buildings, have become a unique tourism resource in Qiannan. 

Ethnic Groups

By the end of 2017, There were permanent resident population of 3.2809 million and registered population of 4.1989 million in Qiannan. Qiannan Buyi and Miao autonomous prefecture is home to 42 ethnic minorities including Han, Bouyei, Miao, Shui, Maonan, YaoZhuangDong and Gelao, which account for 59.05% of the whole population. Buyi people are distributed in all counties and cities of the prefecture, living in Hongshui River basin as well as the upstream of Duliu River and Qingshui River; Miao people are mainly distributed in Huishui county, Duyun city, Sandu county, Fuquan city, Guiding county, Longli county, etc; Shui people mainly inhabit in Sandu Shui autonomous county, Libo county, Duyun city and Dushan county; Maonan people mainly live in Pingtang county, Dushan county and Huishui county; And Yao people are mainly distributed in Yaoshan Yao Ethnic township and Maolan town of Libo county

Ethnic Townships

There is only one autonomous county(Sandu Shui Autonomous County(三都水族自治县)) and 4 ethnic townships in Qiannan. 

  • Guilan Shui Ethnic Township(归兰水族乡) in Duyun City
  • Yaoshan Yao Ethnic Township(瑶山瑶族乡) in Libo County
  • Limingguan Shui Ethnic Township(黎明关水族乡) in Libo County
  • Kapu Maonan Ethnic Township(卡蒲毛南族乡) in Pingtang County

China Traditional Villages in Qiannan

There are many traditional villages and minority villages in Qiannan. Here below are just some of them.

  • Raohe Village in Luobang Community of Yundong Town, Duyun Economic Development Zone, Qiannan Prefecture黔南布依族苗族自治州都匀经济开发区匀东镇洛邦社区绕河村
  • Xinchang Village in Wangsi Community of Yundong Town, Duyun Economic Development Zone, Qiannan Prefecture黔南布依族苗族自治州都匀经济开发区匀东镇王司社区新场村
  • Taiji Village in Yongkang Shui Ethnic Township of Libo County, Qiannan Prefecture黔南布依族苗族自治州荔波县永康水族乡太吉村
  • Yaogu Village in Yongkang Shui Ethnic Township of Libo County, Qiannan Prefecture黔南布依族苗族自治州荔波县永康民族乡尧古村
  • Lekang Village in Pingzhou Town of Pingtang County, Qiannan Prefecture黔南布依族苗族自治州平塘县平舟镇乐康村
  • Daniao Village in Xinjian Village of Tangbian Town, Pingtang County, Qiannan Prefecture黔南布依族苗族自治州平塘县塘边镇新建村打鸟组
  • Ruimo Village in Dahe Town of Sandu County, Qiannan Prefecture黔南布依族苗族自治州三都水族自治县大河镇蕊抹村
  • Bainiao Village in Dujiang Town of Sandu County, Qiannan Prefecture黔南布依族苗族自治州三都水族自治县都江镇摆鸟村
  • Paiguai Village in Dujiang Town of Sandu County, Qiannan Prefecture黔南布依族苗族自治州三都水族自治县都江镇排怪村
  • Paiwai Village in Dujiang Town of Sandu County, Qiannan Prefecture黔南布依族苗族自治州三都水族自治县都江镇排外村

Inheritors of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Qiannan

Order Number Name Gender Date of Birth Project Name Declaration Place Classification
03-1472 Ou Haijin(欧海金) Male 1943.07 Shui Script(水书习俗) Qiannan Prefecture in Guizhou Folk Custom
03-1473 Pan Laoping(潘老平) Male 1937.07 Shui Script(水书习俗) Qiannan Prefecture in Guizhou Folk Custom
04-1774 Song Shuixian(宋水仙) Female 1966.06.06 Horsetail Embroidery of Shui Minority(水族马尾绣) Qiannan Prefecture in Guizhou Traditional Fine Art
04-1775 Wei Taohua(韦桃花) Female 1964.05 Horsetail Embroidery of Shui Minority(水族马尾绣) Qiannan Prefecture in Guizhou Traditional Fine Art
04-1880 Yang Guangcheng(杨光成) Male 1953.05 Maple Dyeing Technology(枫香印染技艺) Huishui County in Qiannan Prefecture Traditional Skill

Local Cultures and Customs

  • Ethnic Festivals: Main ethnic festivals include “San Yue San”, “Liu Yue Liu” and “Gengjian Festival(更建节)” of Bouyei; “Si Yue Ba”, “First Harvest of the Year” and Miao’s New Year of Miao; Duan Festival, Mao Festival and Jingxia Festival(敬霞节) of Shui; The Torch Festival of Maonan; Panwang Festival of Yao, etc. 
  • Ethnic Crafts: Well-known ethnic crafts in Qiannan include batik and embroidery of Miao, brocade of Dong, Bamboo weaving and paper cutting, etc. 
  • Ethnic Dance: The folk dances include the simple and lively Chongdui dance of Buyi(布依族舂碓舞), the vigorous and powerful, the bold and unrestrained "Duoyue Dance(跺月亮)" of Miao, and the elegant bronze-drum dance of Shui. These dances have a strong flavor of life, and are the wonders in the flower gardens of Chinese ethnic culture. 
  • Traditional Sports Activities: As an important part of ethnic culture, the traditional sports activities of ethnic minorities have a closely connection with ethnic customs, is closely related to the history, production and living environment of all ethnic groups, and is full of strong interest in life and local flavor. Main sport activities include rowing dragon boat and martial art of Bouyei, Tiao Hua Chang(跳花场) of Miao, horse racing of Shui, playing monkey drum of Maonan, beating spinning top of Yao and so on. 
  • Ethnic Architecture: Ethnic architecture occupies a place in the history of Chinese architecture. The stilted Diaojiao buildings built by Miao, Dong, Shui, Yao and She ethnic groups, the official courtyard manor(衙院庄园) of Tujia ethnic group, as well as the drum tower and flower bridge of Dong ethnic group all have distinct ethnic characteristics and artistic values.
History of Qiannan

History of Qiannan

From the Shang Dynasty (16th – 11th century BC) to the Zhou Dynasty (11th century BC-221BC), several kingdoms established by local ethnic groups shared the prefecture. During the Qing...

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