Qingman Short-skirt Miao Village in Kaili, Qiandongnan

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Qingman Short-Skirt Miao Village (青曼苗寨) is located in Mandong Village (曼洞村), Zhuxi Town (舟溪镇), Kaili City (凯里市), in Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture (黔东南苗族侗族自治州), Guizhou Province (贵州省), China. It is nestled in the middle section of the Changlinggang Mountain Range (长岭岗山脉), a natural “barrier” offering scenic beauty and a rich cultural heritage. The village, built along the mountainside, features stilted wooden houses, with overlapping layers, trapezoidal tiled roofs, and intricate eaves that create a spectacular and orderly view. The Qinglang River (情郎河) flows through the region and merges with the Danxai River (丹寨南皋河). The village is situated 25 kilometers from the city center, and it is accessible via Kaidan County Road (凯丹县道公路) and the Kaiyang Expressway (凯羊高速). The geographical coordinates are 107°88′31″ E, 26°45′21″ N, with an elevation ranging from 860 meters to 1274.5 meters.

The village governs four natural settlements and five administrative groups, with a total of 365 households and a population of 1618 people, primarily from the Miao (苗族) and Mulao (仫佬族) ethnic groups, with the Miao population comprising 96%. The area is renowned for its natural landscapes, ancient culture, and strong ethnic traditions, making it a typical “natural museum” of Miao culture and agricultural civilization.

The village was established during the Yongle Period (永乐年间) of the Ming Dynasty (明朝), with over 600 years of history. After Miao ancestors migrated to this area, they created their unique and elegant culture, shaped by their interactions with nature over generations. The Miao people in this village are known as “Short-Skirt Black Miao” (短裙黑苗), where women wear short skirts, and their hairstyle is distinctive in the form of an inverted “S,” similar to the hairstyles of women during the Tang Dynasty (唐朝).

Introduction

Qingman Short-Skirt Miao Village (青曼苗寨) has retained its ancient weaving, embroidery, and dyeing techniques, and the village’s Miao brocade weaving is listed as a national-level Intangible Cultural Heritage. The exquisite embroidery has earned Qingman the title of “Embroidery Town of the Miao People” (苗族刺绣之乡), and a Miao Embroidery Building (曼洞苗族刺绣楼) was funded by Japanese benefactor Mr. Jiuzu (韭琢).

The village hosts colorful ethnic festivals, such as the Spring Festival Lusheng Festival (春节芦笙会), the July New Food Festival (七月吃新节), the Climbing Festival (爬坡节), and the October Ancestral Worship Festival (十月祭尤节). The Spring Festival Lusheng Festival is the grandest, featuring activities like lusheng (reed pipe) music and dance, copper drum performances, Miao singing duets, and traditional animal fights like bullfights, cockfights, and bird fights.

In 2019, the village was recognized by the National Ethnic Affairs Commission as one of China’s “Ethnic Villages with Unique Features” (中国少数民族特色村寨).

Village Overview

Qingman Miao Village has more than 300 households, with over 1600 people, representing the typical Zhuxi-style Miao clothing (舟溪式苗族服饰). The village is built along the mountainside, with stilted wooden houses stacked one upon another, featuring trapezoidal tiled roofs and interwoven eaves, creating an orderly and spectacular scene.

Miao Handicrafts

The village continues to preserve ancient Miao handicrafts, including textile weaving, delicate embroidery, and traditional wax dyeing techniques. One of Qingman’s unique features is that visitors can randomly visit a Miao family and witness the entire process of making traditional Miao clothing, from growing cotton, spinning, weaving, dyeing, and sewing. The locally passed-down Cotton Song (棉花歌) narrates the entire process from selecting cotton seeds to sowing, harvesting, spinning, weaving, dyeing, and stitching. Every household in the village uses dye vats made from cedar wood (杉木板), where they soak fabric for about a month in indigo dye (蓝靛).

The friendly Miao villagers extend a warm welcome to visitors using traditional Miao ceremonies, offering “door-opening wine” (拦门酒) as a gesture of hospitality. The village also features a Cai Ge Tang (踩歌堂), where women, adorned with silver ornaments and traditional dress, dance around a copper drum to the rhythm of the drumbeats. The atmosphere is filled with joy, showcasing the ancient and elegant Miao customs and culture. After enjoying the dance performance, visitors can explore the village, sample delicious local dishes like Sour Soup Fish (酸汤鱼), Sour Soup Vegetables (酸汤菜), Grey Vegetables (灰菜), Blood Tofu (血豆腐), and savor the rich flavor of Miao Glutinous Rice Wine (苗家糯米酒).

Ethnic Festivals

The Miao people of Qingman retain their ancient festivals, with the most prominent ones being:

Spring Festival Lusheng Festival (春节芦笙会)

February Drum Festival (二月踩鼓节)

July New Food Festival (七月吃新节)

Ancestral Worship Festival (十月祭祖节)

These grand festivals feature colorful dances, performances with traditional ethnic instruments such as lusheng (芦笙), mangtong (芒筒), night flutes (夜箫), wooden leaf instruments (木叶), wooden drums (木鼓), and copper drums (铜鼓). Additionally, visitors can witness the traditional youth matchmaking rituals, where young men and women sing songs and exchange verses.

Travel Guide

Getting There

By Car: From Kaili City (凯里市), it takes about 40 minutes by car, or you can take a direct shuttle bus to the scenic area.

By Public Transport: Buses from Kaili City to Danxai (丹寨) pass through Qingman. Alternatively, you can take a motorized tricycle from Zhuxi Town (舟溪镇) for about 3 RMB per person.

Core Features

Cultural Heritage: Qingman was established during the Ming Dynasty (明代) and has preserved Miao weaving, embroidery, and dyeing crafts, with the Miao brocade technique listed as an Intangible Cultural Heritage. Its embroidery craftsmanship is recognized as the “Embroidery Town of the Miao People” (苗族刺绣之乡).

Natural Scenery: The village is built on the mountainside, where stilt houses blend beautifully with terraced fields and forests. In 2021, the village was rated as a National 3A Scenic Area (国家3A级景区), and in 2024, it was listed as a “Key Village for Rural Tourism in Guizhou” (贵州乡村旅游重点村).

Must-Do Experiences

Handicraft Experience

Try traditional Miao craftsmanship, including brocade weaving, wax dyeing, and paper making, to experience Miao culture firsthand.

Folk Activities

Participate in festivals such as the Spring Festival Lusheng Festival and the July New Food Festival, and enjoy the stunning “Beautiful Xijiang” (美丽西江) live performance, renowned for its drumbeats.

Local Cuisine

Savor Sour Soup Fish and the Miao King Fish dual dish, known for their spicy and fragrant flavors.

Suggested Itinerary

One-Day Tour (Ideal for Tight Schedules)

Morning: Visit the Miao Ethnology Museum to learn about the migration history and explore the old streets for silverware and wax dyeing crafts.

Afternoon: Take photos at the Wind and Rain Bridge (风雨桥) and the stilted wooden houses, and capture the scene of thousands of lights in the evening.