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My Personal Picks: 13 Guizhou Festivals by Month
Let's check out some cool Guizhou Festivals! Think of it as a peek at fun local parties with music, bright colors, and old traditions.
| Solar Calendar | Festival | Time | Ethnics | Location | Activities |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | Sama Festival | Lunar Jan to Feb | Dong | Zhaoxing Dong Village | Colorful processions, long table banquets, Dong Grand Songs, Lusheng dances |
| Feb | Dragon Dance and Firework Festival | Lunar 5th to 17th day of the 1st month | Miao | Taijiang | Dragon dances, fireworks in bamboo tube |
| Mar | Zimei Festival | Lunar 15th to 18th day of the 3rd month | Miao | Shidong Miao Village | Make special sticky rice, Miao girls sing love songs, dress in Bainiao clothes |
| Apr | April 8th Festival | Lunar 8th day of the 4th month | Miao | Guiyang and Huangping | Play Lusheng music, sing Miao songs, lion dances |
| May | Village Super League | May to Oct | All | Rongjiang | Halftime shows: Dong Grand Songs & Miao costumes display |
| Jun | Chabai Song Festival | Lunar 21st to 23rd day of the 6th month | Buyi | Xingyi | Antiphonal singing, toss small embroidered pouches to each other |
| Jul | Taste of New Rice Festival | Lunar 7th day of the 7th month | Miao | Gaotang Miao Village | Gather newly ripened rice, family feast, catch fishes, make offerings, set off firecrackers |
| Aug | Torch Festival | Lunar 24th day of the 6th month | Yi | Weining | Torch processions, bonfire party dances, bullfights and wrestling matches |
| Sep | Gulong Lusheng Festival | Lunar 27th to 29th day of the 9th month | Miao | Gulong | Dress in traditional clothes and shiny silver jewelry, Lusheng dances, bullfights and horse races |
| Oct | Miao New Year | Lunar 5th to 15th day of the 10th month | Miao | Leishan | Lusheng dances, long table banquet, bronze drum dances, bullfights and horse races |
| Nov | Dong Grand Song Festival | Nov 28th | Dong | Zhaoxing, Rongjiang | Polyphonic singing |
| Dec | Dong New Year | Lunar 1st to 11th day of the 11th month | Dong | Liping, Congjiang, Rongjiang | Sacrifice to Sa Sui, Dong songs and opera, make youcha and ciba, long table banquet |
| All Year Round | Village T | Every Fri to Sun | All | Kaili Ethnic Customs Park | Villagers walk a fashion runway, showcase ethnic costume |
Note: Exact festival dates can differ locally. For the most up-to-date info, reach out to our Guizhou travel specialists at Asia Odyssey Travel!
Sama Festival: Dong Women's Day
Time: January or February
Location: Liping (Zhaoxing Dong Village)
To begin our exploration of Guizhou Festivals, picture yourself amidst the warm hospitality of the Dong people for the Sama Festival (萨玛节)! It's a special day for Dong women, honoring their heroine, Sama.
You'll see colorful processions (接萨游行), share delicious food at communal long table banquets (长桌宴), and hear enchanting Dong Grand Songs (侗族大歌) and lively Lusheng dances (芦笙舞).
How can you participate? Join the feast, learn some Dong phrases, and try the "Duoye" communal dance (多耶舞)! Visiting the sacred Sama ancestral hall (萨玛祠) offers deeper insight.
Dragon Dance and Firework Festival: Fire Fun!
Time: February
Location: Taijiang
Moving into February, prepare for an electrifying experience in Taijiang with the Dragon Dance and Firework Festival (舞龙嘘花节)!
Big, cool dragons move through the streets. But the coolest part is all the fireworks going off around them – it looks amazing and sounds exciting! What's it for? People think it scares away bad luck and brings good things for the new year.
Want to try? You can even buy a small firework in a bamboo tube and set it off yourself!
Zimei Festival: Miao Love Day
Time: March or April
Location: Shidong Miao Village
When spring comes (usually Mar or Apr), Shidong Miao Village has the Zimei Festival(姊妹节). It's like a fun way for young Miao women to meet people!
Miao girls make special sticky rice in five different colors and sing love songs to attract the young men. They dress in Bainiao clothes (百鸟衣), a traditional clothing, and wear beautiful silver jewelry.
How can you get involved? You can try the colorful sticky rice, admire their beautiful outfits, and watch the young people as they socialize and sing.
April 8th Festival: Honoring Heroes and Harvest
Time: April or May
Location: Guiyang and Huangping
Around April or May, we join the Miao people for the April 8th Festival (四月八节). This event honors a Miao hero – Yanu (亚努) and the vital role of oxen in agriculture.
You'll see lively music played on the Lusheng (a reed pipe instrument), traditional folk songs being sung, and even colorful lion dances.
What's the ox connection? They even have a special ceremony where they decorate and feed the oxen to thank them for their hard work.
Want to do something? You can learn a bit about how to make a Lusheng.
Village Super League: Football Fever with Folk Flair
Time: May through October
Location: Rongjiang
From May through October, immerse yourselves in the unique energy of the Village Super League (Cun Chao - 村超) in Rongjiang.
What's so special? This isn't just football; it's a vibrant community event with local pride. Cheer on village teams and enjoy halftime shows featuring Dong Grand Songs (侗族大歌) and Miao costumes.
How can you join in? Just find a spot in the crowd and cheer along with everyone else! No need to buy tickets—just book ahead and show up an hour early to secure your spot!
Guizhou Attractions 2025: What to Do in Guizhou China
Chabai Song Festival: A Buyi Celebration of Love
Time: June or July
Location: Xingyi
As summer approaches (usually June or July), you can journey to Xingyi for the Chabai Song Festival (查白歌节) of the Buyi people.
What's the story? This heartwarming event celebrates the legendary love story of Chaba and Baimai (查郎与白妹) through beautiful antiphonal singing. It's a melodic and touching experience.
How can you experience it? You might be invited to join in some of the simpler songs or try playing a traditional game where they toss small, embroidered pouches to each other as a way of showing affection.
The Taste of New Rice Festival: First Taste of Harvest
Time: July or August
Location: Gaotang Miao Village
In the heart of summer (usually July or August), let’s join the Miao people in villages like Gaotang for the Taste of New Rice Festival (吃新节).
What's being celebrated? This tradition marks the first rice harvest. Locals go to their fields to gather some of the newly ripened rice, then they'll cook it up and have a big feast together.
You can see them catching fishes, making offerings and setting off small firecrackers to add to the festive mood.
How can you get a taste? Maybe try catching fish in rice paddies. Contact us at Asia Odyssey Travel to arrange this for you!
Torch Festival: Fire Night!
Time: July or August
Location: Weining
As summer transitions to autumn, come to experience the heat and excitement of the Torch Festival (火把节) with the Yi people.
What's the purpose of the fire? This spectacular festival features torch processions and traditional bonfire party dances, all meant to ward off evil and celebrate the harvest. Sometimes you'll even see bullfights and wrestling matches!
How can you join in? Carry a torch and learn some Yi dance steps!
Gulong Lusheng Festival: Reed Pipe Party
Time: September or October
Location: Gulong
Around September or October, the town of Gulong comes alive for the Gulong Lusheng Festival (谷陇芦笙节)! It's the biggest gathering for Lusheng music in all of Guizhou.
What exactly is Lusheng? It’s a special kind of reed pipe instrument, and you'll see teams of people, sometimes dozens at a time, playing them together in incredible harmony.
The Miao people dress in their most beautiful traditional clothes, often adorned with lots of shiny silver jewelry that jingles as they dance.
Want to try? While playing might be tricky, you can definitely enjoy the amazing music and watch the synchronized dancing.
Miao New Year: Welcoming a New Beginning
Time: October or November
Location: Leishan (e.g. Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village)
As autumn deepens, we celebrate the Miao New Year (苗年) in areas like Leishan County. What does this signify? Unlike the regular New Year, this marks the beginning of the year according to the Miao calendar.
It's a huge celebration that can last for several days, filled with vibrant Lusheng dances (芦笙舞), big feasts where everyone shares food at long tables, and ceremonies to honor their ancestors.
You might even see traditional bronze drum dances (铜鼓舞) and exciting bullfights and horse races.
How can you experience this? Wear Miao clothing to the long table banquet (长桌宴)!
Dong Grand Song Festival: A Chorus of Cultural Heritage
Time: November 28th
Location: Zhaoxing and Rongjiang
In late autumn, prepare to be moved by the breathtaking harmonies of the Dong Grand Song Festival (侗族大歌节).
What makes this singing special? Enjoy the polyphonic singing of the Dong people. They have a unique style of singing together without a conductor, creating incredible layered melodies that are recognized as a UNESCO treasure.
How can you appreciate it? Just find a spot to sit and listen as the voices blend together in the traditional drum towers. And maybe learn a Dong folk song.
Dong New Year: Traditions and Togetherness
Time: November or December
Location: Liping, Congjiang, Rongjiang
As the year draws to a close, the Dong people in various villages get together to celebrate their Dong New Year (侗年).
What are the key traditions? This important celebration involves reverent "Sacrifice to Sa Sui (萨岁 - their protector god)" ceremony ****and preparing special foods like youcha (油茶) and ciba (糍粑 - sticky rice cakes). You'll also enjoy Dong songs and opera.
How can you be part of it? Share a meal with a Dong family and watch the ceremonies firsthand.
Village T (Ethnic Costume Fashion Show): Old Clothes, New Style!
Time: Throughout the year (19:00-21:30 on Friday, Saturday and Sunday)
Location: Kaili Ethnic Customs Park
Throughout the year, but especially on weekends, you can see something really unique in Kaili: the Village T (Ethnic Costume Fashion Show)!
What's the idea? Local people, like Yang Chunlin, blend traditional Miao embroidery and silverwork with modern designs. It's like seeing old traditions in a brand new way! You'll see villagers walking a makeshift runway, showing off these cool outfits.
From village runways, their fashion shows have made it big, traveling to cities worldwide like London, Vancouver, and Singapore!
Want to have fun? You can even rent these amazing traditional outfits and walk the runway yourself, experiencing the fun of being a "grassroots model"!
Find more things to do in Kaili here >>
Your Guide to a Guizhou Festival Journey
Let me take Gulong Lusheng Festival as an example and show you how to combine a festival with exploring this beautiful region.
Since Gulong is close to Kaili, right in the heart of Guizhou's Miao areas, we'll make this journey all about Southeast Guizhou. Besides soaking up the lively vibe of the Gulong Lusheng Festival, we can explore more Miao and Dong villages in places like Zhaoxing, Congjiang, and Rongjiang.
For your convenience, we'll start and end our trip in Guiyang, which is super easy to get to from other parts of China by train or plane.
After soaking in all the village culture, we can make a stop at Huangguoshu Waterfall (黄果树瀑布), Asia's biggest, before heading back to Guiyang for your departure.
Here's a sample one-week itinerary for Guizhou:
| Day | Where to Go | What to See | Where to Stay |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Guiyang to Kaili | / | Kaili |
| 2 | Kaili to Gulong | Matang Gejia Village, Gulong Lusheng Festival | Kaili |
| 3 | Kaili to Zhaoxing | Langde Miao Village, Zhaoxing Dong Village | Zhaoxing Dong Village |
| 4 | Zhaoxing to Rongjiang | Biasha Miao Village, Zhanli Dong Village | Rongjiang |
| 5 | Rongjiang to Huangguoshu | Dali Dong Village | Huangguoshu County |
| 6 | Huangguoshu to Guiyang | Huangguoshu Waterfall | Guiyang |
| 7 | Guiyang | Free Time Explore | / |
Unlock the Magic of Guizhou’s Festivals with Asia Odyssey Travel
It’s time to dive into the heart of Guizhou's incredible culture! Asia Odyssey Travel is your perfect partner!
With over a decade of travel experience, we are your trusted local operator, providing expert guides who truly understand Guizhou's ethnic traditions. We partner with the best local drivers, ensuring smooth travels, all while offering unbeatable prices.
Check out more Guizhou travel tips here:
✔ Best time to visit Guizhou: March to Mid-November
✔ Have no ideas about Guizhou itinerary? Here are 9 trip plan ideas.
✔ Do remember to savor Guizhou food!
Let us craft your old and new Guizhou Festival adventure!
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