Drum Towers of the Ethnic Dong Gruop

The ethnic population of the Dong people is about 2.5 milion.They live in the border area of Guizhou and Hunan provinces and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in southwestern China and north Hubei Province in central China.Drum towers are found wherever the Dong live.Indeed,the towers are the most distinguishing symbol of their culture,which is why experts have chosen to call the ethnic Dong cultule the ＂drum tower culture.＂     

Ethnic Dong Drum Towers as a Cultural Sign

The ethnic Dong culture is often referred to as the ＂drum tower culture.＂ And no wonder. These structures are more than just architectural works. All elements of the ethnic Dong culture are represented in them, ranging from the past historical events, religious belief, folk customs, festivals, social relationships, etc. We believe that the essence of the ethnic Dong culture can be discerned through the study of their drum towers.     

侗族大歌（英文）

<正>The Grand Song of the Dong,also called Kam Grand Choir,can be dated back to as early as the Spring and Autumn Period,more than 2,500 years ago.Reserved for important occasions like major festivals,social gatherings,or a welcome reception for honored guests,the choir will usually perform in the Dong drum-tower,which is the landmark of a Dong village.Solo leaders and multiple voices sing in harmony according to     

Festival to Exalt Fire

THE Torch Festival, also known as an Oriental Carnival, is an age-old custom among ethnic minorities such as the Yi, Bai, Achang and Lahu that live in southwest China. The celebration is held at different times by different ethnic groups, but generally takes place on the 24th day of the sixth lunar month and lasts for three consecutive days.     

Wuzhou:Lingnan's Most Memorable City

正THE ancient city of Wuzhou is regarded as the cradle of two provinces.Emperor Taizong(993-997)of the Song Dynasty(960-1279)demarcated the area to the east of Wuzhou as Guangdong,and the western area as Guangxi.Today the city is known for its elegant natural scenery and industry as well as its antique culture.It has been recognized as a National Forest City,a world capital of artificial gemstones and a national model for recycling and green energy.Liang Yusheng,a famous Kung Fu novelist,set one of his stories among the spectacular natural wonders of Wuzhou.Wuzhou is a city built around rivers,and waterways are at the heart of city life.The Xunjiang and the Guijiang     

SOCIETY

<正>Getting a Head Start A Miao woman gets ready to take part in the Sisters’Festival in Taijiang,a county in Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture in southwest China’s Guizhou Province,on April 10.The ethnic festival,regarded as the Miao ethnic group’s Valentine’s Day,is held annually around the 15th day of the third lunar month.     

The Most Competitive Traditional Chinese Ethnic Sports Event

Origin
The sort of catching firework is believed to date back to some 500 years among the people of Zhuang,Dong and Gelao ethnic groups.The race is usually held on the third day of the third month in the Chinese calendar, during the Firework Festival.     

SOCIETY

正Delicious Festival Women of the Dong ethnic group prepare a special treat for the Bamboo Rice Festival as part of celebration activities in Wugong Village,Rongjiang County,southwest China’s Guizhou Province,on May 3.     

Snuff bottles

Snuff bottles first appeared in China in the Ming dynasty (1368-1644) and, as their name suggests, were originally indeed used as a container for snuff tobacco, first of all by the Manchu, Mongols and Tibetans. The reason for their popularity at that time is to be found in the customs of those ethnic minorities: because those ethnic groups mainly led a nomadic life that entailed frequent use of hay or firewood. Using snuff bottles     

Where did the Daur come from？

The name Khitan refers both to the name of a kingdom in Chinese history and also to an ethnic group. After the Ming Dynasty （1368-1644） the name Khitan was replaced by Daur. The great kingdom of Khitan, or Liao, was founded in 907 AD, when Yelu Abaoji was elected as head of all the tribes and ruled as Khan, or Emperor. From that time on, the Khitan people reigned across northern China, northern and central Asia for 307 years, co-existing with three other kingdoms, the Western Xia, Southern Song and Jin.     

Decorative Silverwork on Mongolian Knives

<正>In terms of craftsmanship and design of silver ornaments,silverwork in China reached maturity in the Ming Dynasty.The flourishing of the industry was due in large measure to the transfer of the Ming capital from Nanjing in the south to Beijing in the north,the move providing an opportunity for craftsmen from around China to exchange skills and give full rein to their talents.Furthermore,the wearing of silver ornaments became an important factor in everyday life,serving aesthetic and practical functions,and also as a reflection of the different beliefs of China's various ethnic groups.     

Back in Time：Visit to a Dong Village

FIOR hundreds of years the Dong ethnic group has nestled on the Hunan-GuizhouGuangxi borders in southern China. With a population of around 2.9 million, it is a relatively largeminority but has shared territory in these mountainous regions withthe Han, Miao, Zhuang, Yao, Shui and Tujia ethnic groups.     

REINFORCING THE RESULTS

After poverty alleviation, rural areas focus on new development goals while consolidating previous outcomes Shi Liping is famous for her clever hands. From her mother and grandmother, the 55-yearold inherited the skills of Miao embroidery, the traditional art of the Miao ethnic community known for its rich colors and delicate designs, and listed as an intangible national heritage.     

Mysterious Qiandongnan

Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture is famous for its breathtaking scenery and fascinating ethnicminority cultures. Its pleasant weather and scenic landscapes make the area an ideal summer resort. The 200 or more festivals all year round,among them the Miao Sister’s Day,the Dong Wrestling Day and the Yao people’s Panwang (a mythical creature) Festival,have made Qiandongnan known as the land of a hundred festivals.     

Performing a Legacy

Every month, Su Zhiyin sets aside four or five days for her favorite hobby— singing nanyin. As a resident of Jinjiang, southeast China's Fujian Province, the 60-year-old retired business woman has been practicing the art for over two decades. Nanyin is a musical performing art that originated during the Han Dynasty (206 B.C.-A.D. 220) and is central to the culture of the people living in the southern part of Fujian, as well as residents on China's southeastern coast and overseas Chinese of south Fujian origin.     

Picturesque Scenery in Mysterious Guangxi

GUANGXI Zhuang Au-tonomous Region onChina's southern bor-der covers an area of236,700 sq km. Twelveethnic groups, including Han, Zhuang,Yao and Dong people, have lived therefor generations.Guangxi offers four tour programs:sightseeing tours along the stunningmountain and river scenery in GuilinCity; subtropical coastal tours alongBeihai City's Silver Beach; the mys-terious Sino-Vietnamese border tours;and local ethnic minority folkloretours.Main AttractionsGuangxi's is famous for its…     

Bold Shanghai- Nostalgia and New Beginnings

SHANGHAI is the symbol of China＇s modem prosperity and opening to the outside world, though its outward reach dates back as early as 1,000 years ago when this city at the estuary of the Yangtze River in East China opened its port to Japan and Korea. By the Ming Dynasty （1368- 1644） it had become famous for its prosperous commerce zone and dense urban population.     

Discover the Han Heritage in Xuzhou

THERE is a Chinese saying about the ancient city of Xuzhou： ＂Beijing is famous for its Ming and Qing cultures, Xi＇an is famous for its Qin and Tang cultures, while Xuzhou is famous for its Han culture.＂ With a rich and varied history, visitors to Xuzhou will discover a priceless assortment of Han Dynasty pottery warriors and horses, tombs and stone reliefs, and will hear riveting tales of the many historical figures who made the city famous. Among them was Pengzu （circa 2,000 B,C,）, who is widely considered to be the founder of Chinese culinary culture, and who lived in what was then known as Pengcheng.     

Gender Bending——Social Trends You Can Wear

PASSING for a member of the opposite sex is a tirelessly amusing trick celebrated in several art forms over many centuries and in many cultures. In 1998,Walt Disney Pictures made the animated film named Mulan based on a story from the Sui Dynasty(581-618) about a Chinese legendary heroine Hua Mulan.Mulan impersonated a man and took the place of her ill father in the ranks of the army fighting invaders from the north.For her bravery in assuming a male role,and the sacrifice she made for her father,Mulan has been honored in history.There are many such female heroines in Chinese history,fictitious and real,such as Fan Lihua of the Tang Dynasty(618-907) and Qin Liangyu of the Ming Dynasty(1368-1644) whose legends celebrate female ferocity and their awakening to inner strength and power.     

Beijing Museum of Stone Carvings

ZHENJUE Temple, near Baishiqiao inBeijing's Haidian District, is famousfor stone carvings engraved on theexterior of its Buddha Pedestal. It hasbeen chosen as the site for the BeijingMuseum of Stone Carvings.Zhenjue Temple, also known as Wuta (FivePagodas) Temple, was built during the reign ofEmperor Yongle (1403-1425) of the Ming Dynasty,and suffered damage during the late Qing Dynasty.In 1937, an enclosing wall was built to protect itsancient pagodas.Stone carvings are currently …