General Information
Guizhou Overview
The mountainous province of Guizhou has amazing natural beauty - lush mountains, mystical limestone caves and awesome waterfalls, the Zhijin Caves as well as the largest waterfall in Asia, the Huangguoshu Falls. This wealth of nature however belies the poverty of the province - Guizhou remains one of the poorest and most remote provinces in China. Guizhou is also known for its mild but wet weather.
Guizhou is also known for cultural diversity and there are more than 30 minority groups in the province. Because much of the province has not been heavily influenced by the effects of modernization and globalization, visitors have the unique opportunity to glimpse into a traditional lifestyle that has been lost in many of China’s larger cities.
History
Though Guizhou forms a province for only 500 years, its history could be dated back to over 2,000 year ago. Based on the archaeological discoveries, the major Paleolithic relics of southern China are almost found in Guizhou. In the Spring and Autumn Period (770 BC-476 BC), the ancient Zangke Kingdom ruled part of today’s Guizhou. In Qin dynasty after the empire unified China in 221 BC, Guizhou was divided into several parts under the control by the four prefectures of Ba, Shu, Qianzhong and Xiang.
The name of ‘Qian’ of the territory was used until Song dynasty that Guizhou as a province’s name first time appears in 974 when a local tribe chieftain claimed the allegiance to Song reign. In Ming dynasty in 1413, Guizhou province has established and the name is used till today.
Geography
Guizhou Province, also called ‘Qian’ or ‘Gui’ for short, is located at southwest China, adjoining Sichuan Province and Chongqing Municipality to the north, Yunnan Province to the west, Guangxi Province to the south and Hunan Province to the east.
Guizhou extends about 600 kilometers from east to west, and about 500 kilometers from north to south, with area of over 114,370 square meters, 89% of territory is mountainous, with 11% hills, basins, river valleys, and plains.
Climate
Guizhou has a subtropical humid monsoon climate. All seasons feel pretty much like spring. Its annual average temperature is roughly 10 to 20 °C, with January temperatures ranging from 1 to 10°C and July temperatures ranging from 17 to 28 °C.
The rainfall in Guizhou Province is plentiful with apparent rain season and the yearly relative humility above 70%.
Population & Minorities
Guizhou Province has over 39 million population, distributed across 49 ethnic groups that accounts 38% of the province's total population. Of these ethnic groups, the Bai, Buyi, Dong, Han, Hui, Miao, Molao, Shui, Tujia, and the Yi are the major minorities.
Main Festivals
Sister’s Festival
It is also called as Sister’s Meal Festival that held on the 15th day of either the second or third lunar month every year in different regions.
March 3rd Festival
On the 3rd day of the third lunar month every year, the Buyi people sing to each other on platforms and blow leaf whistles until the sun sets and the moon rises.
April 8th Festival
Celebrated by the Miao, Buyi, Dong, Zhuang, Yi, Tujia, Gelao, and other minor minorities in Guizhou, west Hunan, and north Guangxi in memory of an ancient dedicated Miao cacique who was buried on the 8th day of the fourth lunar month in Penshuichi area.
Tongxiang Lantern Festival
The Lantern Festival in Tongxiang, Jinping, features lanterns (including exquisitely made, almost lifelike dragon lanterns) and riddles.
Dragon Boat Festival
On the 24th day of the fifth lunar month every year, the Miao people hold dragon boat races starting from Shibingping Village, through Longtang and Rongshan, and ending in Shidong.
June 6th Festival
On the 6th day of the sixth lunar month every year, the Buyi people gather by the Huaxi River and sing and dance to express their gratitude in memory of a Buyi girl who is said to have created the beautiful landscape.
Chabai Song Festival
A traditional festival of the Buyi people in southwest Guizhou, held from the 21st to the 23rd day of the sixth lunar month every year in Chabai Village in west Guizhou.
Gu Festival
It is also called the Lagu Festival, the Gu Festival is a grand traditional festival of sacrifices. The festival usually occurs between late September and early November of the lunar calendar.
Torch Festival
From the 24th to the 26th day of lunar June, the Yi and Bai people from Lunan, Chuxiong, and Dali scatter torches, ignite fire gates, paint colorful faces, set off fireworks, and conduct bullfights.
Miao New Year
The grandest and most representative festival of the Leishan Miao people, who observe lunar October as the beginning of the New Year.
Dong New Year
Celebrated from late October to November in the lunar calendar. Before the festival, people clean their houses and slaughter livestock. During the festival, all the Dong people dress in their festive best and perform the Lusheng Dance and the Cangtang Song and Dance, and hold bullfights.