Zunyi Folk Festival Activities

Gelao Year (the third day of March in the lunar calendar)

The third day of March in the lunar calendar is the Spring Festival of the Gelao people. At that time, chickens, wine, meat, rice, etc. will be prepared to worship the mountain gods or the land, which is considered to be respectful. If you know these gods, you will be blessed with peace. After the offerings are used, they gather to eat on the mountain or in front of the village gate. The local Gelao people call it Chinese New Year.

Little knowledge: The Gelao people are the oldest indigenous ethnic group in Guizhou. They mostly live in this province and call themselves Guizhou “locals”. The population is about 50,000, scattered in southwestern Guizhou and northern Guizhou. The Gelao people have their own language, which belongs to the Sino-Tibetan language family. Many people can speak Chinese, Miao, Buyi, etc. But there is no text, and it is generally written in Chinese. The costumes are generally the same as those of the Han people and neighboring ethnic minorities.

Niuwang Festival (October 1st of the lunar calendar)

October 1st of the lunar calendar is the traditional festival of the Gelao people, the Niuwang Festival. Every day on this day, the local Gelao people kill chickens and prepare wine, light incense and candles, set off firecrackers, and worship the Cow King Bodhisattva in front of the cattle stable door, praying that it will keep the cattle healthy and free from disease and disaster. At the same time, the cows are also dressed in red and colorful, and glutinous rice cakes are made and hung on the horns to express birthday wishes for the cows.

Offering rice cakes (New Year’s Eve)

Using polished rice as an offering to ancestors. In the countryside, every New Year's Eve night, every family prepares rice and dishes for sacrifices. After having a meal together, the entire village will worship their ancestors in the middle of the hall, and also perform kowtows, songs, offerings and other rituals.

Guizhou Famous Wine Festival (July to August in the Gregorian calendar)

It is held in Zunyi City, Maotai Town of Renhuai City, Shizhangdong of Chishui City and other places. The activities mainly include visiting the Zunyi Wine Culture Museum, Moutai Distillery, Zunyi Conference Site, Chishui Shizhangdong Waterfall, etc. For alcoholics, the most attractive thing is that you can taste local famous wines.