July 16-17, 2016 CHINA DAILY 18 TRAVEL Spotlight on Guizhou PROMOTING HERITAGE ZUNYI CITY A Red bastion gets a green makeover By XING YI and YANG JUN restaurant served more than 80 in Guiyang tables in a single day, earning reve- nue of around 30,000 yuan Zunyi City is a well-known tour- ($4,600). ist destination due its key role in Jinhua village is now referred to China’s revolutionary history, but as Qicai Buluo, meaning Colorful its picturesque countryside also Tribe, where each family — which has a lot to offer visitors. now provides food, a farmstay and During the Red Army’s Long sightseeing to tourists — paints its March, a pivotal meeting of the house in a different color. Communist Party of China was Seen from afar, the village looks held in the city in 1935, which like an opal lying on a green car- saved the army from being defeat- pet. ed by the Kuomintang. Two hours north of Zunyi city is Yet “red” is not the only color Fenghuang village, which is inside that dominates the region. a wetland eco-park. In the surrounding mountain- In the park, flowers bloom, birds ous region, you find endless green chirp, and wind blows over clear tea fields, wetlands and welcom- water. ing villages. The land used to be flooded, A 57-year-old tea farmer Xu according to 46-year-old Fang Xueliang lives in Jinhua village of Mingjun who used to plant rice Meitan county, a 90-minute drive there, but could barely feed his east from Zunyi. family. Villagers like Xu have grown tea But Fang says the situation has in the area for generations, and the improved since 2014, when an tradition of growing tea in Meitan environmental restoration project can be traced to the Tang Dynasty was launched by the local govern- Wu Chunxiu, a Miao silversmith from Shidong town, Taijiang. Her father Wu Shuigen is recognized as a national-level intangible cultural heritage inheritor. XING YI / CHINA DAILY (AD 618-907) in The Classic of Tea ment. written by Lu Yu, a well-known tea Trees were planted and a small scholar. dam was built to store water. More recently, the Central “Instead of planting rice, now I Experimental Tea Farm was built plant flowers,” says Fang. “And here in 1939. along with five neighbors we Tapping its cultural diversity “Planting tea is hard work but it opened a farmstay, which brings isn’t very profitable,” says Xu, in around 10,000 yuan a month.” whose family owns a 6,000 sq Changes in the villages of Feng- meter tea . huang and Jinhua are examples of A project launched in Guiyang, the capital “Silver accessories are very impor- Meanwhile, since last year, vil- green development taking place in tant in Miao culture,” says Wu. “The lagers have started focusing on Guizhou province in recent years. of the province, recently aims to bring local designs all mean something in Miao agri-tourism — combining tea Speaking of the development, Zunyi mythology.” farming with tourism. Liu Yuankun, vice-governor of cultures closer to city’s residents and visitors Wu started learning the art of mak- “I renovated my home and Guizhou province, told a news Guiyang ing silver jewelry when he was 8, and opened a restaurant and hostel conference during the Eco Forum now his daughter Wu Chunxiu, who last year,” says Xu, pointing to a Global Annual Conference last By XING YI and YANG JUN the coming months. Guizhou has also become a silversmith, teaches two-story house painted in bright weekend: “We take advantage of in Guiyang Wearing a traditional outfit and tourists how to make silver bracelets colors. our natural resources, which is our silver jewelry, Tian Feiyan is one of Guangxi and rings in the museum. “A double room costs 100 yuan biggest treasure. We are develop- uizhou province is rela- the more than 30 performers from “The skill used to be passed on ($15). It’s air-conditioned and we ing suitable and modern agricul- tively poor in terms of the Miao ethnic group in Taijiang Yunnan within the family only,” says Wu have Wi-Fi!” says Xu. tural methods for our GDP, but extremely rich county, some 200 km east of the pro- Chunxiu. During the Spring Festival, Xu’s mountainous landscape.” when it comes to cultural vincial capital of Guiyang, who pre- “But father wants more people to Gdiversity. Out of 56 ethnic groups in sented a dance last weekend. learn it so that the art isn’t lost.” China, 54 of them are found in the “We dance when there are festi- Long Tonghua, 54, from Laotun province. vals,” says Tian. “The most recent CHINA DAILY village in Taijiang does Miao Recently, a project was launched one is the Sisters Festival ... All the embroidery. at the Guizhou Cultural and Crea- girls go dancing in our village.” Long started learning traditional tive Park, 1 kilometer from the air- The festival is known as the “Miao long table, and people stand around embroidery from her mother at sev- port at Guiyang, the capital of the Valentine’s Day”, when young girls it chanting. en. Her skill was recognized as prov- province, to bring local cultures and boys dance together, eat special- “It (the ceremony) is called Gabai- ince-level intangible cultural closer to city’s residents and visi- ly prepared glutinous rice, and fu. It’s folk storytelling through sing- heritage in 2015. tors. make friends. It is celebrated mostly ing and chanting,” says 54-year-old With the help of an apprentice, Called the Weekend Gathering of in Taijiang county, and had been list- Zhang Benyun, “It comprises our Long gives a introductory lesson Intangible Cultural Heritage, orga- ed as national intangible cultural history and our prayers for harvest.” about the intricate designs to a group nizers invited local performers and heritage since 2006. Inside the park, there is a muse- of students visiting the museum. inheritors of intangible cultural her- Music is played, drums are um dedicated to the display of cul- “This is the first time I am teach- itage from the province to showcase banged, and silver accessories jin- tural heritage. ing in Mandarin,” says Long who their cultures in the park from June gle as Tian and her friends start to Sitting at different stands in the typically speaks in Miao with her to October. A different county will dance. museum hall are local artists and apprentices. be featured each weekend. Besides dancing, the villagers per- craftsmen. Among them is Wu Shui- “I am happy to spread the knowl- According to Jiang Guiwu, the form a traditional worship ceremo- gen, 50, a Miao silversmith from edge of Miao embroidery,” she says. president of the company that runs ny. Shidong town, Taijiang, who is the park, 20 counties in total will Preserved meat, chicken, rice and recognized as a national-level intan- Contact the writers at xingyi@ Villagers picking tea leaves on the hillside in Meitan county, Guizhou showcase their cultural heritage in a jar of Miao liquor are placed on a gible cultural heritage inheritor. chinadaily.com.cn province. XING YI / CHINA DAILY RELOCATION Moving away from the mountains to find prosperity in cities By XING YI and YANG JUN the nearest town. director of the Bozhou district sites like Bailong and Yangmeishan in Guiyang In Guizhou, nearly five million relocation office, says: “The apart- had been completed, but some people like Xiong currently live ments are designed so that in prin- 66,000 apartments are still under One of the largest relocation pro- below the poverty line, meaning ciple the total price does not construction, according to the Guiz- grams in modern China’s history is that one in seven residents lives on exceed the government subsidy hou government website. now underway — 1.3 million people an annual income of 2,300 yuan — for relocation.” Still, there are concerns regarding in the country’s most poverty-strick- or $1 a day. About 170 villagers from 15 how the villagers will adapt to their en province, Guizhou, will be moved Explaining the problem, Xu Min, remote mountain villages have so new surroundings given that the from mountainous areas to nearby an official with the Guizhou reloca- far moved into the Bailong commu- relocation means not just a change townships by 2020. tion office, says: “It’s hard for people nity, which in total is expected to of address, but a change in lifestyle “In front of my home is a cliff and living in the mountains to overcome house 1,500 people. — from being a farmer to becoming behind it is a mountain,” says Xiong poverty, because their income largely Giving a sense of their main a city dweller. Shiguo, standing in his new 3-bed- depends on agriculture — and that is needs, Chen Shujin, who were relo- In both the Bailong and Yang- room apartment, as describes his dependent on the weather.” cated to Yangmeishan community meishan communities, a nursery, a old home in Ganzishu village in the The relocation scheme is the gov- in Chishui city in northwest Guiz- school, and a hospital are all in the mountains, 120 km north of Gui- ernment’s way to alleviate poverty hou, says: “My first concern was a neighborhood. yang, the capital of Guizhou prov- for people living in remote moun- job. I used to plant rice before I Training on how to use electrical ince. tains. moved here.” home appliances is also provided by After a decade of double-digit “Relocation is the most economic Now Chen and his wife each earn the community office.