My favourite exhibit in the Shanghai Museum has always been
the one on the top floor, of the Chinese
Minorities. Officially fifty-six distinct ethnic groups live in China – from
well-known groups such as the Tibetans, Mongols, and the Han (the dominant ethnic
group) to relatively unknown ones like the Miao (Hmong in South-East Asia) with
their exquisite silver jewellery.
Miao girls in traditional costume (China Holidays website)
The Shanghai Museum is (rightly) well-regarded, but of all
the permanent exhibits it is the Minorities which is the most colourful, the
most intriguing, the least expected as it is the least ’Chinese’. I was looking
at a display of Miao silver jewellery and
noticed that all the pieces came from Guizhou province– in particular the
region surrounding Kaili. The necklaces, earrings and hair ornaments were made
of the lightest, finest silver I’d ever seen. So for my next trip I decided to
visit Guizhou – out of curiosity, and to see if I could buy any jewellery for
myself.
My plan was to get out into the Miao villages as quickly as
possible, using the town of Kaili as a base. Kaili is a down-to-earth, slightly
rough around the edges sort of place, and the people are extremely friendly!
It’s definitely not weary of tourists, and has an authenticity lacking in more
visited parts of China.
(all remaining photos
by Elizabeth Watson) Above left, Kaili street scene. Above right, Chinese New
Year banners pasted on a doorway for luck.
I travelled by bus to Xijiang, the largest Miao village of
the region, where over a thousand wooden houses on stilts lie nestled in
between endless rice terraces. Very picturesque, Xijiang has in recent years
experienced a flux of tourists, and aspects of it are becoming commercial, for
example charging an entrance fee and building a new town square large enough to
give performances of traditional dance. When I went in 2006, only the old town square
existed, with a Miao ‘spirit pole’ in the middle.
However recent changes, at least compared to other Chinese
tourist sites which have been changed beyond recognition, have been kept to a
minimum, for example still using wood to build new hotels and bridges in the
traditional manner.
My guesthouse invited me to a welcome party, Miao-style,
where travellers were given copious amounts of rice wine and traditional food.
Tourists enjoy the
Miao hospitality
With a surprisingly clear head, I spent the next few days
exploring the paths traversing the hilly terraces above (the foothills of
Leigong Mountain). The air feels very fresh, especially if you’ve just arrived
from one of China’s many smog-ridden cities, and the views down into the
valleys spectacular, even through the mist. It’s peaceful and quiet, and the
only people you’re likely to meet are farmers and their buffaloes.
I spent some quieter evenings with the host family I was
staying with, and they showed me some of their traditional instruments and
chatted about their local history.
Above left – a Miao
lady plays the shusheng – a traditional folk instrument. Above right – a Miao
grandmother and grandson at home.
And I finally managed to buy some jewellery – two pairs of
earrings and a ring, all made of delicate white silver.
Getting there and away
China Holidays’ Minority Villages group tour visits not only Kaili
and Xijiang as introduced above, but also villages belonging to the Dong, Shui,
Zhuang, Yao, Gejia, Shiqiao and Bouyei minorities, each in a stunning rural location.
This tour is for 18 days. Prices are from £2195.00 including sojourns in
Guilin, Yangshuo and Shanghai. For details please download the China Holidays
2012 brochure at China
Holidays Brochure, or contact the sales team on 020 7487 2999
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