The pearl of Guizhou
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The diverse peoples have given Kaili, Guizhou province a strong ethnic ambience. |
From there, local villages are the best way to savor ethnic culture.
Nanhua village is roughly 20 minutes' drive from downtown Kaili and has enjoyed a history of more than 400 years. All residents are of Miao ethnicity and surnamed Pan.
The village is tucked away in a green forest, with towering trees and chirping birds. A gallery lies halfway up the mountain and can serve as a resting point. A moss-covered stone path down from the gallery leads to the Bala River.
Most of residential buildings in the village are diaojiaolou, suspended wooden houses featuring stone foundations and green-tiled roof. Some buildings have been a century long.
A pebble-paved lane connects every household.
Locals are hospitable and would serve wines to arriving guests. On major holidays, they would play a lusheng, a reed-pipe wind instrument and dance to greet visitors.
Girls will wear pleated skirts, with the longest being 0.8 meters long, and one-meter-long silver ornaments resembling ox horn.
Convenient transport has enabled relatively good tourism development in the village.
Wooden inns have been built along the river, and bonfire parties are often held to spice up the visitor experience.
