China’s ethnic festival dazzles with feathered spectacle

The vibrant “hundred-bird dress” festival took place on Tuesday in Gandong Township, Rongshui Miao Autonomous County, part of Liuzhou City in China’s southern Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The event celebrated the Lunar New Year and showcased the rich cultural heritage of the Miao ethnic minority.

During the festival, participants from various ethnic groups donned elaborate traditional costumes. Women wore intricately embroidered Miao outfits decorated with silver headdresses, while men performed on the lusheng, a traditional reed-pipe wind instrument. The celebrations included singing, dancing, and colorful processions, creating a lively display of folk artistry.

The centerpiece of the festival is the hundred-bird dress, a garment traditionally crafted from bird feathers and detailed embroidery. Locally, it symbolizes good fortune, happiness, prosperity, and harmony with nature. The dress is an important cultural icon, reflecting centuries of Miao folklore and craftsmanship.

Officials highlighted that the festival not only preserves intangible cultural heritage but also supports local tourism and rural economies. Visitors, both domestic and international, are drawn to the region to witness performances of lusheng music, traditional dances, and the striking display of colorful costumes.

For nine exciting days, China was not just celebrating it was spending like never before. The country’s biggest holiday, the Spring Festival, created a wave of travel, shopping, dining, and entertainment that pumped billions into the economy and filled the streets with energy and joy.

The Spring Festival, also known as Chinese New Year, is the most important holiday in China. It is a time when families reunite, homes are decorated with red lanterns, and people exchange gifts and good wishes for the year ahead. But this year, the celebration brought something extra a powerful surge in consumer spending.

Millions of people packed train stations, airports, and bus terminals as they traveled back to their hometowns. For many families, it was the first chance in a long time to gather without worries. The rush of travelers created one of the busiest travel seasons in recent years. Tickets sold out quickly, and transportation services ran at full capacity. But travel was only part of the story.

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