Maria Michael

Early this November, a group of freinds of mine and I went to Guiyang for some research tour about local cultyre.

When we landed in Guiyang on 28th August, Thursday at 3.10 pm, I felt like I was in another world. We could see mountains and hills which enriched the beauty of the place. The air was fresh. The gentle breeze made us to enjoy cool Guiyang. Evening 6 o'clock there was a welcome dinner in which the city Mayor Lin Shusen joined and felicitated the moment.

Guiyang is the capital city of Guizhou province which is not much developed. It solely depends on the timber production, forestry and the famous local drink Moutai, rice wine. It is one of the provinces in which most minority ethnic nationality groups are present. 37 percentages of the people are from various ethnic nationalities like Yao, Miao, Yi, Qiang, Dong, Zhuang, Buyi, Bai, Tujia, Gelao and Shui. The rest are Han ethnic nationality people. Since Guiyang is in the top list of ten summer resort cities of China, the local Government takes steps to develop its tourism. The trip of China Radio International foreign reporters to Guiyang is one of the steps for tourism development.

Friday Morning 9 o'clock started with a press conference in which the state Information department director Huang Junxian informed us the plans to promote tourism in Guiyang. The representatives from China Daily, the Hong Kong Commerce Daily, Guizhou television and some local media too, participated in it at Guiyang Town Hall.

The high light of that day was the visit to Guizhou Miao Ethnic Cultural Museum. I could find out that many of the things found there were used by the ancient Tamil people too. Inspired to know more about it, I accepted the chance to have an interview with Ms. Janlly, who is taking up the ministry of his father Zeng Xian yang and administering the museum.

A well preserved scenic spot at Xiao Zhen was beyond description. The ancient tools like windmill, engine run by water to make incense were kept for remembrance. The beauty pond which has a story as the background of the name given, cave river are the most spectacular places. With full of trees and mountains, we could feel relaxed with the climate and fresh air.

A visit to Qing Yan village which has a memorial history for more than 600 years was interesting as we were impressed by the beautiful arrangement of Hutong. There is religious harmony among the people who live together with their faith in Christianity, Buddhism and Taoism. It had been also a place of military base earlier. 

Saturday main focus was on the Buyi ethnic nationality people in Kaiyang County. At first we visited Shili overlook from where we came to know how the people celebrated 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.  They had made the symbol of Olympic Games (Five Rings) by sowing xiaomai, the local wheat plant. Matou or Horse Head Village was the next area where we came to know their long history. Horse head people are the higher class people of Buyi ethnic nationality. Matou is one of the villages of horse head people. As we entered the village, a group of people were preparing a special banquet. When enquired, it was said to celebrate the sent off of a boy going to college. It revealed the importance they give for higher studies. We also visited the house of the patriot Zhang Xueliang who was surrounded by Mongolian army at the time of Ming dynasty. Thus we came to know the help of Red army which extended its help to him thrice to win over Mongolians.

Tremendous beauty of nature, greenery and the river full of water are the landmarks of Shuitou village. We were received with solemn traditional reception with rice wine. As the village people sung a traditional song, all the CRI foreign reporters were offered cups of locally made rice wine. Bamboo dance was the next item to show that they whole-heartedly received us. All of us tried to learn the simple steps of the dance that made us to feel at ease with them. There, we visited a house which has more than hundred years of history. The ancient class room structure and the tools made us to know more about their past life. Rice wine and tofu are produced by the village people.

The last stop for the day was Hefeng County, Ping village which has the area of sixty five mu (10.71 acre) is twenty kilometers away from Guiyang. Crossing a river by the hanging bridge which is the only way to enter the village was a tremendous experience. Fifty four families with Two hundred and six people who are calling themselves as Shugealing group of Buyi ethnic nationality are living in the village. Shugealing was the local hero, fought against the suppression of the particular group of ethnic nationality people. In his name, the people are called Shugealing group of Buyi ethnic nationality people. An interview with Sha Zhilun, the village Communist party secretary gave a clear picture of their marriage custom and the development of Ping village. Excited by their song with a catchy tune, we enjoyed with them dancing for some time. The people were kind enough to provide meal for us, of course with their traditional way offering rice wine during the dinner.

Sunday, the last day of our journey started at morning 8 o" clock.  The Wang Yang Ming memorial in Xiuwen County which is situated in the northern part of Guiyang was the first place of visit. Wang Yang Ming who was a high official during the Ming dynasty was exiled by the king, whom he criticized.  He walked all the way for two years and reached Xiuwen County which was under developed at that time. He lived in a cave where he reflected and created his own philosophy, New Confucianism emphasizing action.  His philosophy is very much prevalent in South Korea and Japan. He educated local people with his followers, who had joined in his school of thought. The memorial is the commemoration of the birth place of Wang Yang Ming philosophy, Chinese philosophy.

The next was the stop at Guizhou's only golf course which is backed with the beauty of mountains and a lake in the centre. Guizhou Golf club was started eleven years before. It is owned by private and has a leaping growth in a decade. Not only from China but also from abroad especially South Korea and Japan, players come here to play in this Golf course. After the lunch in the hotel there, I took the chance of interviewing Xiuwen County Communist Party Secretary, Shi Hong who explained the plans for the growth of tourism in his territory.  

It was drizzling at that time as we reached the Wild life Zoo that covers total area of five thousand mu (823.7 acre). It was started in 2006 with 1.6 million RMB. At present, only 3000 mu (494.2 acre) area is opened for the show. Next year the second phase covering all the area will be opened to the visitors. The elephant carnival was fantastic show that every one enjoyed. Their actions like dancing, walking in a beam, greeting the spectators with flowers, riding bicycle and playing football were marvelous. The white and ordinary tigers, Lion, bear, deer, monkey and peacock etc are in their respective places with the natural surroundings around. 

On the way back to Guiyang we stopped in a hotel which is famous for its fish hotpot preparation in the style of Miao ethnic nationality people. During ceremonial dinner, there came traditionally dressed Miao ethnic nationality men with special instrument made of bamboo and women with rice wine in a horn. The women poured it down to our throats with beautiful traditional song accompanied by music of the bamboo instrument.

When I returned the hotel where we stayed, I began to feel that the very next day I am going to miss all the beautiful sceneries, gentle breeze and the hospitality of the minority ethnic people. The very first day, all officials had an expression about the city as "cool Guiyang". I thought the caption was an advertisement of the local Government to promote Tourism. But "cool Guiyang" is not a word of publicity but reality.  I am going to leave Guiyang tomorrow, of course with intention of coming again and again.

Enjoy the pleasant stay in Guiyang, a city with all natural conditions of summer resort. An experienced word is thousand times powerful than an advertisement. I have experienced "cool Guiyang". What about you?