Xijiang Qianhu 1000 Homes Miao Village in Guizhou 中国西江千户苗寨

Saving the best for the last, we came to Xijiang Miao Village 西江苗寨 on the day before we flew back to Singapore after our 7-day Guizhou tour.

Actually, all the attractions along our 7-day route were unique and special in their own ways. I enjoyed everything, everywhere in Guizhou during the trip.

Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village is one of the top attractions of Guizhou. We were here in November. The best time to visit is during the Spring Festival as many traditional ethnic activities and cultural performances are planned.

This is the main entrance, cable car station and bus stop. The cable car station is shaped like a giant Miao women's silver head dress. The cable car has stopped operation, so tourists rely mainly on the shuttle bus to take them to key attractions in the Miao Village.

The buses were in good condition, clean, well kept, and bus frequency was quite high.

The lookout point area 观景台. All around here, there were food and drink stalls, restaurants cafes and bars as well as boutique hotels.

The fabled 1000 Home Miao Village view in the morning. For photography, there is some morning mist and it is back lit (not ideal).

About 1400 families and over 6000 people live in stilted wood houses 吊脚楼 in this picturesque hillside village. It's the largest Miao village in the world. The settlement is said to be 2000 years old and many buildings are a century old. The main occupations here are tourism related, with some working on the small terraces for crops for own consumption.

The village in the evening. Sunset is the best time to photograph the village as the hillside and homes are evenly lit up.

There are many restaurants offering Miao cuisine at the Miao Village.

We were treated to a traditional Miao welcome feast served on a long table 长桌宴 like the Peranakan style tok panjang.

Start the dinner with a welcome drink 😂 Miao people literally pile their guests with wine in the 高山流水 "high mountain, flowing water" toast. It's sweet rice wine served with wine cascading down tea pots into a bowl. When it was my turn, I felt I was going to drown in wine 😆

This ritual symbolises that the hospitality of the Miao people is as high as the mountains, and the friendship between them and their guests is as everlasting as waterfalls. Guizhou has many hills / mountains and waterfalls.

Another welcome ritual is to roll a red boiled egg on our cheek. Start with the left cheek, rolling the red egg clockwise and then the right cheek also clockwise. The rolling symbolises smoothness in all our endeavours and in attaining our wishes 凡事顺风.

Finally, breaking the red egg by knocking it on our forehead symbolises blooming flowers and prosperity.

Sour soup fish, the icon of Miao cuisine. The fish is cooked in a delicious tangy spicy soup made with fermented chili pepper and cherry tomatoes.

Enjoying a stroll at the Miao Village after dinner. Many dressed up in beautiful traditional Miao costumes.

Many bars, clubs, and restaurants, all beautifully dressed and lit up like pretty lanterns.

Evening is a favourite time to visit the nightspots around Xijiang.

Xijiang Qianhu 1000 Homes Miao Village on a moonless night. The numerous orange lights 万家灯火 looked like so many fireflies.

Took the shuttle bus back to the entrance / exit. The cable car station was beautiful at night.

Mine was just a short half day visit of the Miao Village - like a preview. I hope to have a chance to stay a few days in a homestay / boutique hotel here to have an in-depth appreciation of the Miao people, their history and culture, especially food culture.