Xijiang Thousand Households Miao Village

西江千户苗寨

Views

Synopsis

Xijiang Thousand-Household Miao Village is located in Leishan County, Qiandongnan, Guizhou. It is the largest Miao ethnic settlement in China and even the world, with over 1,468 households and more than 6,000 residents. Stilted houses are built layer upon layer along the mountainside, while the Baishui River flows through the village. The night view resembles a galaxy on earth. Fifteen national-level intangible cultural heritages, such as Miao silver ornaments, Miao embroidery, and Lusheng dance, are preserved here. It is acclaimed as the most beautiful Miao village and an open-air museum in China.

Overview

Xijiang Thousand Household Miao Village is located in Leishan County, Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, Guizhou Province, nestled at the foot of Leigong Mountain and on the banks of the Baishui River. The entire village comprises 1,468 households with over 6,000 residents, of whom 99.5% of the original inhabitants are Miao people, making it the largest Miao settlement in China and even the world. More than ten natural villages built along the mountainside are connected into a continuous stretch, with tier upon tier of wooden stilted houses extending from the foot of the mountain to its waist. The Baishui River flows through the village, creating a magnificent ethnic panorama.

Xijiang Thousand Household Miao Village is acclaimed as the most beautiful Miao village in China and an open-air museum of Miao culture. It has completely preserved traditional Miao architecture, clothing, song and dance, festivals, and lifestyle. Fifteen national-level intangible cultural heritages, including Miao silver jewelry forging techniques, Miao embroidery, and ancient Miao songs, have been passed down through generations here. During the day, the village resembles an ink-wash painting; at night, when thousands of lights illuminate the village, the layered stilted houses look like a starry galaxy, offering a breathtaking view.

Miao Architecture

The most awe-inspiring sight in Xijiang Miao Village is the layered wooden stilted houses. The stilted house is the most distinctive traditional Miao architecture, constructed using mortise and tenon joints without a single iron nail. Typically, the houses have three floors: the ground floor is elevated and used for raising poultry and storing sundries; the second floor serves as the living space; and the third floor is for storing grain. This architectural style, built on slopes and suspended in the air, not only conserves precious mountainous farmland but also provides moisture-proofing and ventilation, reflecting the wisdom of the Miao ancestors in adapting to the mountainous environment.

From the viewing platform opposite, thousands of stilted houses rise tier upon tier from the valley to the mountaintop, with cooking smoke curling upward. The wind-and-rain bridges over the Baishui River connect both banks, creating a scene that has become the most iconic visual symbol of Guizhou tourism.

Miao Culture

Cultural Element	Characteristics	Status
Miao Silver Jewelry	Exquisite craftsmanship, ornate designs	National-level Intangible Cultural Heritage
Miao Embroidery	Intricate patterns, vibrant colors	National-level Intangible Cultural Heritage
Ancient Miao Songs	Epic poems passed down orally	National-level Intangible Cultural Heritage
Lusheng Dance	The most important Miao dance	Essential for festivals
Miao Batik	Unique blue-and-white patterns	Traditional handicraft
Guzang Festival	Grand ancestral worship held every 13 years	The most solemn Miao festival

Miao silver jewelry is the most dazzling gem of Miao culture. Miao women wear silver ornaments from head to toe—silver crowns, neck rings, bracelets, earrings, and clothing plaques. A complete set of Miao ceremonial silver attire can weigh over ten kilograms. The forging techniques of Miao silver jewelry are exceptionally refined, with a single exquisite piece requiring dozens of processes, including smelting, wire drawing, weaving, and soldering.

Miao clothing is equally breathtaking. The everyday attire of Miao women is already colorful, while their ceremonial costumes worn during festivals are even more magnificent. Miao embroidery is the soul of Miao clothing, with each piece containing profound cultural symbolism—patterns such as the Butterfly Mother, dragon motifs, and bird motifs carry the ancient creation myths and migration memories of the Miao people.

Miao Festivals

The Miao people have numerous traditional festivals, the grandest of which are the Miao New Year and the Guzang Festival. The Miao New Year is celebrated in the tenth month of the lunar calendar, marking the Miao New Year and lasting for several days. During the festival, the entire village dons ceremonial attire and silver ornaments, holding grand Lusheng dance gatherings, bullfights, horse races, and other activities.

The Guzang Festival is the most sacred ancestral worship festival of the Miao people, held only once every 13 years. It involves solemn rituals of animal sacrifice to honor ancestors, with the entire village participating over several days. This tradition, with a history of hundreds of years, is the most important ceremony in Miao cultural heritage.

The daily scheduled Miao song and dance performances are highly anticipated by tourists. Miao girls in ceremonial attire line up neatly in the small square, dancing gracefully to the melody of the Lusheng, their silver ornaments jingling and their skirts blooming like flowers.

Travel Information

Xijiang Thousand Household Miao Village is approximately 200 kilometers from Guiyang and about 35 kilometers from Kaili. Visitors can take buses from Guiyang or Kaili to reach the village. The scenic area ticket includes a sightseeing bus, which can take visitors to the viewing platform for a panoramic view of the village.

The best seasons to visit are spring and autumn, when the climate is pleasant and the scenery is beautiful. The Miao New Year and the Spring Festival offer the most vibrant Miao festival atmosphere. A visit of 1–2 days is recommended, with an overnight stay in a village inn to experience the night view and the morning cooking smoke.

There are several walking routes within the village, allowing visitors to explore Miao households, visit the Xijiang Miao Museum, and sample Miao specialties such as sour fish soup and glutinous rice.