Xiaohuang Dong Village

Known as the "Homeland of Dong Choirs" and "Music Paradise," Xiaohuang Dong Village gives a truly unique cultural experience. This real Dong community lives up to its name as "a land of poetry and sea of songs"—the title fits perfectly here. Every villager sings with passion, and over 20 formal choirs with more than 1,000 trained members keep their ancient musical traditions alive.

Highlights of Xiaohuang Dong Village

Cradle of Dong Grand Choir

Known as the "Cradle of Dong Grand Choir," Xiaohuang Dong Village is one of the birthplaces of this UNESCO-listed polyphonic folk music. With a history over 2,500 years, this unique a cappella style uses complex harmonies: multiple low voices support a high solo. Its songs cover ancient legends, historical stories and daily life, sung with either loud energy or soft flow. Nearly all villagers, young and old, take part, keeping over 100 choirs with more than 3,000 members. The village's choirs have performed worldwide, including in Japan, France, South Korea and Germany, showing this living cultural treasure.

Drum Tower and Wind-rain Bridge

Drum towers are Xiaohuang Dong Village's architectural soul—tall wooden structures built with interlocking mortise-and-tenon joints, no nails needed. They rise high with layered eaves decorated by lifelike Dong figures: golden pheasants, ethnic couples. These polygonal landmarks host community meetings, Grand Choir shows, and reed-pipe dances. Time has worn them, but their bright lower-eave paintings still show past glory.

The village's wind-rain bridges cross flowing streams, linking homes with skillful timber work. With covered galleries and benches for shelter, these "painted bridges" shine with ceiling murals of Dong myths and daily life. From here, visitors see fish dart in clear waters, set against terraced hills—a living landscape painting.

Xiaohuang Pickled Meat and Traditional Festivals

Xiaohuang Dong Village keeps unique food and festival traditions. Every home has pickling barrels passed down for generations—some over 12—used to ferment pork with salt and spices into tasty treats for guests.

The village's Mid-Autumn Song Festival turns Xiaohuang into a singing stage. Over 100 choirs, from elders to kids, come home to perform. This top Dong music event buzzes with polyphonic harmonies as the whole village sings in lively contests. For big celebrations, locals in traditional clothes do the "gate-blocking liquor ceremony," greeting visitors with warm rice wine and lively songs and dances that show Dong kindness.

Educational Value

Xiaohuang Dong Village keeps a full Dong language system and oral traditions, like the polyphonic a cappella "Dong Grand Choir." Daily talks and festival shows become living classrooms for passing down this heritage. They offer immersive places to study and learn China's minority languages and literature.

Activities to do at Xiaohuang Dong Village

Learning Dong Songs and Music：Every day at 2 PM in the Heritage Center, master singers teach visitors to sing the Dong language "Cicada Song." Evening bonfires let you play the ox-leg fiddle and join in creating and performing real Dong folk music.