Zhanli Dong Village

Nestled in a 380-meter-high valley along the Duliu River in Guizhou's Qiandongnan Prefecture, Zhanli Dong Village - located just 20km from Congjiang County - has earned national renown as "China's Model Family Planning Village." This secluded settlement has maintained two remarkable records since 1949: near-zero population growth and zero criminal cases, making it a unique case study in sustainable demography.

Highlights of Zhanli Dong Village

Unique Population and Fertility Culture

Called "China's First Village of Population and Fertility Culture," Zhanli Dong Village has almost no population growth thanks to special traditions. Strict village rules limit how many children couples can have: those with 50 dan (2.5 tons) of rice can have two (one boy, one girl), and those with 30 dan can have one. Every year on lunar February 1 and August 1, people gather at the Covenant Stone for serious fertility oath ceremonies, using the old "Qikuan" group promise system. The village is said to have a "Gender-Balancing Herb"—its formula passed only from mother to daughter—that controls a baby's sex. This simple but smart way of controlling population shows good resource management, drawing visitors to see this real example of balanced population.

Colorful Traditional Folk Customs

Zhanli Dong Village keeps special marriage traditions: collective weddings happen only on the lunar February 16 or December 26, and betrothals are allowed only on January 5-6 each year. The village follows strict "no external marriages" rules, with equal inheritance—daughters get cotton fields, sons rice paddies, and forests/vegetable gardens split evenly. For festivals like Spring Festival, Liuyueliu, and Dong New Year, villagers meet at drum towers and "flower bridges" to sing the UNESCO-listed Dong Grand Choir. It's amazing that polyphonic harmonies carry centuries of history and feelings, letting visitors deeply experience the Dong cultural heritage.

Beautiful Natural Ecological Environment

Surrounded by green mountains, Zhanli Dong Village lies in clean evergreen forests with old pines, maples, and rare Chinese yews. A clear stream winds through the village, its waters full of fish, with traditional grain-drying racks beside it. During harvest, these racks glow golden with fragrant glutinous rice. Over 100 protected Taxus chinensis trees make the landscape special. Here, birds sing and brooks babble, letting visitors feel deep peace in nature.

Educational Value

Zhanli Dong Village has a centuries-old way of controlling births—setting child limits by grain yields and balancing genders. It clearly shows how farming societies keep resources and population in balance. This real example gives useful ideas for population economics and ecological sociology, especially on how traditional societies use customs to regulate themselves.

Activities to do at Zhanli Dong Village

Attend Collective Weddings：Zhanli Dong Village keeps its special collective wedding tradition: betrothals happen only on lunar January 5-6, and mass weddings only on February 16 or December 26 each year. On wedding days, many couples marry at the same time. Every household holds rotating feasts, with rituals like reed-pipe processions for brides, bridal shows, and blessings from Dong spiritual masters. These joyful celebrations light up the whole village.