The largest Dong village of Eastern Guizhou.

Trip Start Sep 21, 2006
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Trip End Ongoing


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Monday, September 24, 2007

Southeastern Guizhou is the country of the Dongs, one of the most colorful minority people of China.

In early Chinese history, the Dongs were resisting the central power of the majority Han people. In order to weaken the Dongs and to have a better control over the territory, Chinese rulers sent countless Hans colonize this harsh land.

The newly arrived Hans took the best pieces of land and the Dongs were forced to retreat and settle in the mountains. Under emperor decree, all the available land had to be utilized to grow rice. The Dongs saved the flat areas in the valleys for the rice fields and built their homes up in the mountain. With time, they sculpted Eastern Guizhou into one of the most dramatic and extraordinarily beautiful landscape on Earth Not easy to be a pig around here.
Not easy to be a pig around here.
 .

The Dongs are very friendly and everyone did their best to help me but the language barrier made it very difficult to communicate. Many of them use a local dialect that has very little to do with Mandarin. I'll never forget that day I spent in Zhaoxing trying to catch a bus to Conjiang. I flagged down at least 20 buses and used my best mandarin to try and communicate with the driver but always in vain. They all left me stranded on the side of the road.

One of the most interesting experience I had was to trek in the mountains. Little paths in the rice fields lead to much smaller Dong villages such as Tang'An and Shage. Those people were so welcoming and genuine. They invited me in their home for tea or a meal despite the fact that we couldn't communicate. The warmth of their welcome will stay in my memory forever.

Andre.

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Zhaoxing is located down a picturesque valley. Zhaoxing is located down a picturesque valley. One of the many bridges that cross the river. One of the many bridges that cross the river. Even the elderly carry some very heavy loads. Even the elderly carry some very heavy loads. Wood is everything in Zhaoxing. Wood is everything in Zhaoxing.
The Dong homes are all made of wood. The Dong homes are all made of wood. Drum Towers are the gathering places of the town. Drum Towers are the gathering places of the town. Beautiful little girls under the Drum Tower. Beautiful little girls under the Drum Tower. Time stands still in Zhaoxing. Time stands still in Zhaoxing.
Not much changed in the last century. Not much changed in the last century. Kids play with the same little balls we used to. Kids play with the same little balls we used to. Dong women make their own clothes as well as ... Dong women make their own clothes as well as ... Dong Women fabricating their futur clothes. Dong Women fabricating their futur clothes.
Eastern Guizhou typical landscape. Eastern Guizhou typical landscape. Horses are used to carry the rice to the village. Horses are used to carry the rice to the village. The village is built alongside the river. The village is built alongside the river. Everyday lide scene in Zhaoxing. Everyday lide scene in Zhaoxing.
A Dong peasan. A Dong peasan. In Shage - Locals playing Chinese cards. In Shage - Locals playing Chinese cards. What is this guy burning like this??? What is this guy burning like this??? HIS DOG !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HIS DOG !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Chili Pepper, crushed CP, and cotton balls. Chili Pepper, crushed CP, and cotton balls. In Tang' An - Smoking under the Pagoda. In Tang' An - Smoking under the Pagoda. In Tang' An - I'm not going in this house. No way. In Tang' An - I'm not going in this house. No way. In Tang' An - The main Drum Tower .This is ... In Tang' An - The main Drum Tower .This is ...
In Tang'An - A Dong villager. In Tang'An - A Dong villager. In Tang'An - Beautiful kids In Tang'An - Beautiful kids In Tang'An - A Bull Fight at the Drum Tower. In Tang'An - A Bull Fight at the Drum Tower. In Tang'An - Look me in the eye if you dare. In Tang'An - Look me in the eye if you dare.
In Tang'An - Someone killed a buffalo around here. In Tang'An - Someone killed a buffalo around here. In Tang'An -Everyone plays cards everyday it seems In Tang'An -Everyone plays cards everyday it seems In Tang' An - They're such heavy smokers. In Tang' An - They're such heavy smokers. Chicken for sale. Chicken for sale.
Little Dong girls. Little Dong girls. Meat market Meat market Every piece of meat is used. Nothing goes to waste Every piece of meat is used. Nothing goes to waste Mountains are carved into rice fields terraces. Mountains are carved into rice fields terraces.
If it's tough work, it's for the women to do. If it's tough work, it's for the women to do. A woman cutting wood. A woman cutting wood. She's assembling a mattress, piece by piece. She's assembling a mattress, piece by piece. So much goes on at the riverside. So much goes on at the riverside.
The clean the chicken in the river. The clean the chicken in the river. The Dong village of Shage. The Dong village of Shage. This boot shaped bag is very Dong. This boot shaped bag is very Dong. They carry their chicken around like that. They... They carry their chicken around like that. They...
The main street of Zhaoxing. The main street of Zhaoxing. To be a chicken in China is not a good idea. To be a chicken in China is not a good idea. Woman cleaning cotton balls. Woman cleaning cotton balls. Who's up for dog meat? Who's up for dog meat?
Trekking to Shage. Trekking to Shage. They hang the rice from the windows for it to dry. They hang the rice from the windows for it to dry. Funny road signs. Funny road signs.
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