Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village – Ticket, Opening Hours, Location, and Highlights

The Xijiang Miao Museum, an architectural masterpiece comprising six typical Miao-style stilted houses, is a cultural treasure trove. The museum houses 11 exhibition halls, each dedicated to a specific theme, including the Front Hall, Historical Hall, Production Hall, Festival Hall, Song and Dance Hall, Architectural Techniques Hall, Costume and Silver Jewelry Hall, Miao Medicine Hall, Shamanistic Culture and Religious Beliefs Hall, Daily Life Hall, and a Multimedia Hall. With over 1,220 Miao cultural artifacts and 350 representative items such as pictures, portraits, and books, the museum vividly presents the unique and diverse aspects of Miao culture. Covering Miao history, production, daily life, festivals, music, dance, clothing, silver jewelry, Miao medicine, architecture, and shamanistic culture, the museum serves as a prominent platform for research and understanding of Miao culture.

The hallmark of Miao architecture in Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village is the wooden stilted houses, divided into flat-land stilted houses and slope stilted houses. Typically three stories high with either a four-pillar-three-room or five-pillar-four-room structure, these houses have distinct functions for each floor. The ground floor is used for storing production tools, raising poultry and livestock, storing fertilizers, or serving as a toilet. The second floor functions as a living room, hall, bedroom, and kitchen. The hall’s outer side features the unique “beauty rest,” known as “jie xi” in the Miao language, primarily used for cooling off, embroidery, and relaxation – a distinctive feature of Miao architecture. The third floor is primarily used for storing grains, feed, and other production and life essentials. These stilted houses seamlessly blend with the surrounding green mountains, blue waters, and pastoral landscapes, creating a harmonious and picturesque scene.

To enhance the feng shui conditions of the village and facilitate residents’ daily lives, many Miao villages, including Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village, have constructed wind and rain bridges near the villages. These bridges serve to control wind, store air (both are concepts in Fengshui theories), and provide shelter from rain. In Xijiang, there were historically the Pingzhai Wind and Rain Bridge and the Nanshou Wind and Rain Bridge. However, due to their wooden structure, they faced damage from floods and required frequent repairs. In 2008, Xijiang built five new wind and rain bridges, including the arched cement bridges connecting Dazhai to Xijiang Middle School, the main road’s arched cement bridge, two arched cement bridges connecting Dazhai to Yehaozhai, and the arched cement bridge connecting Nangui.

As dusk settles in, the myriad homes of Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village illuminate with thousands of lanterns. As the night deepens, the village transforms into an ocean of lights, forming the shape of a bull’s head when viewed from a distance. To enhance this spectacle, an observation platform has been constructed along the mountain slope road, providing a vantage point for visitors to enjoy the breathtaking night scene of Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village. To further enhance the experience, sightseeing cars are available for tourists.

Each morning and afternoon, the Miao people of Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village present vibrant ethnic song and dance performances. These performances showcase the local colors, featuring splendid costumes, lively dances, and beautiful love stories. The Miao people’s ancient songs are performed by elderly villagers, narrating epic tales that cover the origins of all things, the primordial chaos of heaven and earth, and the poignant history of migration. Special occasions or the appearance of important figures may also bring forth traditional performances such as the Copper Drum Dance of Zhangao, the High Reed Pipe of Fangxiang, and the Wooden Drum Dance of Fanpai. These traditional performances add a dynamic and cultural dimension to the rich tapestry of Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village’s heritage. Visitors are immersed in the living traditions and artistic expressions of the Miao people, creating an unforgettable experience of cultural diversity.

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