Jinping, Guizhou: Dong Village Children Meet for a Song Festival

On September 5, the annual Catching Festival was held in Gaoba Dong Village, Jinping County, Guizhou Province. On that day, every corner of Gaoba Dong Village was crowded with people singing, learning and listening to songs. Dong Village children from Jinping, Tianzhu and Jianhe counties gathered together happily to celebrate their own traditional festivals with ancient Dong songs. In addition to folk song competitions held on this day, various cultural activities such as national costume performances, Dong folk cultural performances, bullfights, and basketball competitions were also held.

It is understood that the Festival has a history of more than 150 years. Legend has it that Gaoba gave birth to Wu Chengzu, a hero who defended national dignity, and Xiao Yunang, who spent 60 years abiding by love. The 20th day of the seventh lunar month is the day when Xiao Yunang and Wu Chengzu set their lives. In order to commemorate this heroic couple, on the 20th day of the seventh lunar month every year, young men and women from the North Dong people gather in Gaoba to convey their love with songs. Over time, this day became a song festival for young men and women in the North Dong Dynasty to talk about love.