Xijiang: A Thousand Miao Homes and the Epic of Ten Thousand Lights

Tucked deep in the misty mountains of Guizhou, Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village is often called the “Village of Ten Thousand Lights” for the magical sight that transforms it each night. When darkness falls, every stilt house lights a lantern, and together they create a golden river of light cascading down the hillsides. The scene feels like a living constellation, a glowing epic written in warmth and tradition.

By day, Xijiang is a tapestry of sounds and colors—roosters crow in the distance, silver ornaments sparkle in the sun, and the air carries the fragrance of woodsmoke and fresh rice. By night, it becomes a place where light and shadow mingle, telling a story as old as the mountains themselves.

Architectural Wonder – Kingdom of Stilt Houses

Xijiang is home to the largest concentration of diaojiaolou, or wooden stilt houses, in the world. These traditional Miao dwellings rise above the ground on timber supports, protecting families from dampness while offering storage space below. Built entirely without nails, the structures are held together by interlocking wooden joints—an architectural technique passed down through centuries.

From a distance, the houses spread across the hills like dragon scales, their tiled roofs glistening after rain. Walking through the narrow cobblestone lanes, visitors can glimpse everyday village life: chili peppers drying under the eaves, children playing with handmade toys, and elders weaving baskets on shaded verandas. Every building here is both a home and a work of art, shaped by the land and the people’s skill.

Ethnic Charm – Living Cultural Experience

Xijiang is not a museum frozen in time—it is a living cultural landscape where the Miao people’s traditions are woven into daily life. Women wear embroidered pleated skirts and intricate silver headdresses that glimmer like tiny waterfalls. Men play the lusheng, a bamboo reed instrument whose deep, resonant notes carry across the valleys.

A highlight for visitors is the long table banquet, where villagers welcome guests with rows of wooden tables piled high with glutinous rice, cured meats, mountain vegetables, and bowls of homemade rice wine. Hospitality is expressed through song, each toast accompanied by melodies that blend legend with laughter. At the Lusheng Square, dancers in full costume invite travelers to join the circle, making cultural exchange as natural as breathing.

Light and Shadow – Day and Night Magic

The beauty of Xijiang changes with the hours. Morning begins with a veil of mist curling around the hills, softening the outlines of stilt houses and terraces. The river flows quietly through the heart of the village, its waters reflecting the early sun.

As evening approaches, warm light begins to flicker from each household. Soon, the entire hillside is aglow with thousands of lanterns, creating the famous “Ten Thousand Lights” panorama. From viewing platforms above the village, the sight is unforgettable—a dreamlike blend of human warmth and mountain stillness.

Cultural Essence – Legends and Heritage

The Miao people of Xijiang trace their ancestry to Chiyou, a legendary warrior figure from ancient Chinese myth. This heritage shapes their identity and is celebrated through intricate silverwork, embroidery, and community rituals.

One of the most important traditions is the Guzang Festival, held once every thirteen years, which honors ancestors and strengthens community bonds through music, dance, and shared feasting. Xijiang is also a center of intangible cultural heritage, preserving arts such as batik dyeing, hand embroidery, and silver ornament making. Each pattern and motif carries symbolic meaning—spirals for life’s cycles, butterflies for joy, and flowers for harmony.

Festivals and Seasonal Traditions

Beyond the grand Guzang Festival, Xijiang hosts seasonal events that bring the village to life. The New Year celebrations feature dragon dances and firecrackers, while spring welcomes flower festivals where young people sing love songs across the fields. In summer, Lusheng competitions fill the air with music, and autumn harvest festivals give thanks to the earth’s bounty. Every season offers a new lens into Miao life, with each celebration deeply rooted in agricultural rhythms and ancestral respect.

Scenic Beauty – Beyond the Village

Surrounded by rice terraces, tea gardens, and lush green hills, Xijiang offers a landscape as rich as its culture. In spring, the terraces mirror the sky; in summer, they ripple with green; autumn turns them gold; and winter mists transform the scene into a dream. Many travelers combine their visit with nearby treasures like Leigong Mountain National Nature Reserve or other Miao and Dong villages to explore the wider cultural mosaic of Guizhou.

A Journey into Living Heritage

To visit Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village is to step into a living epic of the Miao people—a place where architecture, music, cuisine, and community form a single heartbeat. The stilt houses speak of resilience, the festivals of joy, and the night lights of a warmth that spans generations. Whether you come for the landscapes, the songs, or the simple pleasure of walking through a village where every corner tells a story, Xijiang leaves a memory as enduring as the mountains that cradle it.

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