Baicaohua Miao Ethnic Village of Zixi Town in Chuxiong City, Chuxiong

Chinese Name: 楚雄市紫溪镇白草花苗族村
English Name: Baicaohua Miao Ethnic Village of Zixi Town in Chuxiong City, Chuxiong Prefecture
Huashan Festival of Miao Ethnic Minority in Chuxiong City is held in Baicaohua Miao Ethnic Village of Zixi Town.

Location and Overview:
Baicaohua Village is located within the Lingshui Village Committee of Zixi Town, Chuxiong City, Chuxiong Prefecture, Yunnan Province. It is situated in a semi-mountainous area, west of Zixi Town. The village is 6 kilometers from the Lingshui Village Committee and 17 kilometers from Zixi Town. It lies at the foothills of Zixi Mountain, which is a national forest park and provincial nature reserve. The village has 21 households.

Cultural and Ethnic Significance:
Baicaohua is a typical Miao ethnic village, renowned for its rich ethnic customs and culture. In 2016, it was designated as a provincial model village for ethnic unity. This designation led Zixi Town to seize the opportunity for development by enhancing publicity, coordination, safety quality supervision, and responsibility implementation. The town established a timetable and quickly commenced the development work.

Geographical Context:
Baicaohua Miao Ethnic Village is located on the western outskirts of Chuxiong’s capital city. The town government office in Dashi Pu is 10 kilometers from the city government location. The village is situated within the Zixi Mountain national forest park and provincial scenic area. It is intersected by National Highway 320, Anning-Chuxiong Expressway, Guangtong-Dali Railway, and the Zixi Mountain Tourism Circular Road. The village borders Lucheng Town to the east, Donghua Town to the south, Donggua Town and Lühe Town to the north, and connects with Yulu Township of Nanhua County to the west. Baicaohua, belonging to the Lingshui Village Committee of Zixi Town, is a typical Miao village with 21 households and 84 people, all of whom are Miao. The village is 2 kilometers from the north gate of Zixi Mountain Scenic Area, surrounded by mountains and rivers, with excellent water conservancy conditions. This makes it an ideal location for leisure, vacation, and sightseeing. The village has developed rural tourism by growing walnuts, cherries, and winter peaches, and the agritainment industry is thriving.

Zixi Town Rural Tourism Festival and Miao Flower Mountain Festival:
The annual Zixi Town Rural Tourism Festival and Miao Flower Mountain Festival are held in Baicaohua Miao Ethnic Village. On June 22, 2023, the festival's activities took place in Zixi Yi Village and Baicaohua Miao Ethnic Village. The festival featured ethnic song and dance performances and traditional activities.

The "Flower Mountain Festival" begins with a welcoming wine ceremony. Miao girls, dressed in festive attire, line up at the village entrance to offer wine to visitors, showcasing Miao hospitality.

A significant ritual of the Miao "Flower Mountain Festival" is the traditional "Flower Pole" ceremony. Respected Miao elders perform ceremonial acts and offer rice wine under the colorful flower pole. Miao people surround the pole, playing the lusheng (a traditional reed instrument) and performing a blessing dance. Miao resident Tao Faming stated, "Today is the Flower Mountain Festival. Through erecting the flower pole, we pray for favorable weather, good health for all ethnic groups, and bountiful harvests for our crops and fruit trees."

The opening ceremony of the Zixi Town 2023 Rural Tourism Festival and Miao Flower Mountain Festival featured vibrant cultural performances. Traditional Miao songs and dances highlighted the deep affection of the Miao people and their positive, energetic spirit, promoting ethnic unity. Visitor Ding Na commented, "Today’s event is very good; the singing is beautiful, and the dances are particularly attractive."

Following the opening ceremony, activities such as electronic music parties, water parks, fishing, and "chicken" battles were held, creating a lively festival atmosphere.

Visitor Feng Ying remarked, "This event allowed me to experience the warmth of the Miao and Yi people. From the welcoming wine ceremony to the lively Miao girls and the large water pool, the activities were diverse. I am very happy and delighted to have such an event this summer."

The "Flower Mountain Festival" is the most grand and solemn festival for the Miao people. It showcases their diligence, kindness, hospitality, and serves as a vital platform for expressing unity and gratitude towards the nation. It has become a unique showcase of ethnic charm in Zixi Town, promoting ethnic unity, enhancing the town’s reputation and attractiveness, and driving rural tourism and revitalization.