Zhenyuan Baojing "San Yue San" Festival Heats Up: A Vibrant Folk Celebration

On April 19, the third day of the third lunar month, the Baojing "San Yue San" Folk Culture Festival in Zhenyuan County, Qiandongnan Prefecture, Guizhou Province, reached its climax. At 12:30 p.m., the parade set off from Baojing Primary School, featuring a grand procession of Lusheng players, costumed groups, and Miao and Dong people from neighboring villages. In front of the new village gate, nine ceremonial cannon blasts rang out, and the fragrant "blocking-door wine" was offered. Young Dong people in traditional attire welcomed guests from all directions with a grand ceremony.

Event scenes

Photo by Zhenyuan County Media Convergence Center

Then came the most anticipated event. The young women proceeded to the vegetable gardens to harvest scallion seedlings, which they carefully washed by the pond. Young Dong men then asked for the scallions from the girls they admired as a way to express their affection. If a girl was interested, she would offer her basket of scallions. Lusheng players provided joyful music on the sidelines, and onlookers sang Dong love songs to cheer on the young men. When couples held hands and walked together, the crowd burst into enthusiastic cheers.

"Blocking-door wine" ceremony

Photo by Zhenyuan County Media Convergence Center

From April 20 to 21, the Baojing "San Yue San" Folk Culture Festival in Zhenyuan County also held a series of activities full of rustic charm and ethnic flavor, including tug-of-war in the paddy fields and catching poultry and fish.

Event scenes

Photo by Wu Xianhe

Event scenes

Photo by Jiang Jie

During the festival, local authorities innovatively promoted integrated agriculture‑culture‑tourism marketing. Through food experiences, specialty agricultural product exhibitions, and other activities, visitors from afar were drawn into deep participation. This cultural feast, built around the festival, not only allowed tourists to immerse themselves in the charm of intangible cultural heritage but also, through the "culture-driven visitor attraction and industrial value creation" model, boosted local farmers' incomes and industrial upgrading, injecting vigorous momentum into rural revitalization through deep integration of agriculture, culture, and tourism.

Event scenes

Photo by Zhenyuan County Media Convergence Center