Yueliang (Moon) Mountain, which soars 1,500 metres above sea level, lies on the border of Congjiang and Rongjiang counties of Southeast Guizhou Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture.

    Over 93 per cent of the 11,000 people in Rongjiang are of the Miao minority. Their folklore says that the Miao people's ancestors came from the birds. Thus local people worship birds in various ways and their houses are even called "nests."

    In addition to birds, the butterfly and ox horn patterns commonly seen on the dresses and silverware of the Miao people are traces of the totem worship and stand for emblems of different clans.

    In different regions, Miao people have developed embroidery patterns unique to different individuals, reflecting their life changes.

    The costumes of the Miao people in Southeast Guizhou Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture are the most splendid and refined among all the Miao costumes. Some experts call these costumes "wordless annals" and attach great importance to them.

    When experts from the World Tourism Organization visited the area, they commented that the ethnic cultural resources there are assets of Guizhou's tourism industry.

    Treasures disappearing

Wearing traditional dress, local people take part in celebrations at the Guzang Festival in Southeast Guizhou Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture.(Photo:China Daily)

    But the Miao ethnic costumes, an important cultural resource, are quickly disappearing from the province.

    As China opens up, more people have come to realize that folk and ethnic items can generate profits in the maturing market. Many Chinese merchants have set up stalls in remote villages collecting minority apparels.

     In recent years, an increasing number of foreign tourists have been attracted by the natural scenery and ethnic culture of Guizhou.

    Some of them have offered good prices to buy ancient clothing and jewellery.

    In some villages, the local farmers who have few other means to make cash are quite willing to bring forward their treasures to be bought by foreign tourists.

    A researcher in Guizhou once visited the United States and chanced upon an exhibition of Chinese minority apparels. He was surprised to find some beautiful clothes which he had never seen before in China.

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