On the third day, the drum beats in the early afternoon, signifying the start of another dance ceremony -- this time attended by even more people. The shaman ends the dancing in the evening with offerings.

People of the Miao ethnic group perform traditional dance during the closingcelebration of the Guzang Festival.

During the festival, the Miao always use kind words to describe any potentially violent detail of the occasion. For butchering a pig, they say kiss the big official; for taking a butcher knife, they say give me the leaf; for heating the stove with some straw to cook the pork, they say use the quilt to cover the official. By doing this, they try to avoid any unhappy feelings.

The festival reflects the Miao’s social values. These include ancestor worship, harmonious community, hard work, austerity, peace and happiness.

It has practical value for the study of the Miao’s history and contemporary culture.

Editor: Liu Fang