The traditional cultural charm and majestic local scenery of a globally-recognized ethnic minority village in southwest China's Guizhou Province has drawn tourists from near and far as locals welcome a bumper harvest during the area's "golden season" with a grand celebration.
The Huanggang Dong Village in Liping County of the Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, is an 800-year-old settlement of the Dong ethnic group, who are also known as the Kam people. Last year, it was listed on the United Nations' list of the Best Tourism Villages of 2025.
It is famed as the birthplace of the Dong Grand Song, which was inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, and is also known for its well-preserved wooden architecture and timeless Dong traditions.
The village also proudly maintains its age-old farming practices and is a key production area for 'Liping fragrant glutinous rice' or 'Kam sweet rice', a nationally recognized geographical indication product in China.
In recent years, local authorities have sought to turn the seasonal harvest tradition into a driver of rural tourism, giving visitors a glimpse of Dong culture and creating new opportunities for local farmers and businesses.
Each year, farmers still retain the centuries-old method of picking the rice ears by hand and carrying them back to the village to be air-dried in a ritualistic fashion.
"Our Kam sweet rice is usually harvested once a year. This year, we have ushered in a bumper harvest, so we are very happy," said Wu Xianjin, a local villager.
During the colorful harvest celebrations, the enchanting sounds of Dong folk songs featuring traditional instruments and a children's choir drew tourists to stop and watch in awe. Some visitors later tried their hand at hanging bunches of rice, while others raised their cameras to capture the joyful moments among the rice granaries.
Simon, a tourist from France, was among the many international visitors who had traveled to experience the local charm deep in the heart of the Guizhou mountains.
"I found this place and it's so much more authentic. So I like it. Just I like to be here and to discover all the culture," he said.
The village has looked to build on its global profile as a "UN Best Tourism Village", receiving over 94,000 tourist visits and generating close to 43 million yuan (over 6.4 million U.S. dollars) in comprehensive tourism revenue since the start of the year, up by more than 5 percent compared to 2025.
Golden harvest season lures tourists to UN-recognized ethnic minority village in Guizhou
Golden harvest season lures tourists to UN-recognized ethnic minority village in Guizhou
Golden harvest season lures tourists to UN-recognized ethnic minority village in Guizhou
