A brief introduction of Qiannan Buyi and Miao Autonomous Prefecture

The Qiannan Buyei and Miao Autonomous Prefecture (黔南布依族苗族自治州) is situated in the south-central region of Guizhou Province, and bordering the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous region, the Qiannan Buyi and Miao Autonomous Prefecture covers an area of 26,195 sq km. With the Buyi and the Miao as major ethnic groups, its population totals 3.97 million.

Qiannan Bouyei and Miao Prefecture in southwestern China’s Guizhou Province boasts dual blessings from mother nature – the uncanny beauty of karst topography and primeval forests.Qiannan Buyi and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, located in south-central Guizhou Province, is inhabited by more than 37 ethnic groups, including Han, Miao, Buyi, Shui and Yao. Between these Buyi and Miao are the principal minority groups. In the Miao Region, one can experience the most attractive scenery and customs of the minority. In addition, the prefecture also gathers together ninety percent of the Shui ethnic minority's total population.

Qiannan has a subtropical humid monsoon climate with plenty of rain, no extremely hot summer or bitterly cold winter. Mountains and hills constitute most of the terrain with an average altitude of 997 meters.  

It boasts a lot of karst stone forests, canyons, primitive forests, waterfalls and many other unique natural scenic spots.The scenic spots in this region are famous for their wonderful scenery, for example, the Libo Zhangjiang River Scenic Area, the Guizhou Maolan National Nature Reserve, the Clam River Scenic Area and Jinhai Snow Mountain.

● Main Cities of Qiannan

Libo, a Legacy of History

 A 2005 poll by Chinese National Geography magazine voted the karst scenery in Libo, Qiannan Prefecture, the No. 8 most fascinating such formation in China. That’s quite an achievement, considering Libo is way off the beaten tourist trail, and the other top 10 place-getters are overtly commercialized. Karst topography is the geological phenomenon created by the dissolution of one or many layers of soluble bedrock. It is named after the Kras plateau region of eastern Italy and western Slovenia (Kras is German for “barren land”). The landscape on most karst terrains is rocky and barren, with a thin layer of soil to support vegetation. In Guizhou’s Libo, however, the situation is very different: the soil covering the karst landscape is rich; the area is home to 20,000 hectares of primeval forestlands. Anyone who has the chance to view this expanse of green that rolls up and down the rugged mountain surely comes away with a different perspective on life. So few people have ventured here over the course of human history that with every step, the visitor could well be the first person ever to walk across a rock surface that has been untouched for 100 million years.

Duyun, the capital city of Qianan

Duyun is the capital city of Qiannan Buyei and Miao Autonomous Prefecture. This city was a major participant during the Miao rebellion from its early stages. Duyun, which features Jianjiang River that has nine tributaries, has more than 100 bridges in the urban areas. It is for this reason that it is fondly called city of bridges.

Near to the sea and the tropical zone, it is considered an ideal summer resort. Jianjiang River, the headstream of the Qingshuijiang River, meanders through downtown Duyun. Centering on the Jianjiang River, the Jianjiang River-Doupengshan Mountain Scenic Area has been established.you’ll be treated with the view of majestic waterfalls, magic karst caves, and clear streams.

● Ethnic Minorities of Qiannan

Miao Nationality

With a long history and a splendid culture, the Miao nationality is a Chinese minority group with a large population. Guizhou has the most population of the Miao Nationality in China. In Guizhou, most of them dwell in Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture of Southeast Guizhou. With most population of the Miao Nationality, Guizhou is the area in which the Miao culture is protected best. As the total population of the Miao Nationality in Guizhou accounts for more than half of the whole population of this nationality in China, Guizhou is widely considered as the Base Camp of the Miao Nationality.

The Miao Nationality is noted for singing and dancing. With all movements following the rhythm, the grand flying songs performed by thousands of people in Southeast Guizhou are especially amazing.

Of all the traditional minority festivals, 60 percent or more are festivals of the Miao people, mainly including the Siyueba, the Miao’s New Year, the New – Rice – Tasting Festival, the Sisters’ Festival, the Lushen Festival and the Dragon Boat Festival.

Buyi Nationality

Among all the Buyi people in China, more than 95 percent live in Guizhou. As the second largest minority group in Guizhou, the population of the Buyi Nationality, which is only smaller than the Miao Nationality, are mainly distributed in Qiannan (South Guizhou) and Qianxian (Southwest Guizhou) Buyi & Miao Autonomous Prefectures while a few are scattered in other districts or cities like Anshun, Tongren, Zunyi, Bijie, Liu Panshui and Guiyang.

The Buyi people live together in an open area or in a valley beside mountains or rivers. They prefer storied buildings, often with three stories. In some areas, some special Buyi houses are supported by wooden stilts.

The Buyi people prefer blue, green, black and white costumes. The men’s costumes are simple in style. The women’s costumes are unique, wearing trousers and dresses. The elderly wear short collarless shirts with buttons down the middle at the front or long gowns.

The Buyi people are noted for singing and dancing. The young people in love often express their affection by songs. The also created palys with rich Buyi flavor, which derives from the traditional folk opera “Ba yin zuo chang” (sitting and singing with eight tones)