Yao People Celebrate Ganniao Festival

On February 20, 2023, the first day of the second Chinese lunar month, the annual Ganniao or Bird-respecting Festival of Yao ethnic group was celebrated at Songbai Yao Township, Jiangyong County, Yongzhou. More than 10,000 Yao people from the border areas of Hunan and Guangdong provinces, and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region participated. They gathered to purchase agricultural goods and supplies for spring ploughing, and experience Jiangyong's countryside cultural activities.

Launching ceremony of the Jiangyong County Countryside Cultural Event

Various intangible cultural heritage performances were staged, such as dragon dance, Nuo opera, Liuhou folk songs, and lion dance. Local "self-media" workers recommended the specialties and food of their hometowns at the event. 

Ganniao or Bird-respecting Festival has a long history of nearly 1,000 years. Traditionally, Yao people make Niaozai Baba on that day, which are coin-sized cakes made of glutinous rice flour and Chinese mugwort. Yao people hang Niaozai Baba on bamboo poles to attract birds. So that, the birds will not go to farms and damage the crop seedlings.

Launching ceremony of the Jiangyong County Countryside Cultural Event


Specialty food cooked on the site

This article is from Hunan Provincial Government www.enghunan.gov.cn. 

Photos: China National Radio correspondent

Translator: Pang Yuehui

Chinese source: China National Radio