Winter tide
Sasui Festival
The legend tells that a very reputed chief, Sasui, led her people to fight in order to stick up for the interests and died later in war. People think highly of her and regard her as the virago of Dong society and the god to protect them. Almost in every village in the south-east, there must be one memorial temple for Sasui. Actually, Worshiping foremother, as story goes, can be traced back to primitive time and is relics of enatic system.
Dong people offer sacrifice to Sasui during the first month of lunar calendar, the same period of Chinese Spring Festival. Activities around drum tower include: Lusheng unison, chorus of tens of persons, Taiguanren which is similar to Dionysian in West, and Dong opera as well.In Dong area:
Jan 28 Arrive Guiyang. Stay at Guiyang.
Jan 29 Guiyang–Liping–Zhaoxing.
Plane to Liping, the capital of Dong ethnic. Then go to Zhaoxing village, like a gem in the mountain. The village is filled by the beautiful Dong ethnic style wood house, roofed bridge and drum tower and looks like in the fairytale. Stay at Zhaoxing.
Jan 30 Zhaoxing
Enjoy and experience Sasui festival in Zhao Xing and Ji Tang, appreciate Dongopera. Sasui is Dong people’s foremother and regarded as the god offering protection to them. A legend tells she, as the chief, died of fight for interests of her tribe ever since became the hero and symbol of Dong’s spirit. Stay at Zhaoxing.
Jan 31 Zhaoxing–Congjiang
Visit of the village of Yingtan (Dong minority), where can be seen the brown indigo shining
cloth, also called beaten cloth.
