Zhangjiajie Club

On May 18, China Insight, one of CCTV-news programs, made a brief report on ZJJ. The report lasted for 27 minutes, speaking of ZJJ splendid and wonderful natural scenic spots and its booming tourism.

It is said that the feature program of ZJJ tourism made its first appearance on CCTV-news, which does good to enhance the popularity and publicity of ZJJ in English-speaking nations.Henry, the host of China Insight, introduced enthusiastically ZJJ tourist area, such as Tianzishan, Yuanjiajie, Xibu Street, Tianmenshan and Tujia Customs Garden. Besides, he interviewed local officials, investors, tourist workers and guests, making an authentic display on ZJJ tourism industry and ZJJ scenic spots. If you want to watch the program, please go to the website, http://english.cntv.cn/program/program/chinainsight/20130518/100835.shtml.

Source：Rednet

Translator: Emma

Dong nationality is located mainly in Southwestern Hunan.On Middleautumn night , there is a prevalent 

and funning custom among Dong people, that is Middleautumn Vegetables’ Stealing Custom .According

 to the legend in ancient times that every year on midautumn night , the fairies in the moon would 

water the vegetables with amrita .Therefore ,Dong people can share and enjoythe delicious and

 blessed food together . 

  For unmarried girls , they will steal vegetables on middleautumn night from her favorite boy’s yard. 

Because it means the girl has the intention to have a affair with that guy. During that night ,picking 

vegetables from others’ yard is allowed and welcomed. Usually ,when the girl picked the vegetable 

and she would speak loudly to the boy “I have stealed your vegetables ,  come to my home for the 

dish.” For married women , they would steal vegetable with stout shapes which standfor healthy 

and robust of theirbabies. Generally , married women like to pick soy beans ,in Dong culture , 

 the pronunciation of soy bean is similar to kids’  health. For boys , the should cook and eat 

the  vegetables they picked outside .

 Mid-autumn Vegetables’ Stealing Custom of Dong nationality makes the mid-autumn

 day more mysterious and joyful .The main purpose of this custom is embodied in  

blessing and praying .

By Aileen

When Tujia women born a baby, the first guest went into the room, it is the people of “CaiSheng”. At this time, the baby’s father specifically sent a bowl with four eggs to feed strangers, and the baby called the stranger man “adopted father”. If the people is women, the baby called her “adopted mother”, the two sides relationship became stronger and stronger every day.

As time goes on, when the Chinese New Year is coming, mother carryes child and two pairs of specializing cloth shoes, and go back to the CaiSheng people′s home to  send New Year′s wishes, this is called “worship the adopted father” or “worship dopted mother”. The adopted father or dopted mother sent quite a number of “longevity money” which tied with green velvet, it stands for the adopted son will be wealthy and honor.

Translated by Sophia

When Miao people find lovers and fall in love with each other, they like to “catch edge field”, but tujia people use leaves to show love.

Every day, tujia people in the mountains talk with birds, to tell them the lonely, happy, worry, or secret thing. Without doubt, they pick several leaves to blow no lyrics songs. These songs, may be pathetic or elated, weep or bitterness. When listenning to the music, the birds chirping, like a mountain spring with a wonderful ding-dong, full of poetic.

Blowing leaves is not an easy thing, it need long-term practice. Inconvenient to admire some of the young men or women, but not like matchmaker to gossip, they can use leaves to have a courtship to show the full love.

Translated by Sophia