On December 22, the delegation of Hunan Province Foreigner Photo Contest headed toward their tour stop in the Ancient Town of Qianzhou.
Located in the south of the urban area of Jishou City, the town boasts a history of over 4,200 years. Local people tend to reside around pools. The contestants experienced the “bridges, water and houses” as those described by Ma Zhiyuan, a famous Chinese dramatist of the Yuan Dynasty (B.C.1271~1368), in his famous works. They appreciated a fascinating show of national intangible cultural heritage, in which the participants were warmly invited to join the dance of the Miao minority.
Later, the group drove to the Aizhai Suspension Bridge, 20 kilometers away from Jishou’s city center. Standing on the bridge made of steel truss girders and with the world’s largest span in gorge, they exclaimed the achievement of human wisdom repeatedly when they were pressing the shutters.
Singing songs just learnt from the tour guide, the foreign photography lovers successfully went through the “pass” of the singing competition in an antiphonal style in the Miao village of Dehang. The Chinese word “Dehang” means the “beautiful valley” in Miao dialect. Intoxicated with atmosphere of the Miao village, the group interacted with the local people during the Miao style performance and enjoyed the charm of the Miao minority’s bamboo dance.
