Langde Miao Village, China: October 18, 2019

While I've enjoyed all the village visits, for me Langde Miao Village was the most interesting. The village has a population of about 500 people from 10 families. They are all members of the Miao ethnic group. Everyone was so friendly to us as we wandered their village.

As I walked up and down narrow steps and pathways between houses, a woman walking with purpose quickly passed me. She had a small folding camp stool tied on her back. I followed.

At a wooden boardwalk/deck surrounding a pond, she unfolded the camp stool and with a scowl sat down.

At first she was alone, but gradually more women of a certain age trickled in. Each woman had her own spot and group of friends. There were more women behind me all waiting, and they didn't mind the distraction of me taking their photo while they waited.

Although she periodically continued to scowl, she was a kick. I so wish we had a common language.

Men waited separately on the other side of the pond. Eventually, a guy came by and gave each of these elders a ticket. Our guide said that they get points tickets for showing up and also for being part of the performances. The tickets can be redeemed for cash. This was the first village we visited where it seemed like every resident got a share of the door.

I was so absorbed with photographing these people that I forgot to return to the entrance for the welcome ceremony and only saw the later performance in the main square.

The polyphonic musical instrument called the Lusheng

The performances are twice daily. There are four groups of entertainers which allows days off so residents can do chores and work in their gardens.

At the end of the musical/dance performances, the elders joined in a spiral and paraded around the performance square.

The embroidery on the women's costumes was truly fine and exquisite. Outside of the lunch restaurant, I watched a woman embroider a complicated dragon design. She explained that it would be a sleeve detail. She was hunched over, wearing glasses. For the photograph she stood tall and removed her glasses.

Embroiderer 

Show and lunch finished; we drove on to the Ancient City of Zhenyuan in the eastern part of Guizhou province.