China’s Qiang ethnic group has a lineage which dates back more than 3,000 years. Today, most Qiang live in the mountainous areas in northwest Sichuan province, however there are a small number living upon a mountainside in Guizhou.

The Qiang people of Qishuping village are descendants of the Hu family which fled war torn Sichuan as the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644) came to an end, finally settling on Fanjing Mountain.

Today the village is home to some 289 Qiang people all sharing the family name of Hu. Qishuping sits upon the eastern face of the mountain at an altitude of more than 1,000 meters, sheltering itself from harsh weather.

At the entrance to the village, three ancient trees stand tall in front of a backdrop of stone buildings and fortified watchtowers. Running through the middle of Qishuping, a stream trickles along its mountain pathway, providing fresh water to the village.

Facing south, households in the village are able to get more sun. Many buildings in Qishuping were built with archery holes in the walls so that they could be used in defense against an attack.

According to the Qiang calendar, the villagers celebrate the New Year on Oct 1 of the lunar calendar, and divide each year into 10 months consisting of 36 days each. It is vitally important in Qiang culture to return to the village or hometown on New Year’s Day each year.

Upon the New Year, Qiang people take part in a ceremony, setting fire to reeds and offering sacrifices to make contact with higher powers. Offerings are given, such as preserved meat, pig’s heads, and grains, to wish for health, favorable weather and good harvests.

As there are only a small number of Qiang people in Guizhou, the local government sends a proportion of the children to Sichuan province each year to learn more about the culture of the ethnic group, such as its language, traditions and etiquette.

Hu Zhengyong is the 14th leader of Qishuping. He explained that life in the village is not the same as it once was, as the people seek to find ways to improve farming conditions and social wellbeing. “We have started making handicrafts and growing crops to increase revenue in the village,” Hu said.

The local government of nearby Taoying town is also hoping to create a tourism industry around the village and has invested 10 million yuan ($1.5 million) in infrastructure. An activity square and an exhibition hall have been built in the village, allowing visitors to learn more about Qiang history and culture. “I hope tourism can help to preserve our culture and at the same time increase people’s income,” said Hu.

Traditional Qiang-style architecture in Qishuping village. [Photo/xinhuanet.com]