Miao and Dong autonomous prefecture in Southeast China's Guizhou province has the largest concentration of the people of the Dong?ethnic group?in China?with a total Dong population of 1.21 million, 40.8 percent of the total. Dwelled by more than 320,000 Dong people, Liping county has the largest Dong population of any other county in China.

The Dong people engage mainly in agriculture and forestry and have a long history of planting paddy thanks to the many suitable basins, which are known as "Bazi" locally. The Dong people also grow crops along valleys and streams. Liping, Congjiang, Tongdao, Sanjiang and Longsheng counties are rich in glutinous rice and also plant wheat, millet, sweet potato, corn, potato, tobacco, rape, bean and hot pepper, among others.

The Dong people live in villages of 20-30 households are generally located near streams. There are also larger villages of 700 households. Dong houses, built of fir wood, are usually two or three stories high. Those located on steep slopes or riverbanks stand on stilts. People live on the upper floors, while the ground floor is reserved for domestic animals and firewood.

A typical Dong diet consists mainly of rice. In the mountainous areas, glutinous rice is eaten with peppers and pickled vegetables. Millet, corn, wheat, sorghum, and potato are eaten for more variety. Wine plays a very important role in the diet of the Dong people. Most wines are produced from glutinous rice and are used for welcoming guests or relaxing. Glutinous rice, fried flour and pickled fish are the Dong people's favorite traditional foods.

Hand-woven cloth is used to make traditional Dong clothing; finer cloth and silks are used for decoration or for making festival costumes. Machine-woven cloth printed black and purple or blue is also becoming popular.

The Dong people have many different kinds of folk handicraft products, including embroidery, cross-stitching, weaving, painting, carving and paper-cutting. Dong women are skilled at embroidering and cross-stitching with flowers, fish and bird patterns. Color painting is usually seen on the ridge beams of drum towers, bridges and temples, depicting historical stories and Dong ethnic customs.

The Dong people are also skilled musicians. Singing plays an important role in their daily life. Dong grand choirs, Pipa songs and road blocking songs are typical of Dong music.

Dong ethnic dances include Lusheng dance, Duoye dance, dragon dance and lion dance. Lusheng dance has complex melody and dancing postures. Duoye dance is an ancient Dong ethnic dance combined which includes singing. The dancers link hands and form a circle while moving to the rhythm of the music.

People of the Dong ethnic group sing and dance under the Tiansheng Bridge, Liping county, Guizhou province. [Photo by Yang Daifu/xinhuanet.com]

The Dong people have a number of festivals, such as the Spring Festival, Worshipping Ox Festival, New Harvest Festival, Double Third Day, Lusheng Festival, Pure Brightness Festival, Dragon Boat Festival and Bullfighting festival, celebrating everything from the seasons, harvest, and ancestors to faith, love, entertainment, and sports. With the integration of ethnic cultures, the Dong also celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival and Double Ninth Festival.