Xijiang Miao village - Taoyao Pottery Kiln

Up early this morning so we headed for the local "park" a few blocks away.  This one was actually more of a square but this gentleman was bringing it to life with his yo-yo.  A metal can, almost like an upsidedown water bottle that he kept spinning with a whip.  Man, did it crack when he hit it.  There were several others who joined him while we were watching. Not a quiet sport!

 

The men and women who tend the plants along the roadside of this major thoroughfare are up and out early.  Very basic tools.  Note all the plants lining the street are still in pots so it means watering each one.  This was typical of the mass plantings we've gone by.

 And the vegetable vendors were out early this 

morning.  Lots of mushrooms as well as greens today.

We did tai chi in the parking lot behind the hotel this morning and then had breakfast and off we went to Xijiang Miao Village, known as "1000 household Village" and "the village of 100 festivals".  It has a population of around 6000 people, 99.5% are Miao. 

In the last few years, a good deal of money has been invested in restoring the houses to their original appearance in an effort to designate the village as a tourist destination. Consequently,

 

the main street, the renovated bridge and 

the riverfront area are relatively new.

 

as well as the many stalls aimed at tourist revenue.
These huge carvings were interesting..tough to get home!

 

 We stopped at the Cultural Museum where

they had marvelous carvings in the doors...

 

 pictures of traditional food techniques...

 

 a marvelous panorama of cotton from planting to cloth...

 

 

 

 note the emphasis on community involvement.

It was a wonderful wander with rooms for festivals,

housing, clothing etc.

But it was time to head up the hill with our meeting with one of the three chiefs of the village and lunch.  The village is located in a very steep valley and the houses are stacked up the hillside.

Traditional Miao roof topper...

 Fireworks announced our arrival...

 and we all shared rice wine as we entered their house.

 We had a wonderful discussion about village life

and current challenges.

Then the feast began.  It was a wonderful lunch...

Mama had been busy in the kitchen

while we were talking!

Then a brief tour of the house...

the laundry room with extractor.

They were very gracious hostesses....thank you!

 As we were saying goodbye this couple came past

the house with their load of tiles for their house.

 

 Then back down the hill to school.

 More murals...

 and then a little time in English class.

 Following our class, we all returned to the bridge 

and then had time to wander around town...

In the Big Drum Square we ran across women 

in their traditional dress.  There is a performance 

of traditional dances in the square twice a day.

 Stunning colors and silver decorations.

 Then some sightings on our stroll...waterwheel...

 Sand for concrete...no gender discrimination for jobs here...

 checking out the chickens for dinner...

 

 Separators for the electrical wires...

 

 drying corn and new construction everywhere!

After a wonderful visit to the village we headed for the family owned Taoyao Pottery Kiln.  It was a great drive through the valley...

 

 more rice patties..

 piled stalks of leaves...

then into the pottery village...

 

 The owner of the business gave a

brief talk about the history and

technique used...

 then a brief demo...he puts the clay in a white form on the wheel...

then uses the stationary sticks to assure uniformity

of the bowls.  Many of them are used in restaurants.

 

 Then they are dried...

 

 and fired in the Uphill Kiln.

Time to head back to Kaili and another great dinner.  Very interesting day.  These minority villages are fascinating....a little like walking into the pages of National Geographic!