People of the Dong ethnic group in southwest China's Guizhou Province celebrated Dong New Year with grand festivities from November 29 to December 3, attracting visitors eager to experience their rich cultural heritage.

The event, which typically begins in the eleventh month of the Chinese lunar calendar and fell on December 1 this year, featured traditional delicacies and long-table banquets, creating a vibrant and festive atmosphere.
As the most important holiday for the Dong people, Dong New Year marks the end of the harvest season and the beginning of a new year. It is a time for family reunions, honoring ancestors, and celebrating the bounty of the harvest.
Zhaoxing Dong Village, located in Liping County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, is the largest Dong settlement in China.
Organized around its iconic drum towers, the village is divided into five sections, each crafting its own unique menu and inviting relatives and friends to join in the long-table banquets.

"We carefully plan every detail and tailor the menu with traditional dishes to ensure our tour guests enjoy a happy Dong New Year," said Lu Yuguang, the head of Zhaoxing Village.

Steamed pork, a staple dish, is made from locally raised black pigs. The preparation involves boiling, frying, slicing, coating the pork in a special sauce, layering it with dried vegetables, and steaming it for about an hour and a half.

"This pork is from locally raised black pigs. It is juicy yet not greasy. The preserved vegetables are made from our homegrown radishes, sun-dried and pickled," said Lu Yunzhu, a villager.

Another culinary specialty is steamed glutinous rice meatballs, made with locally grown rice, fresh minced pork, starch, salt, and spices.

"This dish is a must-have for the Dong New Year. It symbolizes reunion," shared Lu Huachun, a villager.

Listed as a national intangible cultural heritage item of China in 2011, the celebrations drew tourists and visitors from across the country to experience the festive atmosphere, where the enticing aroma of food filled the streets, and Dong community members joined guests from afar to raise their glasses in celebration, sharing the joy and flavors of happiness.