Miao people celebrate Spring Festival with singing and dancing

Miao people dressed in festive costumes celebrate "tiaochang" in Huaxi district of Guiyang, Guizhou province on Feb 21. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

"Tiaochang" has been celebrated in recent days among thousands of Miao people in villages of Huaxi district, Guiyang.

Dressed in traditional costumes, people from different branches of the Miao ethnic group gather together, singing choral songs and dancing.

A staple of the Miao people's festive activities during the Chinese New Year, "tiaochang" is celebrated to worship their ancestors and pray for peace and prosperity.

It is also an important courtship ritual which offers chances for young people to show off their finest embroidery and dancing and to compete in their skills of playing lusheng reed pipes.