Traditional ethnic festival travels across Guangxi

The Shangsi Festival, also known as the Double Third Day, is celebrated by the Zhuang ethnic group on the third day of the third lunar month, which falls on April 18 this year.

A total of 1,000 festivities and celebrations featuring ethnic culture, regional traditions, cultural performances and interactive activities have been held across Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region since April 18.

Zhuang people gathered while wearing traditional ethnic costumes to reminisce about ancient heroes and ward off evil spirits, showcasing their unique and vibrant culture.

A thousand members of the Zhuang ethnic group arrange themselves in concentric circles as they play a total of 500 bronze drums in celebration of the Shangsi Festival in Nandan county of Hechi, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region on April 18. [Photo by Huang Kaihun/hecwang.cn]

Yao ethnic girls perform the Maguai dance, a strong tradition among the Zhuang, in Dahua Yao autonomous county of Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region on April 18. Maguai is the word for frog in the Zhuang dialect, which they consider to be a sacred animal. [Photo by Zhang Ailin/xinhuanet.com]

A giant bowl of five-color sticky rice, a traditional local cuisine that can serve up to 1,000 people, attracts visitors to Yangshuo county of Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region on April 18. [Photo by Xie Cidi provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Zhuang train crews on the G422 high-speed train connecting Nanning, capital of Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, and Beijing, bring the festivities to passengers by singing folk songs. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

A total of 22 bands consisting of over 1,000 players play the reed-pipe wind instrument in celebration of the Shangsi Festival in Liuzhou city of Hechi, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region on April 18. [Photo by Wang Yizhao/chinanews.com]