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Xiaoshuijing, Kunming's typical Miao village

Xiaoshuijing (Small Well) is located in the southeastern quarter of Fumin Town, 17 kilometers away from Daying Town’s government, and can be accessed by a village road. The village is at an elevation of 2.38 km, and consists of 138 families, 447 people, all of whom are of Miao minority. It is also the biggest Miao village in Kunming.

 

There is a comparatively big Church in the village with a choir that sings beautifully. Miao villagers there have their ethnic group’s instruments; songs and dances are well established traditionally with simple and adorned social customs. Xiaoshuijing Miao Farmers Choir was first organized in 1986, and it has more than 63 members now. The group can sing over 400 songs and within 3 days they can learn and harmonize a new song. The oldest member in the choir is 36 years old while the youngest is 15. None of the members has ever been given professional training, they just practice hard every day; and every night they get together and rehearse their songs.

 

In October of 2003, the Xiaoshuijing Miao Farmers Choir took part in the First Chorus Festival of China’s West Area and won first place. Furthermore, singing 《The Same Song • Coming to Yunnan》 at a large concert and at the 2004 Kunming China International Tourism Culture Festival, the 63 members of the Xiaoshuijing Miao Farmers Choir all wore their gorgeous, traditional Miao costumes; and with their pure voices and without musical accompaniment, they sang《Please stay, guests from far away》,《The Same Song》, and 《Goodbye, Dear Friend》. These three Miao folk song’s unique sound, in addition to their beautiful harmony, made it seem that the audiences were in a forest and enjoyed the sounds of nature. China Chorus Association, Yunnan Chorus Society, etc. all claim, Xiaoshuijing Miao Farmers Choir is sound as “A perfect combination of folk singing style and beautiful four-part choir” and “The purest singing to ever come from farmlands”. Their sound is remarkably like the sounds heard in nature. After the president of the China Chorus Association attended their singing, he critiqued it saying, “Xiaoshuijing Choir’s sound is not only bel canto, but also has a Miao peculiarity, harmony with nature, and does not have any artificial air. They were devoted into the performance and it was very moving.”

 

So far, Xiaoshuijing Choir has been enjoying a broader and broader fame. Countless people make special efforts to appreciate the Choir’s performance. In Xiaoshuijing, people get chances to experience authentic Miao ethnic culture by enjoying the pleasant sounds of nature presented by its Choir.

 

Add: Yongding Neighborhood, Fumin County

Tel: 136 6973 2558

Tel (for the Choir): 139 8716 6302