On June 13, 2026, Miao people from across Northeast Yunnan and neighboring areas gathered with other ethnic groups and tourists at the Madougou Ethnic Bullfighting Cultural Park (马豆沟民族斗牛文化园) in Shishan Town (狮山镇), Wuding County (武定县), Yunnan Province (云南省), to celebrate a traditional Miao festival.
The Huashan Festival (花山节), also known as “Caihuashan” (踩花山) or “Tiaohua” (跳花), is the most important traditional festival for the Miao people of Northeast Yunnan (滇东北). Legend has it that during their long migration, whenever the Miao ancestors settled somewhere new, they would raise a flower pole, play the lusheng, and dance wherever mountain flowers were in bloom—honoring their ancestors, bringing their people together, and praying for healthy livestock and a good harvest. The festival keeps alive the history and identity of the Miao people, and it is the day Miao communities look forward to most each year.
This year’s festival was a grand and lively affair. The Madougou Ethnic Bullfighting Cultural Park (马豆沟民族斗牛文化园) was packed, and the air was festive. Miao girls in embroidered pleated skirts and fine silver headdresses stood in neat rows, holding ox-horn cups to welcome visitors with the “blocking door wine” (拦门酒) ceremony—the highest form of Miao hospitality. As long as the singing went on, the wine kept flowing, a sincere welcome to guests from afar. Led by the lusheng, the processions moved to the rhythm of song. Silver ornaments jingled with every step, answering the lusheng’s melody. Everywhere you looked, the colorful costumes flowed like a sea of flowers, bringing the whole site to life.
The cultural performance was the highlight of the festival and the part people anticipated most. Miao troupes from different places took the stage with authentic lusheng dances and antiphonal singing of ancient songs. The lusheng dance is one of the most representative traditional dances of the Miao people. The dancers’ steps were steady and strong, their movements both powerful and graceful. The lusheng rose high and thrilling, like a roaring mountain waterfall, then softened into something gentle and flowing, like a quiet stream. The audience answered with wave after wave of applause and cheers. The antiphonal singing of ancient songs is a key part of the Miao oral tradition. Its lyrics cover creation myths, migration history, farming, and much more—a kind of encyclopedia of Miao culture. This year’s program also featured modern Miao songs and dances. Tradition and innovation went hand in hand, keeping the culture rooted while giving it a modern feel, and showing that Miao culture is still very much alive.
A young Miao singer who took part in the performance said, “The Huashan Festival (花山节) has been passed down from our ancestors. It is not just a lively event; it is the root of our culture. When I was a child, I learned to sing Miao songs and dance the lusheng from my elders. Back then, I just thought it was fun. As I grew up, I came to understand that these songs and dances hold our people’s history and feelings. As a young person, I have a duty to learn them well, perform them well, and pass them on, so that more people can see and love our Miao culture.” Her words echoed what many young Miao people feel, and they point to the hope and future of this cultural heritage.
Holding the Huashan Festival (花山节) is one of the most effective ways to keep intangible cultural heritage alive. The festival gives Miao people a chance to get close to their own history and traditions and to plant the seeds of cultural confidence in their hearts. Elders pass on skills and tell stories; younger people learn and draw strength from what they hear. In this way, culture moves naturally from one generation to the next. At the same time, people of different ethnic groups come together, deepen their understanding of one another, and strengthen their bonds—promoting exchange and unity and helping to paint a shared picture of ethnic harmony and progress. In this new era, Huashan culture is finding fresh energy, passing from generation to generation and serving as a spiritual bridge between the past and the future.
Text and photo by Long Haiyan (龙海燕), edited by Tingting Tang | 16 Sep 2026
2026年滇东北苗族花山节在武定举办
2026年6月13日，来自滇东北各地及邻近地区的苗族同胞与各族群众、游客欢聚一堂，在云南省武定县狮山镇马豆沟民族斗牛文化园共庆这一苗族传统盛会。
花山节又称“踩花山”“跳花”，是滇东北苗族最为隆重的传统节日。相传苗族先辈们在漫长迁徙途中，每到一处新定居地，便在山花烂漫处立花杆、吹芦笙、跳苗族舞，祭祀祖先、团聚族人、祈求人畜兴旺、五谷丰登。花山节承载着民族的历史记忆与文化认同，是苗族群众一年中最期盼的日子。
本届花山节现场气氛热烈，盛况空前。活动当天，马豆沟民族斗牛文化园人山人海，处处洋溢着欢乐祥和的节日氛围。身着刺绣百褶裙、头戴精美银冠的苗族姑娘排成整齐的队列，手捧牛角杯，以热情洋溢的拦门酒迎接四方宾客。拦门酒是苗族待客的最高礼仪，歌声不停酒不断，表达了苗族人民对远方来客的真诚欢迎。各方阵在芦笙的引领下踏歌而行，银饰随着步伐叮当作响，与悠扬的芦笙声相互应和。放眼望去，五彩斑斓的民族服饰如同流动的花海，将整个节日现场装点得格外绚丽。
文艺汇演是节日的重头戏，也是最受瞩目的环节之一。来自各地的苗族文艺队伍纷纷登台，献上原汁原味的芦笙舞和古歌对唱。芦笙舞是苗族最具代表性的传统舞蹈之一，舞者步伐稳健有力，动作刚柔并济，芦笙时而高亢激昂，如高山流水般震撼人心，时而婉转低回，如溪流潺潺般沁人心脾，引得观众掌声不断、喝彩连连。古歌对唱则是苗族口头传统的重要组成部分，歌词内容涵盖创世神话、迁徙历史、生产劳动等多个方面，堪称苗族文化的“百科全书”。今年的汇演还融入了苗族现代歌舞创作，传统与创新交相辉映，既保留了民族文化的根脉，又赋予了时代的气息，展现了苗族文化在传承中不断发展的蓬勃生命力。
参与文艺演出的苗族青年歌手表示：“花山节是祖祖辈辈传下来的节日，它不只是一场热闹，更是我们民族文化的根。小时候，我跟着长辈学唱苗歌、学跳芦笙舞，那时候只觉得好玩。长大后才明白，这些歌舞里藏着我们民族的历史和情感。作为年轻人，我有责任把它学好、演好、传下去，让更多人看见、喜欢我们的苗族文化。”这番话道出了许多苗族青年的心声，也让我们看到了民族文化传承的希望与未来。
举办花山节，正是对非物质文化遗产最有效的活态保护与传承。通过节庆活动这个平台，苗家儿女得以近距离接触和认识本民族的历史与传统，在心中种下文化自信的种子。老一辈在节日中传授技艺、讲述故事，年轻一代在学习中感悟文化、汲取力量，代际之间的文化传递就这样自然而然地完成。同时，各民族群众在共同的欢庆中加深了解、增进感情，促进了交往交流交融，共同绘就了民族团结进步的美丽画卷。花山文化在新时代焕发出新的生机与活力，代代相传，生生不息，成为连接过去与未来的精神桥梁。
图/文 龙海燕 2026年9月16日