South East GuiZhou (check out the complete GuiZhou China Province Map here) covers an area of 30,300 square kilometers and is home to over 3,500,000 people with the majority (approx. 62%) been the Miao and Dong People the rest coming from the Han, Buyi, Zhuang, Tujia, Shui, Yao Peoples and smaller rarely seen minorities (like the GeJia People) scattered around in isolated communities and villages.
           It's an area famous for its festivals with over 300 major and minor ones celebrated the whole year.
           On these occasions all the local communities come out in all their finery - elaborately, colorful, embroidered costumes, donning on head ornaments of silver (in the case of the Miao, "long horns" and neck jewelry).
            It's a time for traditional folk dances and songs accompanied by all the traditional musical instruments such as the bamboo lusheng, brass and wooden drums, and the ox-leg shaped qin (violin).
            Some of the better known and bigger festivals been The Lusheng Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, Sisters Festival, New Years Festival, San Yue San and Hill-leaping Festival just to name a few (more about Miao Festivals or the complete list).
           All festivals are held according to the Chinese Lunar Calendar.                        DAY ONE