Morong Miaozhai, Western Hunan (Moronggu Town)

In the territory of Guzhang County, Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Western Hunan, close to the Xiangxi Hongshilin National Geopark, there is a village known as the “No. 1 Miaozhai in Western Hunan”-Morong Miaozhai (Also known as Moronggu Town). “Murong” means “place with dragons” in Miao language. This is one of the most well-preserved and rich settlements of Miao culture in Western Hunan. For thousands of years, Miao compatriots have flourished here, inheriting ancient customs, skills and ballads, like a ‘living Miao culture.’Museum”. ​

1. Basic situation and geographical location​

(1) Geographical location​

Merong Miaozhai is located in Merong Town, Guzhang County, Xiangxi Prefecture, Hunan Province. It is located in the hinterland of the Wuling Mountain Range and on the banks of the Longbi River, a branch of the Youshui River. It is about 12 kilometers away from Guzhang County City, about 20 kilometers away from Jishou City, and about 150 kilometers away from Zhangjiajie City. It is close to the exit of Zhanghua Expressway Merong, Zhangjiajie-Phoenix Ancient City-Furong Town XiangxiAn important node on the golden tourist route. Zhaimen can be reached in 5 minutes by car from the high-speed exit. The transportation is very convenient. You can also take the shuttle bus to Guzhang County from Jishou City, get off at Merong Town and walk for 10 minutes. ​

(2) Basic overview​

Merong Miaozhai was founded in the Song Dynasty and has a history of nearly a thousand years. There are more than 500 Miao residents and more than 2,000 people. It is a large-scale and well-preserved ancient Miao village in western Hunan. Miaozhai is built by the mountains and rivers. The hanging feet are stacked on top of each other, the bluestone roads are winding and staggered, and the Longbi River passes through the village. The river is crystal clear and the waterwheel on the river is spinning leisurely, showing the simplicity and agility of Miaozhai in Western Hunan. ​

As the ‘hometown of Chinese Folk Culture and Art” (hometown of Miao inspiration), Merong Miaozhai takes intangible cultural heritage such as Miao inspiration, silver jewelry forging, Miao brocade embroidery, and Miao folk songs as its core. It was included in the list of traditional Chinese villages in 2013 and became a national 4A-level tourist attraction in 2020. NowIt has become a must-visit place for tourists to experience the Miao culture and feel the customs of ethnic minorities in western Hunan. ​

2. Core attractions: Immersive experience of Miao culture​

(1) Cultural experience attractions​

1. Miao inspirational Performance Venue​

The Miao culture is the “cultural business card” of Morong Miaozhai and it is also a national intangible cultural heritage. The performance venue is located in the drum tower Square in the center of the village. Classic inspirational programs such as “Welcome Drum”, “Reunion Drum” and “Monkey Drum’ are regularly staged every day: the drummer is dressed in bright Miao costumes, holding a drumstick, and hitting the cowhide drum with the rhythm. The sound of the drum is shocking, and the movements are vigorous and vigorous. Sometimes imitating monkeys playing,From time to time, the scenes of the labor of the Miao ancestors are shown, which are full of appeal. Visitors can not only watch the performance, but also learn to play drums under the guidance of the drummer, and experience the enthusiasm and power of the Miao people firsthand. ​

2. Silver Forging Experience Hall​

Morong Miaozhai is an important inheritance place for the silver jewelry forging skills of the Miao people in Western Hunan. In the experience hall, you can watch the whole process of silversmithing by hand: from silver melting, drawing, engraving to polishing, every step is full of ingenuity. Most of the silver jewelry patterns are themed around dragons and phoenix, flowers and birds, butterflies, etc., which means auspicious. Visitors can customize exclusive silver jewelry (such as bracelets, necklaces, and long-life locks), or they can purchase ready-made silver jewelry crafts as souvenirs. ​

3. Miao Jin Embroidery Workshop​

Miao brocade embroidery is a traditional skill of Miao women. Various finished Miao brocade products (such as back fans, aprons, tapestries) are displayed in the workshop. The colors are colorful and the patterns are exquisite, which shows the aesthetics and life wisdom of the Miao people. Here, visitors can follow the Miao embroidery niang to learn simple embroidery techniques, experience the production of Miao embroidery small pendants (such as keychains, bookmarks), and feel the charm of traditional skills. ​

(2) Ancient villages and natural landscapes​

1. Morong Hanging Foot Building Group​

The hanging foot building is a representative of Miao architecture. Most of the hanging foot buildings in Morong Miaozhai are three-story structures. The ground floor is overhead (used for stacking sundries and raising livestock), the middle floor is the living space (hall house, bedroom), and the top floor is the attic (storing grain). The wooden building is equipped with green tiles, and crops such as corn, chili, bacon, etc. are hung under the eaves, which are full of life. Strolling along the bluestone board road, you can climb to the observation deck behind the village to overlook the entire hanging foot tower group. The Longbi River winds through, reflecting the green mountains and green waters, like an ink painting scroll. ​

2. Longbi River Scenic Area​

The Longbi River is the “mother River” of Murong Miaozhai. Walking plank roads and viewing pavilions have been built on the banks of the river. Visitors can stroll along the plank road to enjoy the clear water and the playful scenery of fish and shrimps. They can also take a bamboo raft for rafting (open in summer, 30 yuan / person) to feel the “people are here’.The comfort of ”painting in the middle reaches’. There are also ancient watermills and water mills on the banks of the river. It is a popular place to take pictures and check in. It is especially suitable for early morning or evening excursions. The river glows in the morning or twilight, which is extremely quiet and beautiful. ​

3. Miao Sacrificial Drum Tower​

The Drum Tower is the core building of the Miao village, and it is also a place for villagers to discuss, worship, and hold activities. The drum tower in Morong Miaozhai is more than 20 meters high. It is a wooden structure with cornices and corners, and the top is decorated with the Miao totem “horns”, which highlights the cultural characteristics of the Miao people. There are ancient bronze drums hanging in the drum tower. Every Miao festival (such as the Miao Year and the Autumn Festival), villagers gather here to ring the bronze drums and hold sacrificial rituals to pray for good weather and good weather and good grain harvest. ​

(3) Folk interactive experience​

1. Blocking wine and long table banquet​

When entering the Morong Miaozhai, you will first encounter the ”blocking the door wine’ ceremony: dressed Miao girls hold rice wine in their hands, sing Miao folk songs, and invite tourists to drink into the village (The degree of rice wine is low, you can taste it lightly, if you don’t drink alcohol, you can smile and wave your hand). For lunch or dinner, you can experience the Miao characteristic “long table banquet”. Dozens of tables are spliced together to grow dragons. The tables are full of Miao delicacies (such as fish in sour soup, bacon fried ferns, glutinous rice wine, and artemisia baba). Tourists sit around and enjoy the Miao folk song performance while eating. It is very lively.(Long table banquet is 68 yuan / person, advance reservation is required). ​

2. Miao costume experience​

There are a number of Miao clothing rental shops (20-50 yuan /set, including headdress and silver jewelry) in the village. Visitors can choose their favorite Miao clothing and take pictures in the hanging foot building group and on the banks of the Longbi River to feel the fun of “transforming into a brother and a sister of the Miao family”. The clothing colors are mainly red, blue and green, with exquisite silver headdresses and silver collars. When walking, the silver jewelry collides and makes a crisp sound, showing the Miao style. ​

3. Ticket information: Huimin Policy and Consumption Reference​

(1) Ticket price​

• Scenic area entrance ticket: Free (Merong Miaozhai is an open ancient village, and you don’t need to purchase a entrance ticket to enter the tour). ​

• Reference for paid experience items：​

• Miao inspirational performance: free to watch (timed performance, the specific time is subject to the notice of the scenic area on the same day), experience drumming for 10 yuan / person. ​

• Silver jewelry forging experience: Customized silver jewelry is priced by weight (about 30-50 yuan /gram), and the price of finished silver jewelry varies (50-500 yuan /piece). ​

• Miao brocade embroidery experience: Experience making small pendants for 30 yuan / person (including materials), and purchase finished miao embroidery for 20-200 yuan / piece. ​

• Long table banquet: 68 yuan /person (including 8-10 Miao family dishes, reservations must be made at the restaurant in the village 1 hour in advance). ​

• Bamboo rafting (summer): 30 yuan / person (children must be accompanied by an adult). ​

(2) Preferential policies​

1. Free tickets / free items: All tourists can enter the village for free and watch the scheduled performances of the Miao people for free; children under 1.2 meters are free to ride bamboo rafts (adults are required to accompany them). ​

2. Consumer discounts: If you purchase goods in silver jewelry stores and embroidery workshops in the village, if you participate in experience projects (such as silver jewelry forging and embroidery), you can enjoy a 20% discount on finished products; fresh college entrance examination students in 2025 can experience the production of Miao Jin embroidery small pendants for free (limited to 1 piece). ​

4. Precautions for visiting: Respect folk customs and visit safely​

(1) Respect Miao customs and avoid offending​

1. Etiquette for blocking wine: When encountering blocking wine, don’t refuse or cover the wine glass with your hands. You can take the wine glass with both hands and return it after a sip (if you don’t drink alcohol, just smile and shake your head and say “Thank you”, don’t force it to block). ​

2. Taboos for taking pictures: Before photographing the Miao people, children, or villagers who are working, you need to obtain the consent of the other party; do not take pictures of Miao sacrificial rituals, statues in the drum tower, etc. at will, to avoid violating local taboos. ​

3. Clothing and wearing: After renting Miao costumes, do not discard or damage silver ornaments and headdresses at will, and keep them neat and tidy when returning them; do not wear Miao costumes and make solemn actions, and respect cultural traditions. ​

(2) Safety and travel tips​

1. Walking safety: There are many bluestone roads in the village, which are easy to slip on rainy days. It is recommended to wear non-slip sports shoes and avoid high heels. Some sections of the Longbi Riverside plank road are close to the water, and children need to be taken care of by adults. Do not chase and fight. ​

2. Consumer tips: When purchasing silver jewelry, Miao embroidery and other commodities, you can negotiate prices reasonably with merchants and pay attention to the purity of silver jewelry (it is recommended to choose a shop with the “pure silver 999” logo); before tasting long-table banquets or Miao family dishes, you can ask about the price first to avoid misunderstandings due to poor communication. ​

3. Weather and clothing: The temperature difference between day and night in the mountainous areas of Western Hunan is large, so it is recommended to bring a thin coat even in summer; rain gear is required during the rainy season (April-June), and pay attention to mosquito prevention (mosquito repellent can be applied in advance). ​

(3) Civilized tourism and protect the environment​

1. Take care of facilities: do not damage ancient buildings such as hanging foot towers and drum towers, and do not damage the tools and exhibits of silver jewelry workshops and embroidery workshops; do not step on the farmland and vegetation in the village at will to protect the ecological environment. ​

2. Garbage disposal: There are fewer trash cans in the village. It is recommended to carry garbage bags with you and sort and put the garbage out of the village. Do not throw garbage into the Longbi River to protect the clear water. ​

Morong Miao Village (Morong Drum Town), there is no excessive hustle and bustle of commercialization, only the most authentic Miao life and culture. Here, you can listen to a Miao folk song, beat a trembling drum, wear a gorgeous Miao costume, taste a sip of sour rice wine, and feel the enthusiasm and simplicity of your Miao compatriots in an immersive way. Whether it is a parent-child tour, a cultural experience tour, or a photography tour, you can find your own “memories of Miaozhai, Xiangxi” here. ​