When I come to Zhangjiajie, I visit Wulingyuan during the day. What do I do at night? Naturally, I would like to stroll around Xibu Street, eat and drink, and then watch a charming performance in Xiangxi.

Xiangxi is a vast and magical land, home to more than a dozen ethnic minorities such as the Han, Tujia, Miao, Dong, and Yao. In military struggle, production and labor, weddings, funerals, marriages and other lives, many shocking witchcraft, art and stunts have been created. Through the four chapters of romance, mystery, happiness and passion, the performance of "Charming Xiangxi" leads the audience through time and space to appreciate this colorful land and the simple, enthusiastic and brave people on this land.

Opening: Inspiration.

Miao drum is the most unique dance art in the Miao area of my country. It is spread in Jishou City, Fenghuang County, Luxi County, Baojing County, Huayuan County, Guzhang County, etc. in Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture of Hunan Province.

"Border Town, Cuicui"

Ask most people, what impressed you most about Xiangxi? I guess everyone will say, Shen Congwen, Biancheng, Cuicui.

Her beauty, kindness, and her emotional story with Tianbao and Nuosang three people vividly interpret the goodness of human nature in the flexible and natural mountains and rivers.

"Climbing the Building"

The Yao people have always had a tradition of marrying women to men and having freedom in love. When the girl in the family was old enough to fall in love, her parents arranged for her to live in a diaojiao building so that she could have a door-to-door meeting with young men.

The girl wants to choose someone who is brave, intelligent and skilled, so see who can climb the high wooden building without taking stairs, and the winner can win the girl's heart. The young man has to show his superhuman skills before he can finally win his sweetheart...

This program is interspersed with acrobatic performances. Standing on a ladder with a person on his back, this ability is even more powerful than walking on stilts!

You also have to make various difficult movements...

I finally climbed the high penthouse and could date a girl ~

"Masang trees build a lantern stand"

In the endless mountains of western Hunan, villages face each other across mountains, and men and women often have to use loud singing voices to express their feelings. As a result, China's intangible cultural heritage-Sangzhi folk songs were born here.

Among them,"Masang Shu 'er Build a Lamp Stand" is also known as the most beautiful love song in the world. It is said that this song came from an old Tujia person. Her lover went to war. She waited silently for decades, but never waited for him to come back. After she passed away in her 90s, people later discovered this song.

So as soon as the song started, my eyes burst into tears.

I still vaguely remember the lyrics: My sister was washing clothes by the creek, and I also thought of you... The way ethnic minorities express their love is always bold and straightforward.

In the corridors on both sides of the theater stage, there are also actors assisting in the performance, which is really of a high standard.

"Wild Mogus"

As a relic of ancient history and culture, Maogusi is known as the "living fossil of primitive drama" and is the most primitive dance of mankind on earth. Tujia ancestors used it to pay homage to their ancestors and pray for a bumper harvest.

A rope hangs from the center of the stage, and three actors grab the rope with their bare hands and spin in the air... It attracted prolonged applause.

"Daughter Club"

The ninth day of the seventh month of the lunar calendar is the Tujia "Daughter's Club" and is also known as the Oriental "Valentine's Day". On this day, Tujia men and women dressed up beautifully and used songs as the medium to find the other half of their lives.

A large group of young boys and girls danced to the song, which reminded me of what the Book of Songs said: "The uneven vegetables are picked from left and right, and the beautiful ladies are friends with the piano and the zither." How innocent and straightforward it is. For thousands of years, men and women have used it to express feelings. The way has remained unchanged.

"Flying Knife Heroes".

The knife-thrower was blindfolded, and the disc was rotating at high speed. I don't know how to hit accurately? The host said that the brothers and sisters had studied skills from their master on the mountain since childhood, and they worked hard to develop superb skills.

Flying knives, flying axes, blindfolded, and people still hit every target when turning on the target... It's unbelievable. The friends privately speculated that maybe there was a metal object such as a magnet on the back of the disk? It is unknown.

The audience invited a girl to come on stage and verified that both the sword and axe were real...

In the most thrilling scene, the little junior sister was spinning quickly on the target, and the eldest senior brother's flying knives were thrown out one by one, which made people shudder.

"Crying to get married"

Crying for marriage is a unique custom for Tujia girls when they get married.

Half a month to a month before marriage, the bride begins to cry and sing. There are many forms, including one person crying, two people crying together, and many people crying together. The content of crying and singing includes ridicule of the matchmaker, reluctance to part with relatives, and longing for the future. With the progress of society and the improvement of civilization, the content of crying and marrying is constantly being renovated. Whoever cries the most sweetly for the longest time and the richest content will be the most virtuous housewife after marriage.

I wonder if there is still such a custom nowadays?

This program has very interesting interactions. Four men will be selected on stage, put on the clothes of the Tujia eldest sister-in-law and learn to dance, and amid laughter, the best one will be selected and married to the bride.

After watching the infield performance, there is also the outfield. There are Miao unique skills such as stepping on a knife mountain, going into a sea of fire, and swallowing fire.

The audience platform was also packed.

Look at the big knife several meters long in the center of the stage! Someone will perform barefoot soon!

A rapt audience.

This should belong to hard qigong, right? The man was lying underneath, with three cement boards pressed on his body, and several people stood... When the boards were moved away, he stood up, patted his clothes, and left.

Dance on the tip of the knife! The knife is very sharp. If you apply it with the red tassel, it will be cut! How can you do it barefoot? I couldn't understand it.

Swallow the fire. Put the burning torch directly in your mouth...

I walked barefoot through the fire pond covered with charcoal. When the game ended, I approached it, but it was still steaming hot...

Coming out of the Charming Xiangxi Grand Theater, you can stop by and visit Xibu Street. Xibu Street is particularly quiet at night, much like Lijiang and Fenghuang, except that compared with the former two, Xibu Street is quieter and less commercial.

So this is what my favorite old street looks like, and everything is just right.

Find a small bar and sit down and ask for a drink.

There is a resident singer singing "Take a Walk in the Streets of Chengdu", which is very beautiful.

In the shop opposite, two little bosses were beating kudzu cakes. When they saw people passing by, they warmly invited them: Taste it for free and buy it when it tastes delicious!

This is a snack street, very lively, with rows of stalls, and the aroma of barbecue can be smelled from afar.

TIPS：

Charming Xiangxi During the peak summer season, there are three performances starting from 6:30 every night. You can inquire in advance and arrange the performances according to your own time. Fares are divided according to districts. District A is the most expensive, but if you want to take pictures, the viewing angle is also the best. Area B comes next, followed by Area C.