Today we will follow an unbeaten path down to south Guizhou, meet the extremely hospitable Miao people in Danzhai County, admire their dazzling handmade color paper and wx printing cloth. 

Miao is the dominant group in Danzhai County making up three fourth of the total population. The small village we are visiting today is called Shiqiao with couple hundred households nestled in a mountain valley.  Danzhai is a place as beautiful and passionate as its name suggests. Just look at how the Danzhai people greet their visitors - an all-out party floating with songs, dances, and, the guarantee of a great party-self-brewed rice wine! 

Today, ancient way of hand-made paper has been replaced by modern production and process.  The tradition of hand-made paper is still kept in Shiqiao.  Shiqiao Village of Danzhai County is one of the villages where villagers continue to earn their living by producing and selling hand-made papers and products. However, with modern technology, changing demand and behavior of consumers, the number of villagers who can survive by keeping this tradition has declined from year to year, to left around 40 families only.

Guizhou Tourism Administration considers tourism to be one of means to reduce poverty and increase the quality of life for the people.  The Administratiion thus aims to preserve this tradition while at the same time promoting this unique culture to the world. The recipient of a PATA Foundation grant in 2006 aims to preserve a craft that locals have been practising since about 100 BC. Forty Shiqiao Village families in Guizhou Province, China (PRC) continue to earn a living producing hand-made paper and paper products. Construction of a display centre for the ancient craft of papermaking is nearly complete. A papermaking workshop is already in use.

China tours inclusive of visiting Shiqiao Village