Dong Drum Tower Cultural Festival in Longsheng
The annual Dong Drum Tower Cultural Festival was successfully held in Guangnan Village, Pingdeng Township, Longsheng County, Guilin, on Feburary 15, 2013. More than 4,000 Dong people in rich dresses gather together in front of the drum tower. There was a a variety of traditional folk events such as Grass Dragon dance, Hundred Families Banquet, etc.
As customary, the festive is held every Spring Festival; and this year, the celebration is the fitth of its kind. People sing, dance and dine together to pray for a year of abundance and observe Chinese new year.
The Dong drum tower exists in each village, and in some cases, not just one. Whenever Dong people build a new village, a grand drum tower would be built first, and then Diaojiaolou wooden houses around it. The tower is the highest construction in a Dong village, a symbol of the village. It provides venue for the whole village to discuss and settle important matters, hold important festivals or entertainments. No wonder the ethnic Dong culture is often referred to as the "drum tower culture".