Kaili Sunday Market
» Guiyang, Gui Zhou

凯里自由市场

For any visitors to Kaili, Guizhou Province, the Sunday market is a must see. Here, you are sure to find those Miao people in their traditional dresses, not only that a good shopping place to buy embroidery, silk, silver jewelry and other decoration items too. Especially, the colorful dresses, the elaborate head gears, and traditional customs of the Miao people are visible during the festivals of these communities.

Something about Kaili

Situated 195km east of Guizhou's capital, Guiyang, Kaili is the gateway to literally thousands of minority villages. It is the capital of the Southeast Guizhou Miao & Dong Nationalities Autonomous Prefecture. An estimated 65% of the local population of 420,000 people consists of minority groups.

While Kaili has developed into a relatively uninspiring place, the surrounding villages have retained their original culture and charm. There are many minority villages that can be visited as day trips from Kaili which allow opportunities to wander around the countryside, explore the traditional wooden villages, watch the everyday life of the locals, and see their colourful costumes.

Kaili is home to over 100 festivals every year. These include bull fights, dragon boats, horse races etc. The costumes at these festivals, especially those of the young women with their sparkling silverware are a spectacular sight. If you're coming to this area, it's worth checking the festival schedule in advance and planning accordingly.

Local people

Many ethic people live here, such as the Miao and Doug. Miao Ethnic Minority is both mysterious and exciting. The Miao people are identified by their dialect, dress, location and other customs. Festivals are occasions for the Miao people to get together and show off their culture. They have many traditional festivals all year round.

The people here are much less sophisticated and they help each other at the Sunday Market. Government units set up stalls and perform good deeds. You might see people cutting hair, doctors taking blood pressure, the agricultural college giving advice on insecticide, railway staff helping with timetables and others mending radios and televisions.

Have a look at the market

At Kaili's Sunday market in the west of the town; you get a feel for the diversity of the area, as hundreds of traders from nearby villages descend on the town. For any visitors to Kaili, the Sunday market is worthy visiting. Because many Miao people lived nearby, walking on the streets, you can fully enjoy the beautiful traditional dresses worn by Miao girls and women.

In recent years, more and more Miao girls prefer the trousers and jackets worn by Han Chinese girls to their black pleated skirts and embroidered jackets. However, they still wear their hair in a traditional manner piled high according to the style of their village and decorated with plastic combs, ribbons and even plastic flowers instead of silver.

What it sells

The embroidery, silk, silver jewelry and other decoration items, of course, the beautiful traditionally dress of Miao girls are attracting you eyes! How wonderful it is to buy something really fine and feel special life style of local ethic people.

Something really fine

Stalls sold embroidery silk, decorations, silver rings and earrings attract the attention of Miao girls and women. Chemical dyes are on sale since many of the Miao women spin, weave and dye their own cotton cloth. The Han Chinese dresses also enter this market. Besides, other things such as kites, pottery jars, paper money and incense are also on sell here.

Vegetables

The vegetable and the fresh food sections change according the seasons. There are so many kinds of vegetables sell in the market that even make local European market too far behind to catch up with. In the herb section, different kinds of herb, such as root ginger, wood ginger and coriander, are on sale. Pork, beef, chicken, duck and frozen fish are sold in the meat section, where stomach, intestines, liver, kidneys, head, lungs and ears of animals can be sold separately.

Fruits

In the market, fresh fruits are never absent all the year round. Apples, pears, bananas, oranges, tangerines, pommels, monkey peach and so on can be found in this market. To satisfy the needs of the many local people who have traveled quite a distance to the market, there are many snack stalls. Various distinctive snacks are prepared for people, among them toasted bean curd is the most welcome.

Birds

A small part of area is distributed to birds. Men bring their favorite birds here and show off to their friends. Buying and selling also take place here.

Attractions around » Guiyang, Gui Zhou

Natural Scene

Natural Scene

Historical Site

Historical Site

Cultural Site

Cultural Site

Shopping & Leisure

Shopping & Leisure

  Weather

  1. When is the best time to travel to Guiyang?
  2. Are there any travel tips about weather?

  Shopping

  1. What good souvenirs can I buy there?

  Travel

  1. Travel tips for you to Huangsuoshu Waterfall on best time

  Customs

  1. What are some interesting festivals in Guiyang?
  2. Does Guizhou have a lot of ethnic groups there?
  3. Some customs about the Miaos

  Other Hints

  1. Some warnings about hotels
  2. Electricity

  • Does Guiyang rain a lot?

    Guiyang has a pleasant moist subtropical climate with ample rainfall. It is neither hot in summer nor too chilly in winter. Guiyang is lucky as much as it does not suffer sandstorms and the pleasant climate makes it a cozy city in which to live.


  • Are there any travel tips about weather?

    Whether for escaping from summer heat or winter cold, Guiyang is definitely a good destination.

    However, due to the changeable weather on the Yungui Plateau where Guizhou is located, it is recommended that you take rain wear along with you and a folding umbrella is an asset! In addition, temperatures in the morning and the evening can often be rather low, so a windproof coat is necessary. The strong radiation from the sun means that you will also need our sun glasses and a sun hat - and don't forget your suntan lotion!


  • What good souvenirs can I buy there?

    Some special local products like traditional art works, or local food are decent gifts for you friends and relatives.


  • Travel tips for you to Huangsuoshu Waterfall on best time

    July and August is the best time to visit Huangguoshu Waterfall. During this period of time, there is a rich amount of water, making magnificent scenery. You can not appreciate such scenes during the lack-of-water period. An umbrella is suggested when you go to the waterfall, due to the giant size of the waterfall, you will be soaked wet without it.


  • What are some interesting festivals in Guiyang?

    Liu Yue Liu literarily means a date, June 6. Actually it is a festival held on the sixth day of the sixth Chinese lunar month, hence the name. This festival is an important day for Buyi people to worship the cook's god and the mountain god.

    Si Yue Ba is held annually on the eighth day of the lunar month. On this day, large numbers of Miao people put on their beautiful costumes and congregate in the center area of Guiyang City to celebrate this great festival by playing the Lusheng and flute, singing antiphonal songs and dancing.

    Di Xi is a form of local drama. It is held on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month at Huaxi by Buyi People and other minority groups. The performers put on masks and costumes and engage in dancing and singing. Generally the performance tells a story of a battle or the loyalty between friends of ancient times


  • Does Guizhou have a lot of ethnic groups there?

    Guizhou is a multi-region province. Apart from Han, there are about 17 other ethic groups that live here, such as Miao, Buyi, Dong, Yi, Shui, Hui, Zhuang, Yao, Man, Bai, Mongolia, Qiang and Tu.

    We suggest that you 'do as the romans do' when you go to visit Guizhou, because there are a lot of customs and taboos in the ethnic groups. Also respect their tradition to avoid conflict.


  • Some customs about the Miaos

    The Miaos usually keep open doors and are fond of drinking. Most of them can make home-made alcohol. Shaojiu is the most common alcohol. During a meal, the host might want his guest to drink some alcohol, if they refuse to drink, the host will not be happy. If you really can't drink, then please tell the host before the meal starts.


  • Some warnings about hotels

    Hotels in small towns such as Rongjiang and Congjiang are of significantly lower standard. Heating is sometimes not available and western style toilets usually unavailable.


  • Electricity

    The electricity used in China is 220 volt AC. Many middle and high-class hotel wash rooms have transformer plugs for electric shavers and hair dryers, but it is better to be prepared with an adapter plug.


A visit to Kaili Sunday Market definitely gives you a feel of the ethnic culture and traditional life style of the Miao people. Walking on the street, you fully enjoy buying as well as beautiful dresses of local ethic people.



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