Zhangjiajie Tujia Folk Custom Park
Located in Zhangjiajie City, Tujia Folk Custom Park is a popular attraction for tourists to enjoy and experience the culture of Tujia Ethnic Minority in various aspects such as architecture, food, agriculture, military art ,etc.Tujia Folk Custom Park is a replica of a typical Tujia Village. With an area of 5 hectares, the park was built in 2000 with the intention to introduce visitors to the customs and traditions of the Tujia ethnic minority.The park was rated as one of the 4A National Tourist Attractions in China in Januar, 2004.
Jiuchongtian ( Nine-storied Hereditary Hall)
As one of the highlights in Tujia Folk Custom Park, the wooden Nine-storied Hereditary Hall (Jiuchongtian ) is constructed on a steep slope without using a single nail which was listed in the Guinness World record. Just like a museum, the building contains thousands of relics of the Tujia Ethnice Minority. Walking through the park, tourists stopped by wooden houses that showcased different aspects of the Tujia tribe from unique embroidery skills to farming techniques and wine-brewing we experienced the typical life of a Tujia villager.
Tusi City
Tusi official system was founded in Five Dynasties (907 A.D- 960 A.D.) and become matured in the Ming Dynasty (1,368- A.D.-1,644 A.D.) with the King Tusi as the head of the city. The King Tusi built Tusi City in order to show off their social status and nobility, among which the one in Yongding City is very famous in China. There is the tallest hanging architecture-Diaojiaolou in the city with 12 stories of 48 meters (157 feet) high, which is called the Nine-Layer Heaven by the locals. And the whole architecture is wood-structured without any rivet, which is considered a miracle in the architecture history of Diaojiaolou, and it was enlisted in the Guinness World Records in 2002 together with Maogusi Dancing participating by 1,000 local people. Setting foot on the Tusi City, you can see the Greeting-Guest ceremony firstly: the local men beating the drums and blowing the ox-horns, the girls singing the way-blocking songs, toasting to the guests, dancing and making large-scale sacrifices to their ancestors, which is very splendid and wonderful.
The Park Square & Maogusi Dance
The square is in the center of the Park. It is the venue for people to hold performance and dancing party ,such as the Maogusu Dance, a ceremonial dance of Tujia Ethnic Minority that is part of a sacrificial ceremony to be performed. There are many special cultural activities in the park which were highly praised by media at home and abroad. Some leaders of the Chinese Central Government and lots of journalists are attracted to visit the park . In April, 2001, the former premier Zhu Rongji visited the park and gave his lavish comments on it. In Septeber, 2002, a large-scale Maogusi Dance Party was held successfully in the park, and more than 1,000 dancers participated. This activity and the Nine-layer Diaojiaolou Building were listed in the Record of World Genis.
Folk Custom Exhibition
The main folk custom exhibition includes: adorns, costume, embroideries, rare rocks, batik, root carvings and culture relics, and there are original theatrical performances in the garden, which displays the primitive life style of Tujia Ethnic Minority people in the forms of Maogusi Dancing, Bronze Bell Dancing and Baishou Dancing and singing mountain songs in antiphonal style, giving an impressive impression to the visitors from all over the world.
Bizika Holy Fire Hall
Built in 2003, Bizika Holy Fire Hall is actually a place for holding performance, and the grand performance “Tujia Folk Custom and the Miao Style” is a well-organized tourism product, which fully displays the folk customs and life style of the people living in the west of Hu’nan Province through three chapters: Praying for Blessing, Folk Custom and Marriage Traditions.
Traveling in Tujia Folk Custom Park, tourists are also able to view the crying marriage ritual and learn more about the customs and traditions of the Tujia Ethnic Minority. Whats more, tourists can express much admiration on the programs held in the park of its splendid culture and magnificent folk customs.