History: Before the Spring and Autumn Period (770BC-476BC), this area was known as a place of southern barbarians and partly belonged to the Chu Kingdom and a local ethnic regime. It made great progress in development during the exploitation of the Miao region in Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).
Physical Features: Qiandongnan lies in the transition area from Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau to hills and basins in Hunan and Guangxi. Karst and eroded landforms are widely distributed in the prefecture. Its general terrain is higher in the north, south and west while lower in the east. Western and northwestern part of this prefecture is medium and low mountains, and its eastern and southeastern part has complex distributions of low mountains, hills and basins. On the whole, mountainous region occupies over eighty-seven percent of the prefecture's total area.
Local Highlights: Ethnic minorities in Qiandongnan have a population of 3,640,000, over eighty percent of the prefecture's total population. Miao and Dong minorities are the biggest groups. The colorful traditional festivals and local folk customs are the highlights of the prefecture.
Road-block drinking is the first ritual when the hospitable Miao people welcome guests. From the foot to the gate of the village, there are usually twelve barriers with full dressed Miao youths pledging wine to visitors.
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