Slope Walking Festival of Mulao Ethnic Group

Time and Venue of the Festival

The Slope Walking Festival (走坡节) is mainly held during the agricultural slack seasons in spring and autumn. In spring, it takes place between the Spring Festival and the Lantern Festival; in autumn, it coincides with rural fairs around the Mid-Autumn Festival. The event requires no official notice or announcement, as local people have long known the fixed time and venue by tradition. The most well-known gathering sites are Huayuandong, located at the junction of Dongmen, Qiaotou and Xiaochang'an villages, and Xinyinpo of Siba Village.

Festival Activities and Antiphonal Singing

When the festival arrives, young men and women dress up in their finest costumes and gather in groups at the slope fields from all surrounding villages. They communicate and get to know one another through various folk songs, such as invitation songs and questioning songs. If two people take a liking to each other, they will sing love songs to voice their admiration. As their affection deepens, they sing pledge songs to formally establish a tentative romantic relationship.

After the antiphonal singing comes to an end, they sing parting songs and appointment songs to express their reluctance to leave and eagerness for the next meeting. They also exchange token gifts: young men give young women mooncakes known as Tongnian Cakes (同年饼), while young women present Tongnian Shoes (同年鞋), also named Mandarin Duck Shoes, to their beloved partners.

Songs and Emotional Development on Subsequent Gatherings

When they meet again at the Slope Walking Festival, the one who arrives first will start with waiting songs. Afterwards, they take turns singing reunion songs and pairing songs to test each other’s sincerity. They also sing flower praise songs to compliment one another, and missing songs to convey longing. To express their yearning for marriage and a happy life together, they perform songs about living as a couple, day-counting songs and final parting songs.

Even if the two have built a deep bond after multiple dates, they cannot get married freely. Following traditional customs, the marriage has to gain approval from both families. Only after a matchmaker acts as an intermediary can the couple tie the knot officially.

Cultural Implications and Folk Etiquette

In the eyes of the Mulao people (仫佬族), the Slope Walking Festival covers activities held not only on the flat lands beside Longtan Pond, but also on the shaded hillsides nearby. Since it is a major occasion for young people to seek life partners, it is also referred to as Housheng Festival (后生节), where "Housheng" means young people.

Echoing across mountains and valleys, the melodious songs create an intoxicating scene. During the festival, the Mulao people behave gracefully and politely. They show mutual respect and treat each other with sincerity, fully embodying their honest and kind virtues.