Hechi makes use of folk events to develop 'bazaar economy'

During the series of folk customs activities of the Mauguai Festival in Hechi's Nandan, Tian'e and Donglan counties, local businesses set up stalls at event sites, creating a booming "bazaar economy".

"Maguai" is the local word for frogs, which are regarded as the incarnations of gods, representing prosperity and wealth to the Zhuang ethnic people.

On Feb 17, the Mazuai Festival celebration in Nadong village, Tian'e county opened. That night, the bonfire party attracted 16,000 people, and the food street was crowded.

Huang Yuling went to the scene early to set up her favorite stall. "Within two hours, more than 2,000 kebabs had been sold, which was beyond my expectation," said Huang.

The bonfire party in Banlong village, Changjiang towns, Donglan county on Feb 19. [Photo/guangxi.chinadaily.com.cn/hechi]

Baying village, Bachou township, Donglan county has carried out the Maguai Festival intangible cultural heritage (ICH) activities for four or five hundred years, which makes it the place with the longest history and the most extensive influence in the core area of the National Bronze Drum Culture (Hechi) Ecological Protection Experimental Zone.

Thanks to the popularity of the Maguai Festival, Baying village has become a popular place for many businesses.

Wei Yurong, who specializes in ethnic costumes, saw business opportunities in the four-day Maguai Festival celebrations in Donglan county. She made a variety of Zhuang clothing in advance, and sold them at event sites.

Her stall in Bandeng village, Changle town attracted international tourists from the United States, Iran, Kazakhstan, Cambodia and other countries. Wei lends her ethnic clothing to the international tourists.

"The foreign friends wearing national clothes have a good publicity effect, and today's sales have exceeded 20,000 yuan ($2,894)," said Wei at the Baying village's event site on Feb 21.

International tourists wear Zhuang ethnic clothing at the Maugai Festival event site in Bandeng village on Feb 20. [Photo/guangxi.chinadaily.com.cn/hechi]