Dali: Ethnic groups get on well like family

All ethnic groups should understand each other, respect each other, tolerate each other, appreciate each other, learn from each other, help each other and hug each other tightly like seeds of a pomegranate, together.

-- Taken from Chinese President Xi Jinping’s speech on ethnic unity and progress

Dali: Ethnic groups get on well like family

Seven ethnic groups of the Han, Tibetan, Bai, Dai, Naxi, Lisu and Yi lived in harmony at the Zhengjiazhuang village of Eryuan county, west Yunnan’s Dali Bai autonomous prefecture. Over the years, the ethnic groups here have discussed matters together, made decisions together and set forth village rules together, working together in concert for balanced development.

In the new normal of joint governance and benefit sharing, Zhengjiazhuang has set up a discussion group to handle village affairs, and the group is composed of representatives from all ethnic groups in the village. Yang Xiudi, the village leader, said that good folk customs have been formed in Zhengjiazhuang, and disputes among the villagers are reported to the discussing group and handed over to the ethnic representatives for settlement.

At the same time, Zhengjiazhuang has promoted mutual understanding and respect among all ethnic groups by carrying out ethnic cultural exchanges. When the Tibetan New Year comes, all ethnic groups in the village will celebrate the occasion together according to the customs of the Tibetans. The Han people who slaughter pigs for the spring festival invite other ethnic groups to eat pig-killing meals at home. On the Yi Torch Festival of and the Bai Benzhu Festival, all villagers get together for singing, dances and meals.

Over the past two decades, the Zhengjiazhuang villagers have joint festivities for the Mid-Autumn Festival and the sixth day of the first lunar month. "I am Tibetan, but my daughter-in-law is Bai," said Yang Xiudi, a villager. "At home, we all respect each other's ethnic customs." In Zhengjiazhuang, multi-ethnic families like Yang Xiudi’s are commonplace, and intermarriage among the villagers has enhanced ethnic unity and synergy.

"Without ethnic unity, prosperity is impossible," said Yang Xiudi, who furthered described unity among the villagers. When a Han housewife is to visit the market, she will ask a Tibetan granny if she needs to get something. When Tibetan grannies are free, they’ll also help the Yi young mothers to look after children playing on the square. "We seven ethnic groups get on well with each other, living in harmony and unity for joint prosperity," said the villagers in Zhengjiazhuang. Over the years, the sensible practices have allowed the village to present a picture of ethnic unity, shared prosperity and social harmony.

By Times reporters; Trans-editing by Wang Shixue