These drums towers are the village centers where all important events take place: meetings are held here, village matters are discussed, and mediation on disputes among villagers takes place. They are used to summon villagers in case of enemy attack or fire, and villagers gather there after the season of hard labor has ended for recreation like playing the pipa (a kind of lute), story telling and singing. On festive occasions, the drum towers are also the place where guests are welcomed and seen off, chorus singing and reed pipe playing competitions are staged, and where lion and dragon dances are held.

 Xiaohuang Dage

Xiaohuang Village, the known as the home of Dong songs and often called a musical heaven, is in Congjiang County, two-hours' drive from the center of Congjiang.

It has more than 20 singing groups with 1,000 group members. It's hard to find a Dong person, young or old, who does not sing; even the children learn to sing almost as soon as they start to speak. As the Dongs don't have their own writing system, traditional folklore and important history is passed down in songs.

The Dong girls are welcoming guests with the homemade wine.	A leading singer of the Dage chorus
A singing girl in the Dage chorus	The chorus are singing and playing pipa
The boys are answering the girls by singing back	The foreign recorder

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