On July 9, the Wumeng Grassland in Panzhou, Guizhou Province, hosted a distinctive cultural event known as the “Wumeng Village Show” — a grassroots fashion presentation celebrating Yi ethnic intangible cultural heritage (ICH) costume traditions. Set at an altitude of over 2,500 meters, the show transformed an open alpine meadow into a living runway.
Unlike conventional fashion presentations, the models were local Yi mothers, children, and village residents. The garments on display included hand-embroidered Yi costumes, pleated skirts, and the traditional Chawal cloak — all crafted using centuries-old techniques passed down through generations.
“The core concept of our entire show is to let the countryside shine and keep intangible heritage alive,” said Pu Si, the event’s lead organizer. The Wumeng Village Show, developed as a signature cultural tourism IP by Liupanshui city, stays rooted in local Yi cultural traditions while incorporating modern tailoring. It preserves the five-color system (green, red, white, black, and yellow) and traditional motifs such as cloud and flame patterns, while adapting silhouettes for both stage presence and everyday wear.
The design philosophy of “coexisting tradition and innovation” was reinforced when a modern Yi costume collection — previously featured at the 2025 Beijing China International Fashion Week — returned to the grassland runway, earning applause from the audience.
Beyond the fashion presentation, the event included a traditional welcome wine ceremony, where Yi villagers offered Panzhou rice wine to guests, and a collective Dati dance that blended visitors and locals into a single joyous celebration. As night fell, a torch-lighting ceremony honoring harvest and good fortune ignited a bonfire dance, with original songs from Panzhou filling the air.
“Before this, I only wore ethnic clothing during festivals. I never imagined I could appear on a dedicated stage to show it to the whole country,” said Sun Guixia, a Yi mother who participated in the show. “Every stitch on my outfit carries the memories of our hometown. Being able to present the beauty of Wumeng’s landscape and our culture to visitors fills me with pride and strengthens my commitment to preserving our heritage.”
The Wumeng Village Show has traveled a remarkable journey — from a grassroots meadow runway to the national stage at Beijing Fashion Week and back to its rural roots. Beyond showcasing Yi embroidery, silver ornaments, and other intangible heritage crafts to a wider audience, the initiative has adopted a “cultural IP plus cultural tourism” model that boosts local confidence and economic vitality. By making local residents the protagonists of their own cultural presentation, the show demonstrates how heritage can drive rural revitalization in contemporary China.
