Dressed in their festive best and dancing to the sound of lusheng, a reed-pipe wind instrument, villagers in Xiaodanjiang Miao Ethnic Village in Rongjiang County, southwest China's Guizhou Province celebrated the Zhaolong Festival, literally meaning "Invoke the Dragon" in Chinese, on Sunday.

Residents play lusheng, a reed-pipe wind instrument, and dance during the Zhaolong Festival in Xiaodanjiang Miao Ethnic Village in Rongjiang County, southwest China's Guizhou Province on March 17, 2024. /CFP

Residents play lusheng, a reed-pipe wind instrument, and dance during the Zhaolong Festival in Xiaodanjiang Miao Ethnic Village in Rongjiang County, southwest China's Guizhou Province on March 17, 2024. /CFP

An aerial photo of the Xiaodanjiang Miao Ethnic Village in Rongjiang County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, where the Miao ethnic group is holding their Zhaolong Festival on March 17, 2024. /CFP

An aerial photo of the Xiaodanjiang Miao Ethnic Village in Rongjiang County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, where the Miao ethnic group is holding their Zhaolong Festival on March 17, 2024. /CFP

The festival is held once every thirteen years. It is not only a folk custom of Miao people, but also bears their best wishes for averting calamities, reaping a good harvest and spending a healthy and sound year. Dragons are seen by Miao people as a kind of god that could bring rain, thus also bringing in a bumper harvest.  

Women dressed in traditional costumes of the Miao ethnic group are pictured during the Zhaolong Festival held in Xiaodanjiang Miao Ethnic Village in Rongjiang County, southwest China's Guizhou Province on March 17, 2024. /CFP

Women dressed in traditional costumes of the Miao ethnic group are pictured during the Zhaolong Festival held in Xiaodanjiang Miao Ethnic Village in Rongjiang County, southwest China's Guizhou Province on March 17, 2024. /CFP

Villagers dance during the Zhaolong Festival held in Xiaodanjiang Miao Ethnic Village in Rongjiang County, southwest China's Guizhou Province on March 17, 2024. /CFP

Villagers dance during the Zhaolong Festival held in Xiaodanjiang Miao Ethnic Village in Rongjiang County, southwest China's Guizhou Province on March 17, 2024. /CFP

To invoke the dragons, a special ceremony was held to offer sacrifices like meat, alcohol and glutinous rice. It's a way to honor their ancestors and keep up a good relationship with neighbors, too.

Residents from nearby villages were invited to join the celebration as well. They danced, ate and drank a toast to each other, creating scenes of jubilation.