In Xishuangbanna in southwest China's Yunnan Province, the ethnic minority Jino people are celebrating their own new year with a Temaoke Festival. CGTN's Yang Jinghao reports.

Following the first drumbeat from the village elder, the Jino people, China's last recognized ethnic minority, start celebrating the new year with the Temaoke Festival. It's a special ceremony where people pray for peace and prosperity for the coming year. For this small ethnic group, the traditional musical instrument is sacred.

BAI JIALIN VILLAGE ELDER "We know that culture is the soul of a country and an ethnic group. In this sense, the drum is the soul of our Jino people. For important occasions, a drum definitely plays an important role, and we have to offer sacrifices to it every year."

A similar ritual is also performed in the iron-making house. Translated, Temaoke literally means "forging iron." The festival was first celebrated to commemorate the use of ironware, which changed the way of life for the Jino's.

BAI JIALIN VILLAGE ELDER "We offer sacrifices such as eggs, chickens and betel nuts to the gods, with the hopes of forging iron farming tools faster and better in the coming year, with the god’s blessing."

There're about 25-thousand Jinos. They live in more than 40 villages in Xishuangbanna, each with its own special customs during the festival.

A grand performance was staged this year to highlight some of the traditions of the Jino people, traditions which are slowly disappearing.

JIE BULU JINO PERFORMER "What concerns me most is the gradual disappearance and variation of our language. As a folk artist, I think maybe its' adoptable to preserve it in the form of music. In this way, the younger generation can learn both our traditional music as well as the language."

It's a challenge, but they say they will try to pass their traditions along to the next generation.

YANG JINGHAO XISHUANGBANNA, YUNNAN "Both the Jino people and the local authorities realize the importance of preserving their unique culture. Behind me, some Jino people are worshiping their sacred drum in their own distinctive way. They say they definitely want to keep this time-honored tradition alive. From the loud drumbeats, we can feel this mysterious place is about to have an auspicious year. " Yang Jinghao, CGTN, Xishuangbanna, Yunnan Province.