The preservation of She minority culture in Banyueli Village

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Located in Fujian Province, Banyueli village is home to a number of people of the She ethnic minority, and has a distinct culture with a history of over 300 years.

This history has made the village a tourist attraction. Chen Guijin, who lives nearby and often visits Banyueli remarked, "I see the local people doing a great job preserving the architecture. It is good to promote their culture."

A woman working by a traditional loom /CGTN Photo

Chen said in the past few years, he has witnessed how the village has put great effort in preserving this special Fujian culture.

The ancestral hall of Lei represents the village's pride in showcasing its own lifestyle. Curator Lei Qisong collected the items that portray the She minority's own culture, such as clothes and farm tools.

"[The] She minority has its own language, music, wedding culture and martial arts," said Lei. "The government has put a lot of money into supporting those areas."

An old house of Banyueli village /CGTN Photo

The villagers are planning to take advantage of this cultural charm to attract more tourists.

"83 households of our village have participated in managing a company that specifically preserves Banyueli's culture," said Lei Guosheng, former Banyueli Village Party Branch Secretary. "We want to develop our tourism industry and make everybody rich."

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