Colorful folk activities featuring time-honored local cultures were held in the countryside of Guizhou Province in southwest China to celebrate unique festivals, with carnival-like celebrations spreading joy and an air of festivity among local residents.

In Zhongjian Town of Qianxi City, the eighth day of the second lunar month marks a traditional festival of the Miao ethnic group, namely the Miao Flower Mountain Festival that fell on Monday this year.

Also known as the Huapo Festival and the Treading on Flower Festival, it is a traditional occasion for the youth to express love and a chance for middle-aged and older people to bless each other.

During the festival held in a square of Hongban Village, the Miao people dressed in local costumes, sang toast songs, and invited relatives and friends to drink wine, make glutinous rice cakes, and enjoy a feast on a long table.

"Everyone is very happy to participate in the Huapo Festival held in Zhongjian today. People came here to dance and we were all very excited," said Wang Jinle, a resident of Huawu Village, Xinren Town.

A string of cultural performances with the distinctive local features kicked off with a happy toast song, highlighting the rich ethnic culture.

"Today is the Huapo Festival of our Miao ethnic group. We were singing, dancing, and having a great time," said Peng Jun, a resident.

In Jiaohong Village of Nanhong Town in Taijiang County, people held the Zhaolong Festival (literally the "Festival of Summoning Dragon") on Monday, a unique folk activity in the Miao ethic group, attracting throngs of residents and tourists to enjoy the occasion.

There is no fixed date for the Zhaolong Festival in Jiaogong Village, a traditional village with 398 households of more than 2,000 people.

Held every 13 years, it is a sacrificial activity for locals to pray for peaceful life and bumper harvest.

This year, Jiaogong Village invited representatives from nine nearby administrative villages, with roughly 100 people from those villages to participate in the activities specially held for the festival.

"[The purpose of holding this festival] is to pray that we can live and work in peace and contentment, with a good harvest and a safe life," said Ou Decheng, host of the activities of the Zhaolong Festival.