About the Dong
The Dong people, who call the mountains of Southeast Guizhou home, live in a way that’s beautifully integrated with the land. Known for their remarkable wooden drum towers and traditional architecture, their culture is shaped by a deep respect for nature and the environment.
The Dong rice–fish–duck system is a traditional polyculture farming practice where rice, fish, and ducks coexist in one paddy field, creating a mutually supportive, self-sustaining ecosystem.
At the heart of their culture is music – their Dong Folk Songs (侗族大歌) carry stories of history, community, and connection to the earth. These songs are much more than art; they are an expression of the Dong people’s belief in living in harmony with the natural world. They used to say: Food nourishes the body, while song nourishes the soul.
About the Community: Meide
Meide is a small Dong village nestled on a mountainside in Congjiang, Guizhou.
Compared to other Dong villages, it may appear unremarkable, there are no ornate drum towers for tourists, no constant performances in traditional dress. It simply rests quietly in the mountains.
And yet, over the years, with each visit, its depth slowly reveals itself. The subtle transformation of this village has been shaped by a couple who chose to live here.
Meide is not their original hometown. Like many young Dong people, they once migrated to cities for work. Later, they chose to return to the mountains, settling here. Over time, they have cultivated land, preserved seeds, taught children to sing, created livelihoods, and welcomed visitors into the village.
Like seeds, these changes have quietly taken root.
Gradually, young people have begun to return. Mothers who once had to leave home for work can now stay, engaging in indigo dyeing, food-making, and hosting visitors. Children who were once left behind now have their mothers beside them again.
“Granary above the Clouds” Seed Museum
Three years ago, This couple Chuanhui and Fengying initiated the “Granary above the Clouds” Seed Museum.
They collected hundreds of rare, heirloom seeds that are gradually disappearing.
For them, preserving seeds is preserving memory and the future vitality of the land.
Children's Singing Group
Since 2008, Fengying has been teaching children Dong songs.
In Dong culture, a “song teacher” is deeply respected. She has nurtured two generations of children’s singing groups, the first group has already grown up and gone to university.
Here, singing is not a performance, it is part of growing up.
Deep Ecology in Dong
There is a well-known Dong song: “The Land as Host, The Human as Guests.”
This reflects a fundamental understanding in Dong culture: the land is the true host, we are merely visitors. This worldview resonates deeply with modern ecological philosophy—Deep Ecology.
Unlike mainstream environmentalism, Deep Ecology suggests: nature is not a resource, and humans are not its managers. We are simply part of the web of life. A tree, a river, a grain of heirloom rice, their existence has intrinsic value, beyond human use.
This journey also includes a Deep Ecology workshop, inspired by Joanna Macy’s Work That Reconnects.
We may:
- Walk slowly in nature, returning from mind to body
- Rediscover the gifts we already have
- Share our feelings about ecological loss and the future
- Imagine from the perspectives of rivers, forests, animals, and future generations
- Ask: if we truly belong to this land, how might we live
Schedule
Day 1
Arriving，Opening Ceremony，Village Walk
Day 2
Morning Meditation
Deep Ecology workshop — Gratitude
Seed learning & farming preparation
Evening fire stories
Day3
Sowing ritual & planting,
Deep Ecology Workshop—Honoring our pain for the world.
Learning Dong Grand Song.
Evening: community project sharing
Day4
Morning meditation.
Deep Ecology workshop — Seeing with new eyes & moving forward.
Village visits & forest picnic
Celebration with children’s singing group
Day5
Silent nature time. Closing ceremony. Departure after lunch
Food and Accommodation
Food ：The food is primarily based on traditional Dong flavors, characterized by sour, spicy, and light tastes. Special dietary requirements can be raised in advance
Accommodation: We will stay in the “Granary in the Clouds,” a traditional Dong wooden houses.
- Shared twin rooms
- Indigo-dyed traditional bedding
- Shared bathrooms
Price
🌿 Companion Price: 580 USD /person
Covers the actual costs of the journey, including local experiences, food, accommodation and transportation, insurance, subsidies for the two facilitators, as well as the basic expenses required for the company’s operation.
This price does not include labor compensation for the Mirrored Journey team. It is a form of voluntary participation as companions, and also a choice we have made based on the willingness to share.
🌱 Co-Creation Price (Recommended): 870 USD/person
Enables Mirrored Journey to continue to exist. On the basis of covering all costs, it also supports the daily input and long-term operation of the Mirrored Journey team. By choosing this price, you are together with us, allowing this kind of journey to continue to happen.
🌾 Contribution Price: 870 USD and above, variable amount
Allows the impact to continue flowing toward others and the land. On the basis of the co-creation price, it includes a voluntary contribution and support. The additional amount will go into Mirrored Journey fund pool, to be used for:
• Supporting participants who are temporarily unable to afford the cost
• Supporting the local communities connected with Jingyou when needed
Price Includes: Insurance, Local transportation from the high-speed rail station to visiting points, and between visiting points. 4 nights accommodation, 13 meals. All experiences, visits, workshops, courses, instructor fees, etc.