China Correspondent: The traditional “Frog Festival” of the Zhuang ethnic group has been held in China. Domestic and foreign tourists participate in this festival to witness the deep history, magnificent culture, and enchanting scenery of the traditional festival of the Zhuang nationality. “Maguai” is the local word for frogs, which are regarded as the incarnations of gods, representing prosperity and wealth to the Zhuang ethnic people.

The unique traditional Frog Festival is held on the second day of the second month of the Chinese lunar calendar in Donglan County, Guangxi Autonomous Region of China, and involves special activities to worship the creatures. Maguai Festival was added to the national intangible cultural heritage protection list in 2006. The local administration of Donglan County fully supported the celebration of the festival.

The most solemn and lively activity of the Frog Festival is singing frogs in traditional costumes and dancing to the melodious sound of bronze drums. Zhuang people played 300 bronze drums in Maguai Square of Baying village to celebrate Maguai Festival. Foreign tourists participating in the festival experience bronze drum beating, frog dancing, and bamboo pole dancing.

During the festival, Zhuang ethnic people worship the frog as the god of rain and wind. They fervently believe that the god frog is in charge of wind and rain. The local people pay homage to the long-lived old frog spirit, burn incense, religiously worship the frog, and at the same time pray for good weather, abundant crops, and prosperity for humans and animals in all seasons.

International students from 11 countries, including the United States, Bangladesh, Thailand, Indonesia, Iran, Vietnam, Iraq, and Pakistan, also eagerly joined the festival. Adorned in traditional festival attire, they engaged in bamboo stick dance, sampled local delicacies, and performed dragon dance to send their best wishes to the locals.