During this year’s Gonpo New Year, a group of guests from afar come to Bayi District of Nyingchi City. They are Buyi friends from the Awaizhai, a traditional Chinese village in Anshun City of Guizhou Province, and Zhuang friends from a national level bronze drum cultural and ecological protection zone in Donglan County of Hechi City, Guangxi Province. They are invited to Bujiu Town to participate in the Gonpo New Year activities, bringing intangible cultural heritage programs to the plateau, performing with local people, and spending a special New Year of ethnic unity and harmony.

“Tibetan friends are hospitable. It’s a memorable experience to celebrate the earliest New Year in Nyingchi with rich and unique festival customs. The Chinese nation is a family. I Wish everyone a happy New Year and a bountiful harvest in the coming year.” Ma Fangkang from Guangxi sends New Year greetings to Tibetan friends.

When arriving at Baima Tashi’s home, Guizhou and Guangxi friends are served with greeting wine, which is warmly welcomed and wins guests’praise again and again. “The highland barley wine is sweet, very similar to the rice wine from my hometown. It's a unique custom to dip your fingers in the wine and flick it three times to the sky when drinking it.” Said Wu Lanying from Guizhou.

Entering the door, it can be seen that apples hanging all over the branches, chickens walking leisurely, and a stream formed from the mountain spring. Everyone is surprised that the living environment in rural Xizang is so comfortable. “The apples on the tree are purely natural and pollution-free, with a crispy and sweet taste. Pick and taste them by yourselves, please.” After inviting guests to taste the apple, Baima Tashi ushers them into the house and shares the New Year snacks.

While enjoying Tibetan food, the guests chats with Baima Tashi and his family members. After learning that Baima Tashi’s family has an annual income of more than 100,000 yuan, dozens of yaks, ecological jobs for adults, and the “three guarantees” policy for children’s education, everyone can’t help praising the good policies of the country, the good development of Xizang, and the good life of the people.

Baima Tashi also introduces “Gyata”, the special food of Gongpo New Year, to them. “Gyata is a mixture of boiled milk, butter, and other ingredients kneaded into doughballs and placed on a cypress stick, which is roasted and eaten by the family around the stove,” he said, “the cypress stick is meaningful, each of its sections represents the joys and sorrows of life, with the last section representing joy being placed on a ‘Gyata’ to symbolize a better life ahead. Try and taste, please. I wish all of you a healthy and happy new year.”

Reporter: Liu Feng, Wang Shan

Translator: Luo Rongting, Zhi Xinghua

Review: Hu Rongguo, Li Chengye