As 2025 winds down, a Dong ethnic village in Guizhou Province is stirring up both rice cakes and digital innovation. The rhythmic pounding of glutinous rice echoes through wooden stilt houses as families prepare ciba – a chewy New Year’s treat that’s gone viral this year through livestream sales. 🌾✨
What started as a seasonal tradition has become a year-round e-commerce sensation. Villagers now showcase their millet-pounding techniques and intricate bamboo steaming baskets to global audiences via TikTok-style shorts. One resident-turned-influencer told us: ‘Our grandparents’ recipes now get heart emojis from Tokyo to Toronto!’ 📱❤️
Local authorities have backed this cultural-tech fusion, training 150+ villagers in digital marketing since March. The result? A 300% sales boost for handmade ciba compared to 2024, with orders flowing in from across the Chinese mainland and overseas Asian communities.
This isn’t just about snacks – it’s a masterclass in preserving heritage. Through 24/7 livestreams, viewers learn about Dong singing traditions, indigo dyeing, and rice terrace farming while adding goodies to their carts. Talk about edible education! 🎶🛒
