When famous Chinese singer Song Zuying performed in Vienna in 2003 wearing traditional Miao costume, it was the first time for many Westerners to ever experience the unique charms of the ethnic group.

Ten years later, a series of musicals staged in the Qiandongnan Miao and Dong autonomous prefecture of Southwest China's Guizhou province is once again drawing growing attention to the local customs and diverse cultures highlighted in the plays.

Among them is a drama called "Silver Show", which focuses on the silver culture of the Miao people and integrates elements of Qiandongnan's unique landscape, architecture and heritage, said director Xing Shimiao.

One of the oldest ethnic groups in China, Miao people lack their own written languages.

Their culture and history have been passed on from generations to generations through dances, songs, designs of traditional costume and silver accessories.

The Miao people's silver jewelry reflects their history and has become an indispensable part of their lives. The silver ornaments are famous across the nation.

As a result, the silver industry, quiet for about half a century, has once again begun to flourish.

In Qiandongnan, where Miao people account for 42 percent of the prefecture's total population, there are now thousands of people making silver ornaments in family workshops.

And there are even some so-called silversmith villages, such as Kongbai, Maliao and Magao, where more than 80 percent of the households are involved in processing silver articles.

The 70-minute show comprises five sections and each of them represents an individual story covering a different type of subject matter, including Miao folklore, nature, love, history and life.

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