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The Dong people are an Chinese ethnic minority group who mainly live here in Liuzhou prefecture of Guangxi. Sanjiang County, an area I've mentioned before in this topic, is where most are to be found. i have been asked to translate some short articles on the area for the county government's information bureau. I also have permission to use them as I see fit, so those of a culinary nature I'll post here. Sanjiang (三江 - sān jiāng）means 'three rivers' in Mandarin.

三江侗族自治县 (sān jiāng dòng zú zì zhì xiàn), Sanjiang Dong Autonomous County in Liuzhou Prefecture is a subtropical monsoon climate zone with four distinct seasons and superior natural conditions. But in winter and spring fog, with the cold pressing in, gathering around a 火塘 (huǒ tàng - fire pit) became the preferred way to eat.

The fire pit is generally located on the second floor of the Dong ethnic minority’s wooden homes and covers an area of about 1 square meter. There is an iron tripod in the middle of the fire pit, which is used to support the pot when cooking. For most people, there is a refined square or round wooden or bamboo frame hanging above the fireplace, which is called "ang" in the Dong language, for baking grain and smoking bacon. When night falls, the family sits around the fire, cooking, heating themselves, exchanging ideas, passing information, spinning, embroidering or singing songs.

At the same time, the fire pit is also a place where the Dong people offer sacrifices to their ancestors. For thousands of years, the Dong people have had deep feelings for their fire pits, regarding the fire pit as precious as life, a symbol of heaven and earth and humanity, the everlasting inheritance, the yearning of modern people, but also a bridge connecting everyone!

Here is the original Chinese for anyone who's interested.

火塘家宴，幸福吉祥！侗族居住地属亚热带季风气候区，四季分明，自然条件优越。但是冬、春两季雾气大，寒气逼人，因此，围着火塘吃饭就应运而生。火塘一般设在木楼的二层，面积大约1平方米。火塘中间置铁三脚架一个，专供煮饭做菜时支架锅鼎之用。一般人家，火塘上方挂有一个精制的方形或圆形的木架(有的是竹架)，侗语称为“昂”，用于烘烤禾谷、腊肉等。每当夜幕降临，家人们就围着火塘，生火做饭、取暖、交流思想、传递信息，妇女们在火塘边，或纺纱、绣花，或传唱歌谣。同时火塘还是侗家人祭奠祖先的地方。千百年来，侗家人对火塘有着深厚的感情，视火塘为生命一般珍贵，她是天地人和的象征，是历久弥新的传承，是现代人心中的向往，也是连接你我内心的桥梁！现在，随着三江旅游出圈，火塘家宴也成为游客体验侗族民俗文化的一个重要窗口，我们平时说的侗族打油茶，也可以通过这个场合表演。

This is a snippet I was asked to translate for the local government's information bureau. Sanjiang is an area I've mentioned before in this topic.

三江侗族自治县 (sān jiāng dòng zú zì zhì xiàn), Sanjiang Dong Autonomous County in Liuzhou Prefecture is a subtropical monsoon climate zone with four distinct seasons and superior natural conditions. But in winter and spring fog, with the cold pressing in, gathering around a 火塘 (huǒ tàng - fire pit) became the preferred way to eat.

The fire pit is generally located on the second floor of the Dong ethnic minority’s wooden homes and covers an area of about 1 square meter. There is an iron tripod in the middle of the fire pit, which is used to support the pot when cooking. For most people, there is a refined square or round wooden or bamboo frame hanging above the fireplace, which is called "ang" in the Dong language, for baking grain and smoking bacon. When night falls, the family sits around the fire, cooking, heating themselves, exchanging ideas, passing information, spinning, embroidering or singing songs.

At the same time, the fire pit is also a place where the Dong people offer sacrifices to their ancestors. For thousands of years, the Dong people have had deep feelings for their fire pits, regarding the fire pit as precious as life, a symbol of heaven and earth and humanity, the everlasting inheritance, the yearning of modern people, but also a bridge connecting everyone!

Here is the original Chinese for anyone who's interested.

火塘家宴，幸福吉祥！侗族居住地属亚热带季风气候区，四季分明，自然条件优越。但是冬、春两季雾气大，寒气逼人，因此，围着火塘吃饭就应运而生。火塘一般设在木楼的二层，面积大约1平方米。火塘中间置铁三脚架一个，专供煮饭做菜时支架锅鼎之用。一般人家，火塘上方挂有一个精制的方形或圆形的木架(有的是竹架)，侗语称为“昂”，用于烘烤禾谷、腊肉等。每当夜幕降临，家人们就围着火塘，生火做饭、取暖、交流思想、传递信息，妇女们在火塘边，或纺纱、绣花，或传唱歌谣。同时火塘还是侗家人祭奠祖先的地方。千百年来，侗家人对火塘有着深厚的感情，视火塘为生命一般珍贵，她是天地人和的象征，是历久弥新的传承，是现代人心中的向往，也是连接你我内心的桥梁！现在，随着三江旅游出圈，火塘家宴也成为游客体验侗族民俗文化的一个重要窗口，我们平时说的侗族打油茶，也可以通过这个场合表演。