You might have heard the "Happy Birthday" song a thousand times, but how about a song performed by a thousand-person chorus? Such is the case for the 60th birthday celebration for the Qiandongnan Miao and Dong autonomous prefecture in Southwest China’s Guizhou Province.

A grand celebration gala is held to mark the the Qiandongnan Miao and Dong autonomous prefecture 's achievements over the past 60 years.

A grand celebration gala is held to mark the prefecture's achievements over the past 60 years.

The spectacle features ethnic art performances by local performers. The highlight of the evening is a song performed by more than a thousand people of the Dong ethnic group. Their traditional art form was inscribed in UNESCO's list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2009.

Other events include symposiums, trade talks, contract signing ceremonies and exhibitions. Authorities hope the activities will showcase the prefecture’s  rapid development and harmonious atmosphere.

Meanwhile, the first China National Cultural Tourism--Qiandongnan Summit has also been held in the perfecture. The summit is part of the prefecture's efforts to promote local ethnic tourism. By attracting international organizations and experts to Guizhou, and especially Qiandongnan, the summit hopes to promote the prefecture's tourism industry and boost its economy.

A grand celebration gala is held to mark the the Qiandongnan Miao and Dong autonomous prefecture 's achievements over the past 60 years.

At the summit, Qiandongnan Miao and Dong autonomous prefecture was listed as one of China's top 10 tourist destinations for 2016 by the China International Tourism Federation. It was also selected as the country's first ethnic cultural tourism model zone by the State Ethnic Affairs Commission.

Founded on July 23, 1956, the autonomous prefecture covers an area of 30,300 square kilometers and is home to more than 30 ethnic groups. The prefecture contains the largest population of Miao and Dong ethnic people. In the prefecture, 276 villages are included in the national list of traditional village, more than any other city-level administrative region in China.

The prefecture is also among the country's 28 major forest areas with forest coverage of up to 65 percent. It has 27 national and provincial-level natural protection areas as well as a national geological park.

Over the last six decades, the prefecture’s breathtaking landscapes and exotic ethnic culture have become a big lure for the region's tourism industry.