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Zhoi dance also called Guozhuang, is prevalent in herding and half-farming, half-herding areas. The dance names, melody and movements vary in different places. For example, in the "Guozhuang" of Zhongdian, Yunnan Province, most songs are about temples and lamas.

The "Shanqimu" is sung containing lines like this, "Three layers of mattress are laid on a golden bed, a Big Lama is asked to sit on it". The people's respect for the lama is clearly shown. In the program of "peacock Drinking", the song extols the peacock, but the dancers imitate the hawk. Since the local people look upon both the peacock and the hawk as divine birds, most dance movements of men imitate images of a hawk, which reflects their religious belief.

Many laboring movements are found in the "Zhoi" dance in Xigaze, which is majestic and requires a lot of skills. For instance, "TashihungPo" sings the praises of the Tashihungpo Monastery in Tibet. It reflects a kind of religious belief and assumes the rich flavor of life. In lento, dancers act as rams. In allegros, men begin the highly difficult "moving forward in a lying posture".

The term "Raba" means "roaming artist". In the past, the local residents lived hard lives but they were good at dancing. Led by experienced artists, they organized travelling groups of performers. Through repeated performance, these artists greatly improved their skills.