Yao People Mark "Clothes Drying' Festival" in S China Explore in China - People and Culture

The minority of Red Yao is one of ethnic minorities in China, locating in north of Guilin, Guangxi Region, especially on Longji Rice Terrace. One of the biggest Yáo festivals is the Clothes Drying Festival, which falls on the sixth day of the sixth lunar month. In practise, women lay out all their traditional costumes under the sun. This serves the dual purpose of disinfection and allowing the ladies to show off. If it rains, they take their fashion spread indoors, leaving the door open.

That day, local Yao people took their clothes outside their house to dry and seek fortune. Later, dressed in their cherished costumes, they showcased how to make traditional clothes, performed group weddings and gave other exotic performances as a way to attract tourists.

Yao people in the area have observed the festival for centuries. Tradition has it that the celebration ceremony is held between the famous terraced rice paddy fields in this area. 

The celebration continues into night and reaches its climax when the people light up their porches under the starry sky. In addition, fireworks are set off.

The celebration varies slightly from place to place. In Guiping County nearby, Yao people stand in squares to wave their hands to the sun and express their admiration at dusk.

Below photos show Yao people (Yao, an ethnic minority of China) celebrate the traditional “Drying Clothes Festival” on July 21, 2015 in Guilin, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Yao women dressed up with traditional costumes, drying clothes together. Interesting traditional celebration activities were held, which attracted many tourists. (CNS/Pan Zhixiang)

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People of the Yao ethnic group dry clothes in the sun in Longji Township of Guilin, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, on July 21, 2015. [Xinhua/Liu Jiaoqing]

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People of the Yao ethnic group weave clothes in Longji Township of Guilin, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, on July 21, 2015. [Xinhua/Liu Jiaoqing]

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