Discover Guilin
On the sixth day of the sixth month in Chinese calendar , Dazhai village in Longsheng county, Guilin city, celebrated the unique Clothes Drying Festival. The ancient Red Yao customs merged with Longji's stunning terraces, bringing joy to the entire county.
Yao people take part in the folk parade. [Photo/Guilin Daily]
In the morning, the village gates were alive with gongs, drums, and suonas. Yao people in vibrant red attire welcomed guests with glutinous rice wine and colorful rice.
The festival began with the ceremonial "Taijingou" ritual. Along the river, 100 Yao women demonstrated their waist-length hair, a distinctive tradition. In the square, embroiderers exhibited their intricate Red Yao costumes.
Visitors try their hand at making glutinous rice cakes. [Photo/Guilin Daily]
The highlight was a grand collective traditional wedding: hundreds of Red Yao women dressed in bright outfits, carrying red umbrellas, as they paraded across lush green terraces - a breathtaking blend of people and nature.
Night offered a spectacular fireworks display on the terrace, illuminating the sky above the layered fields. Afterwards, a bonfire party took place, where Yao people and tourists danced and sang together.
Neighboring Red Yao villagers came together, bringing unique performances and crafts to enhance cultural exchange. "This festival celebrates our heritage and promotes rural vitalization through tourism," stated village chief Yu Qiongtong.
Dazhai thrives by merging terraced landscapes with Red Yao culture, forging a culture-driven path to prosperity.
