July 28, 2017, thousands of tourists came to Longji (龙脊), Guilin to celebrate the Clothes Airing Festival (晒衣节) with local Hong Yao people.
Hong Yao (红瑶), or Red Yao, is a branch of Yao nationality live in Longji district. The branch is named because the people like to wear red clothes. The 6th day of the sixth lunar month is the traditional Clothes Airing Festival for Hong Yao people. This day, the sun rides high and shine in the sky, and Hong Yao people will take out their clothes and dresses out for airing. This is one of the most important festival, because this is a day for a family to get together. In recent years, the festival becomes popular for tourists.
Event time:
July 28, 2017
Location:
Dazhai Village, Longji Terrace Field Scenic Area
Activities
(1) Red clothes airing
Time: 7:00-9:00
Location: Wind and Rain Bridge (风雨桥) to Dazhai Village (大寨)
Each families took out their beautiful clothes, dresses and skirts and hung up on the balconies, corridors and walls.
(2) Honored guests welcoming
Time: 9:20-10:00
Location: Wind and Rain Bridge
The village girls sang a cheerful song, and proposed a toast of sweet Longji wine for all the guests from afar.
(3) Hong Yao women hair washing performance
Time: 10:00-10:30
Location: Wind and Rain Bridge
(4) Hong Yao clothes processing performance
Time: 11:00-12:00
Location: Dazhai Square (大寨歌舞坪)
On the square, Hong Yao women and girls carried out their unique skills: cloth-weaving, spinning, scarves embroidering or belt weaving.
(5) Bamboo pole pushing game
Time: 14:00-15:00
Location: Dazhai Square
Bamboo pole pushing is a traditional sports competition of the Red Yao. The villagers played in groups, and the visitors can participate in the games.
(6) Fish catching event
Time: 15:00-16:00
Location: Wind and Rain Bridge
A group of Hong Yao villagers wearing cloak and hat, and beating drums around the river. Other villagers and tourists rolled up their trousers, took off their shoes, and jumped into the river to catch fish.
(7) Terrace field torch and firework performance
Time: 18:00-21:00
Location: Terrace field
Torches gradually gathered on the terraces to form a beautiful picture. Then the fireworks were lit and rush to the sky.
(8) Hong Yao bonfire evening party
Time: 19:00-21:00
Location: Dazhai Square
Villagers dressed in beautiful folk dresses and clothes, and stacked the torch to bonfire. The whole village and the visitors sang and danced together.
