Short Skirt Miao Village at Datang

“Where can I see the most sexy girls in China?” Some foreign male tourists ask this question as an aside when they inquire a tour with us. We know that some other Chinese travel agencies may recommend their clients for Shanghai, Chengdu, Chongqing, Suzhou or some other big cities. Being a travel company who specializes in the rural travel, we advise they visit the Xinqiao Miao Village (新桥苗寨) in Guizhou Province since the females there all wear very traditional and sexy hand-made miniskirts. Being located at Datang Country of Leishan County, the village is also known as Datang Short Skirt Village.

When and why the women wear short skirts at Datang Country? During the Ming (1368-1644) dynasty, females throughout the area were, by tradition, required to cover practically every inch of their bodies – nothing was supposed to be exposed to a man’s view. The Miao females in Datang – in contrast not only to other Chinese ethnic groups, but also in contrast to their own Miao ethnic minority brethren elsewhere – began to wear the “miniskirt” that they have since become famous for, for reasons completely unknown, or which, in any case, can only be guessed at, though perhaps it was indeed an act of defiance against Ming dynasty’s “Victorianism”.

Short Skirt Miao Village at Datang

The short skirts of the females are as short as 10 centimeters long, in some instances. It can be understood in summer which is too hot, but the females of Datang Miao Village wear this extremely short skirt all year round, even in freezing winter. It is the most amazing thing. The sight of “miniskirts” is not unusual for Westerners, but it is not suitable for winter. For many Chinese people of varying ethnic origin, it takes some time to get used to.

To visit the village, the most interesting thing is to enjoy or participate in the local dances which are held in the village square. A huge gong is tied to a wooden post in the middle of the square. An all-male band of Lusheng players, with the bandleader also in charge of striking the gong, plays for an all-female group of dancers who wear the sexy hand-making miniskirts. The total number of dancers can reach 100, move in lines and circles, forming different patterns. Their bodies, adorned with silver headwear, necklaces, bangles, and anklets become musical instruments as well, emitting a metallic melody in sync with the rhythm of their footsteps.