Gillick's World Explores China: Hunan, Guangdong and Guanxi | Page 35

The women of the Yao Minority in Huangluo Village cut their hair once in their entire lifetime. At the age of 16, before they get married, they unwrap what appears to be a shiny, black turban around their head to reveal tresses that often reach1.7 meters (5 ½ feet) or longer. After marriage, they grow their hair again as a harbinger of good fortune, longevity and wealth (a kind of ‘hairway to heaven’). In days gone by, only their husband and child were allowed to see the lengthy locks but today, the idea of letting your hair down takes on a whole new meaning as the hair is the featured attraction in cultural shows for tourists. The Yao Minority Village, representing one of 12 ethnic groups in Guanxi Province, lies in Longsheng County, two hours north of Guilin, which has long been regarded as one of China’s tourism meccas. Yao Minority Women wrap their 1.7 meter long hair As part of the cultural show, the Yao women reveal the full length of their hair. This article appeared in a different format in www.travelindustrytoday.com