Guizhou Special: Protecting the cultures of Guizhou's ethnic groups(2)

Yao herbal bath 

The Yao people in the deep mountains have long enjoyed a form of herbal spa. 

Old or young, male or female - all take a hot herbal bath in a wooden bathing bucket every day, which they believe keeps them healthy, eliminates fatigue and improves a woman's looks. 

After finishing a day's labor, the first thing they do is boil herbs in a big pot and prepare for the bath. 

Guests are the first to have a bath, followed by oldest male and the oldest female. Even newborn babies are included. 

Qiang New Year 

On the first day of the 10th lunar month - or November - usually the Qiang people stop farming and stay at home for three to five days and make flour dough in the shape of ox, sheep and chicken to offer as sacrifice to their ancestors and gods. 

Wear newly crafted traditional clothes, they also make traditional foods, drink homemade wine in bamboo tubes, sing to urge others to drink, and play the traditional Qiang flute to celebrate the harvest. 

In the night, they dance around a bonfire and young men dress up as cattle and sheep for mock fights. 

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