Hong Yao minority celebrates 'red clothes' festival  

广西红瑶女12岁学针绣备嫁衣 “红衣节”定情

红瑶是中国瑶族中的一个支系，因穿红色服装而得名，也被誉为“桃花林中的民族”。

Guilin (CNS) -- The Hong Yao minority people presented their folk culture Wednesday at the annual Hongyi (Red Clothes) Festival, where they sang, danced, prayed for blessings and embroidered clothing.

Held among the rice terraces of Longsheng County in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, the festival is the Hong Yao's largest.

Since the Yuan Dynasty, the Hong Yao have dressed up in red and gathered at Sishui Street to exchange goods and visit relatives on the special occasion.

Young people traditionally use the opportunity to find romance by playing games and serenading one another.

Yao women begin learning embroidery at the age of 12. Their extraordinary skills can be seen in their wedding dresses, which are elaborately decorated with lotuses and butterflies.