The Heba Yao people

The Heba Yao people

The Heba Yao people

The Heba Yao people were originally known as the Rao people and currently have

1157 households and a population of nearly 5000. Their villages are nestled against mountains and rivers, surrounded by ancient trees such as maples, ginkgos, and pines, offering breathtaking scenery. The traditional wooden houses are uniquely charming, and the Yao women’s self-spun, self-woven, and self-dyed homespun garments still retain the style of the Qing Dynasty. Starting from the first lunar month, after the completion of 11 full months, the first day of the “Yin (Tiger)” in the zodiac calendar marks the Heba Yao New Year. During festivals, Yao people of all ages dress in their finest attire to welcome guests to celebrate the New Year with them. From the 18th to the 20th of the first lunar month, young people from various ethnic groups within a radius of dozens of miles gather at Hasha Dam to hold the Lusheng Festival—an event of unprecedented grandeur.