In early August, in Danzhai County of Guizhou Province, women from the ethnic group known as "White Collar Miao" wearing festive costumes ushered in the traditional "Papo Festival". The jackets they wear during the festival are made from hand-woven native plant fibers, dyed with indigo and batik, and decorated with embroidered details.
Miao villagers from surrounding villages gathered on the top of the mountain to celebrate the festival together by singing folk songs, playing Lusheng (A Miao musical instrument with a 3000 year history) and dancing traditional Lusheng dance.
Papo festival, or the slope-climbing festival, was an occasion for matchmaking in ancient times for young people of Miao. Nowadays, the Papo Festival has become a traditional festival for the Miao people to gather during the farm break every summer and autumn.
Photographer: Hongjia Pan