In China, There is a Hidden Village Where All the Inhabitants are 'Rapunzel'

Kapanlagi.com - In China, there is a small village often referred to as a fairy tale land because its women have extraordinarily long hair. This uniqueness is not just a tourist attraction, but a tradition passed down for hundreds of years.

The village is called Huangluo Yao Village, a traditional settlement located behind the beautiful Longji terraces. In China, this village is known as a symbol of cultural strength that endures amidst modernization.

1. Huangluo Yao Village, the Home of 'Rapunzel' in China

Huangluo Yao Village is located in Longsheng Various Nationalities Autonomous County, Guangxi, China, and is within the Longji Scenic Area. Of the total 13 villages in the area, Huangluo Yao Village is the only Yao village where all the inhabitants belong to the Red Yao group. This uniqueness has led to the village often being dubbed as the home of the real-life Rapunzels.

The tradition of growing hair has been alive for more than a thousand years in this village. Of more than 80 heads of households, over 120 women are recorded to have hair longer than 1.5 meters, with the longest reaching 2.3 meters. Thanks to this achievement, Huangluo Yao Village in China holds two Guinness World Records and is globally recognized as the village with the longest hair in the world.

2. Long Hair as a Symbol of Life and Honor

Huangluo Yao Village - copyright: weibo.com

For Red Yao women in China, hair is not just a part of appearance, but a symbol of life and fortune. They only cut their hair once in a lifetime, during the coming-of-age ceremony at the age of 18. The cut hair is not discarded but kept by the maternal grandmother as a symbol of family ties.

When they marry, the hair is taken to the husband's family home as part of the dowry. This tradition is believed to bring harmony to the household and longevity. In China, it is quite astonishing and impressive to see elderly women with black, thick hair, almost without gray, in Huangluo Yao Village.

3. The Secret of Fermented Rice Water Passed Down Through Generations

Huangluo Yao Village - copyright: weibo.com

The main secret to the long and healthy hair of the women of Huangluo Yao Village in China lies in fermented rice water. This water is made from organic rice sourced from the Longji terraces, mixed with tea seeds, pomelo peel, and traditional herbal plants. The mixture is boiled and then naturally fermented for seven days.

This process is quite complicated because the success rate is only about 70 percent. If it fails, the liquid can smell too sour. Nevertheless, the Red Yao women in China continue to maintain this technique as an intangible cultural heritage. Since 2018, this traditional hair care method has been officially recognized as a regional cultural heritage.

4. Social Code of Hair and Traditional Attire of the Red Yao

Huangluo Yao Village - copyright: weibo.com

In Huangluo Yao Village, hairstyles serve as a marker of social status for women in China. Unmarried women style their hair in a bun and cover it with a black cloth to keep it hidden from outsiders. In contrast, married women display their hair buns openly.

The traditional attire of the Red Yao is also rich in symbolic meaning. Garments embroidered with tiger claw motifs can take up to three years to complete. This motif originates from the legend of a Red Yao woman in China who saved an emperor and was given special honors. To this day, the Long Hair Dance and Long Hair Festival remain the most anticipated cultural celebrations.

5. Cultural Tourism Amidst the Enchanting Nature of Longji

Terraced Rice Field View in Longji - copyright: weibo.com

Visiting Huangluo Yao Village in China is not just about seeing long hair. Visitors can witness cultural performances such as hair care demonstrations, hair styling, and traditional dances typical of the Red Yao. The entrance ticket generally includes an art performance held directly by the villagers.

This area also features the China Long Hair Science Museum, which combines modern technology with local cultural history. The traditional wooden stilt houses of the Yao harmoniously blend with the terraced rice fields of Longji. Many tourists choose to visit this village during the harvest season to experience the beauty of nature and culture simultaneously.

(kpl/chn)