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August 23rd 2012

Published: September 3rd 2012

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curenyige

the Miao

The bus ride from Liping down to Rongjiang was unexpectly pretty. especially between Bazhai and Zaidang. many Dong villages stood tidily along the road. the calling card of the Dong are drum tower. it shoot up significently in every village that our bus came across. reminded me of the Dai pagoda in southern Yunnan, also the symbol of every Dai village.

No memories did come back about Rongjiang when I stepped into town, but strangely nothing look new here. seem like renovation was fall behind in Rongjiang. later I find indeed another new old-town is underway in town center. a wholesale market is right by the rundown bus station. there are many guesthouses offered hit and run brothal style sleeping place. the first thing when walk into the main door was the smell of shampoo！

Rongjiang offered better tribal scene. In Bakai market you could see Dong and Shui people, their costume are pretty similar, both wear dark colour long sleeve shirt, the Dong with a plain black stripe run along the lapel across the chest, while the Shui decorated that part with embroidery. You also could see 2 tribes of Miao, one wear diamond shape apron and top

the Miao

Bakai market

with a simple long sleeve robe, plaited skirt and shiny indigo cotton legging. the eye catching are the brightly pink feather thread ear decorated. Another Miao wear long sleeve jacket with stripe of embrodier on chest along the rim, knee lenght trouser with front apron and a piece of plaited fabric on the back. and legging nicely decorated with pattern ribbon.

You could also see the same Dong and Shui in Pingyong market, and although there is only one tribe of Miao there wearing long sleeve jacket like those in Bakai. but they had beautiful plaited skirt used indigo crossover with batik, bright shiny front apron tied with nicely knead belt. their leg dress are fully embroidered and they wear white head scarf.

Xiajiang market offered similar minority scene. the Dong and Shui. but the Miao there displayed heavy duty silver jewellery, the huge cube balance on the back of the women, said it was a symbol of female. the costume are pretty much the same, but many woman wear indigo pattern plaited skirt and with trumpet shape legging. After Zhongcheng market I completed the market in 4 direction from Rongjiang, Zhongcheng market is small but lively dominated