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Zoey Zhang

Deep in the mountains of southern China lives the White Trousers Yao, the nation’s last tribe legally permitted to own guns.
Renowned for their embroidered knee-length white trousers, they greet guests with roasted rat, which is considered a prized delicacy.
Historical records indicate that this ancient group numbers about 40,000 people, a branch of the Yao community predominantly found in Guangxi and Guizhou provinces.
Men don white trousers that fall just below the knee, embellished with five red patterns that pay homage to the ancient Yao king, who famously bled from a knee wound during battle.

The White Trousers Yao once depended on hunting for sustenance and protection.
Boys grow up mastering the use of hunting guns, approximately 1.5 metres long, serving both as weapons and symbols of identity.
A gunshot is their highest gesture of welcome, and shooting contests are traditionally held during festivals.
For them, the gun symbolises a guardian spirit, meant never to harm the innocent; in honour of this belief, they remain the last tribe in China officially allowed to retain registered firearms.
The White Trousers Yao tribespeople are also among only two ethnic groups in China to transition directly from a primitive society to modern times.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) has recognised them as the ethnic group with the most intact cultural traditions.
They hold motherhood in high regard, with women often taking the lead in romance, marriage, and daily life.
In summer, women’s tops consist of two simple cloth pieces, worn without undergarments as a sign of confidence and respect for maternal power.
The ideal age for marriage is between 17 and 20, and unions rarely occur outside the tribe.
On the wedding day, a bride may visit her former lovers, a custom that reflects positively on the groom’s “broad-minded” character.
Hair is considered life’s most treasured possession, and even fallen strands are carefully collected and preserved.

Upon turning 18, both men and women cease cutting their hair, wrapping it in cloth and coiling it atop their heads.
The White Trousers Yao are also celebrated for an unusual delicacy: rat meat.
It is served during holidays, reserved for honoured guests, and even presented by men to women as a symbol of love.
A local legend tells of a flood that devastated an entire village, leaving only one boy and one girl.
When the girl’s cherished cotton seeds were devoured by rats, the boy devised a trap, eliminating the pests and ensuring both survival and her heart.
The funeral rites of the White Trousers Yao are equally remarkable.

Believing that cattle embody the hard work of their ancestors, they accompany the deceased into the afterlife with a cow by their side.
During the ceremony, family members feed, bow to, and touch the animal before it is slaughtered.
The cow’s blood is mixed with wine as an offering, followed by the resounding beat of bronze drums and the wild monkey dance, a ritual intended to guide the soul to heaven.
The unique traditions of the White Trousers Yao are garnering national attention, with their village in Guizhou welcoming nearly 400,000 visitors in 2023.


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China White Trousers Yao tribe allows men to carry guns for hunting, views rat meat as delicacy

The White Trousers Yao tribe, China’s last legally armed tribe, is known for its unique dress and customs, and men are allowed to carry guns for hunting. Photo: SCMP composite/Baidu/Douyin/gx.cri.cn

Men don white trousers that fall just below the knee, embellished with five red patterns that pay tribute to the ancient Yao king, who famously bled from a knee wound during battle. Photo: Handout

For them, the gun symbolises a guardian spirit, intended never to harm the innocent; in honour of this belief, they remain the last tribe in China officially permitted to retain registered firearms. Photo: Handout

On their wedding day, a bride may visit her former lovers, a custom that reflects positively on the groom’s “broad-minded” character. Photo: Handout

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) has recognised them as the ethnic group with the most intact cultural traditions. Photo: Handout

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People & Culture

Tribespeople hold motherhood in high regard, with women often taking the lead in romance, marriage, and daily life


Tribespeople hold motherhood in high regard, with women often taking the lead in romance, marriage, and daily life.


United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO)

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.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Tribespeople hold motherhood in high regard, with women often taking the lead in romance, marriage, and daily life

Tribespeople hold motherhood in high regard, with women often taking the lead in romance, marriage, and daily life