The population of Yao nationality is about 2.1 million persons, most of them live in Guangxi , Hunan, Yunnan, Guangdong, Guizhou and Jiangxi province. They have their own language, at the same time , most of them can talk in Han language, a few of them also know Zhuang and Miao language.
There are more than 20 branches of Yao, they have something different on working style, lifestyle and costumes, etc. Some of Yao worship nature, some of them believe in Totemism , some of them believe in Taoism.
Most Yao are engaged in primitive hunting, fishing and agriculture.
One of Yao's branches --- Chashan Yao is located in Da Yao Shan of Guangxi province. Their village are always near the mountain and lake(or river), the houses made of wood are always with two floor, they look like handing in the middle of mountains.
This kind of "handing houses" ( diao lou) are always places for social activities of adult girls. At night, girls get toghter in the handing house to do embroidery and weave , males love them sing in the street under the handing house to express their love. If the girl find the one she like, she will open the door of the handing house, the male has to climb up to the handing house to chat with the girl, so they may get marry late or if they found they are not suitable to each other, all these things will repeat until they find the suitable ones.
Panwang festival on lunar August 15th. is Yao's traditional festival , it is to commemorate their ancestor---King of Yao and also celebrate the harvest.
