The culture and history of Lantian Yao Township

The Lantian Yao people have a long history and have some unique cultural characteristics of the Miao Yao and Zhuang Dong ethnic groups. However, they are completely different from the Bapai Yao in Liannan, and they are also different from those in northern Guangdong. Guoshan Yao varies greatly from county to county. The folk customs are unique. In addition to the "fire dog dance", "men and women singing duets", "not leaving the husband's house", and "monthly festivals", there are also "picking up Ya Gong" activities and "recruiting soldiers" to worship the Lord of the Cave. "Rituals and other folk customs are different from those of the Yao people in other parts of Guangdong. It is said that the first owner of the cave grew up eating dog milk, so dogs are a fetish of Lantian Yao compatriots. In the past, eating dog meat was prohibited, but a few Han immigrants did eat dog meat. The folk dance "Fire Dog Dance" won the National Folk Dance Gold Award.