Luoping County is located in Qujing City, in eastern Yunnan province, China, bordering Guizhou province to the east and the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region to the southeast. 

    The Buyi people live in a compact community in Luoping with a population of 29, 000, a share of 70%of the total in Yunnan. They inhabit along the Nine-Dragon River,  the Duoyi River, and the Nanpan River valleys. The largest population of the Buyi is in Guizhou. Most of the Buyi in Luoping came from Guizhou and Guangxi. Some are descendants of the army from the central plains with local inhabitants.

        Bamboo is the major material of the Buyi's house. The house is the three-tier structure of the four-shaft bench type, similar to the bamboo house of Dai and the drum house of the Dong. This type suits the sub-tropical valley climate with the feature of being hot and damp, so people can avoid the heat, enjoy the cool, and be safe from beasts, mosquitoes, and insects. 

    Bamboo is part and parcel of the Buyi during the process of their production and development. Bamboos are planted around the house as a shelter from turmoil, war, and beasts. Apart from being a building material, bamboo is widely used in their daily life, without mentioning delicious food such as roots, fungus, flowers, and fish with preserved bamboo roots. Crafts made of bamboo are also popular in the market. 

    Traditional festivals are the Antiphonal Festival the 2nd day of the 3rd lunar month), the Water Sprinkling Festival the 3rd day of the 3rd lunar month), Offering Sacrifice to the Senior Citizen's House, the 24th day of the sixth lunar month, and New Rice Tasting Festival. 

    The 3rd day of the 3rd lunar month is the Water Sprinkling Festival, a big day in the Buyi people's life. During the three-day holidays, the ceremony of offering sacrifice to the mountain and the river will be held. Every family will celebrate the festival by making delicious dotted rice and sprinkling water along the river. Children have great fun by carrying colorful bags with painted eggs, water guns, and waterwheels there. 

Buyi people have no written language. They express feelings by way of singing. Songs can be heard in every aspect of life from drinking, raising children, respecting the old, to love. Love songs are the best of their folk songs. Singing love songs is the sole way for the youth in their courtship. The Antiphonal Festival each year is the golden time for them to express love to each other. Frequent singing in the courtship often leads to a very long and lasting marriage.

Photo Resource: Internet

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