Women in this Chinese tribe only cut their hair once in their lifetimes

Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair.
 By 
Alicia Tan
 on 
Women in this Chinese tribe only cut their hair once in their lifetimes
Credit: VCG/Getty Images

So Rapunzel does exist. And not just one, but dozens of them.

A group of Chinese women and girls in Guangxi, China, gathered by a river near the Huangluo Yao village to celebrate their long hair in an annual festival on Saturday.


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The women from the Yao ethnic group usually keep their hair wrapped under headscarves, but during the festival finally let their hair down to wash and comb out their locks. Women from this tribe have an average hair length of 2.3 metres.

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Credit: VCG/Getty Images

According to local media outlets, Red Yao women only cut their hair once in their lifetimes, usually just before they get married.

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Credit: VCG /Getty Images

This tribe's tradition has earned them a place in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's first long hair village.

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Credit: VCG /Getty Images

It is believed that a woman's long locks will bring longevity, wealth and good fortune to her family.

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Alicia Tan

Alicia Tan was an Asia Deputy Editor at Mashable. She has over 11 years of experience in journalism, magazine production and content publishing; specialising in women's lifestyle, fashion and beauty. When she's not writing, she's obsessing over Totoro, Ryan Gosling and online shopping.

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