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Yating Yang

One of China’s oldest ethnic minorities, the Yiche People, were the country’s earliest wearers of mini-shorts.
Dubbed the “sexiest minority,” they also maintain open relationships after marriage and even have a holiday during which men are permitted to freely touch women’s breasts.
The Yiche group, one of the oldest branches of the Hani ethnic minority with fewer than 20,000 people, resides in Yunnan province, southwestern China.
Their unique and open-minded culture has captured the interest of many.
Yiche women are believed to be the earliest wearers of mini-shorts in China. They traditionally don pointed white cloth hats, indigo-colored outfits, and expose their legs throughout the year.

The mini-shorts, which are black or navy blue, are meticulously tailored to fit snugly at their hips and are typically designed by women themselves to suit their body shapes.
Believing that wearing more clothes reflects family wealth, Yiche women often tailor the front of their shorts into seven pleats to create the illusion of wearing seven pairs simultaneously.
Wearing mini-shorts originated for practical reasons because the Yiche people live deep in the mountains and short pants are more convenient for physical labor in the fields.
Also, they hold a traditional belief that women with thick, muscular legs are attractive.
This stems from the idea that strong, well-shaped legs indicate a woman’s ability and efficiency in fieldwork, thereby marking her beauty and good health.

Open relationships
The Yiche people have unique marriage customs, including betrothing girls sometimes as early as a few weeks after birth.
Despite this, they are permitted to date and explore romantic relationships freely after engagement.
Traditional Yiche homes are designed with a small, separate “ear room” outside the main living area.
This allows girls, upon reaching 14, to move in and meet their lovers freely. If a girl and her lover decide to marry, she can cancel the original engagement.
Yiche women may marry multiple times throughout their lives, with the bride price doubling from her previous marriage.
It is locally said that “the more times a Yiche woman marries, the wealthier she becomes.”
Even after marriage, but before having children, Yiche women are allowed to maintain open relationships and can even bring lovers into their homes.
However, once they have children, such behavior is strictly prohibited, and those who break the rules will be expelled from the family.

Breast touching
The Yiche people have other unique customs.
Their women traditionally never wear shoes. After death, they will be adorned with beautifully embroidered footwear, which symbolises carrying the woman’s soul over mountains and rivers back to her homeland.
Also, there is the Guniang Festival or Girl’s Day, where young Yiche women sing and dance in the mountains to attract potential partners.
During their celebration, men are permitted to touch the breasts of women as long as the women allow. This practice is common as they walk up the mountain and is considered a form of greeting.
For unmarried women, men may freely touch both breasts.
Even for married women, there is a famous local saying: “The left breast belongs to the husband, and the right breast belongs to the whole world.”


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China Yiche ethnic minority, known for open relationships, earliest wearers of mini-shorts

China’s Yiche ethnic minority women are known for open relationships, and  are believed to be the earliest wearers of mini-shorts in the country. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/Sina

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Yiche ethnic minority men and women chat in a field. If the women agree, the men can touch their breasts. Photo: Sina

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People & Culture

One of China’s oldest ethnic groups maintains many interesting customs, one of which allows men to touch women’s breasts


One of China’s oldest ethnic groups maintains many interesting customs, one of which allows men to touch women’s breasts.


Explainers: Culture