Yiche Ethnic People

Yiche people is a branch of Hani ethnic Minority, which is the oldest branch of Hani nationality, with a population of less than 30,000, distributed in three townships of Dayangjie(大羊街), Langdi(浪堤) and Chegu(车古) in Honghe county, Yunnan. Due to the long interpretation of its historical migration, the people of Yiche created primitive, mysterious and brilliant culture in their long-term coexistence and collision with nature. It covers Hani’s farming, religion, sacrificial words, calendar, folk customs, costumes, marriage, diet, etc. It has profound connotations of sociology, folklore and ethics.

Distribution of Yiche Ethnic People in Yunnan

They inhabit several areas of Honghe County, especially some villages of Dayangjie (called Yiche Township by the locals), Langdi and Chegu Townships. Most of the Yeche villages are situated in the southern side of the Yuanjiang River, usually in the middle heights of the mountains. Their midst mountain in the back of the terrace fields carefully cultivated make the Yiche living environment one of the most beautiful in China.

Dayangjie Village in Dayangjie Town Datuoshe Village in Dayangjie Town Xiaotuoshe Village in Dayangjie Town Malong Village in Langdi Town Chegu Village of Chegu Town

Festivals of Yiche Ethnic People in Yunnan

YangAna Festival YangAna is also called The Girls Street Festival for the main participant of Yiche girls. In Hani Language, YangAna means that people sing and play in their spare time. YangAna is usually held on the first monkey day after Huangfan Festival(黄饭节) of Yiche people at the pass of Mengzhehongdu mountain, which is the holy mountain that Yiche people admire. It is said that on the day of YangAna Festival, Yiche people can forget the hardships of labor, and get relaxed after climbing to the top of mountain. Kuzhazha Festival Kuzhaza festival, celebrated at the beginning of the rainy season, is one of the main festivals of the Hani. But among the Yiche this celebration is usually enjoyed with crazy intensity; as the people dress with a kind of fantastic or other sex clothes; and in the climax, their dance simulate the sexual act , as a mean to ask for increase in the population, rice, livestock, etc. Zhatele Festival Zhatele festival is also known as “October year”. Every year, from the first dragon exhibition day to the monkey day of lunar October, lasting for 6 days, it is a grand festival for Hani people to say goodbye to the old and welcome the new. During the festival, there is a new scene in the village. Men, women, old and young wear new clothes. Villagers kill pigs and chickens. The October year of Yiche people, in addition to reflecting the common affection and family reunion of all ethnic groups, has two forms of celebrating the new year. One is Stone Carnival and another is Abado banquet. More about Festivals of Yiche Ethnic People.