Manggao (芒篙) is a legendary god in the Miao (苗) ethnic minority culture. He drives out evil spirits and brings good fortune.
During each Spring Festival, many Miao villages hold Manggao festivals, where performers dress up as the god to bring good luck.
The Manggao Festival is an intangible cultural heritage.
The performer wears a mask made by craftsmen and a grassy cloak made from local weeds picked from the nearby mountain. The mask takes more than two days to make.
Liang Ronghua, from the Jiman Miao village, Anchui township, Rongshui Miao autonomous county in Liuzhou city of Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, has made the Manggao mask for more than two decades. Liang, 57, learned to make the costume when he was 20. He was honored as one of the 10 best folk artists in the local county in 2012.
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Miao’s Manggao festival brings luck
