Xinqiao village in Leishan county, Southwest China's Guizhou province stands out from other Miao villages in the region for the distinctive short skirts worn by its females.

People of the Miao ethnic group in Xinqiao village of Leishan county, Southwest China's Guizhou province stand in front of traditional wooden barns. [Photo by Yu Guode/provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

More than 600 years ago, the Miao women and girls of Xinqiao began to wear mini-skirts as short as 16 centimeters all year round, even in the freezing winter. Mini-skirts are convenient for females to walk in muddy mountain roads.

Females of the Miao ethnic group in mini-skirts. [Photo by Yu Guode/provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

In Xinqiao village you can still see many traditional wooden houses of the Miao ethnic group. Special barns for storing gain stand above water to stay out of reach of rats and fire.

Traditional wooden barns for storing gain stand above water to stay out of reach of rats and fire. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]