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The First USA Iu-Mien Youth Delegation to China | |
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1992 was the first time I've ever been to China. I was surprised to see my own kind (Yao) still living there today. They still called themselves 'Yao'. Unlike us in the USA, we called ourselves 'Mien' or 'Iu Mien'. I noticed that there were slight difference in dialaque between the U.S Mien and the Yao of China (in terms of speech, tone, accent) but I could understand them pretty good.
'USA Iu Mien Youth Delegation' was the name of my group. There were 13 of us total. Our mission was to learn the Iu Mien history or Yao. We were warmly welcomed with red carpet kind of treatment by the Chinese government. We visited the most popular sites in Beijing, including The Tiananmen Square, The Forbidden City, which has 9,999 rooms. The dark Underground Palace, where the emperor and his armies buried. The Great Wall, which expressed itself as: "Every brick buries a life" - too many labor-workers lost their lives during the construction. The Summer Palace and its huge lake, which dug by men.
Many Yao people I had met worked for the Chinese government. They were the Yao of the big cities. They blended in with the Cantonese well. They speak Cantonese & Mandarin but hardly Yao. All 13 of us from the USA were thrilled with the way the Chinese had treated us. Their hospitality were superior. We were accompanied by many government officials (mayors, policemen, oversea foreign affair officials, and the News Media), they accompanied us from the beginning to the end. Our safety was their greatest concern. They took great care of us.
| SEE ALL 13 OF US IN HERE |
When I was a kid, I often heard my parents talked about China. They often talk about the old and well-known places or structures, such as-"Waanc Leix Caangh Cinh"-The Great Wall- and many old temples, which our ancesters once helped built in the 1400s. They're still lying strong today.
Now that I'm an adult, I've been to those places and seen them all with my own two eyes, they were all real. I couldn't believe my eyes! I visited the History Musium, the one located in the heart of Beijing. From there I learned that there were originally 56 clans of Chinese in China. For example, Hans, Tai, Zhuang, Japan, Korean, Miao, Yao, Russian, just to name a few. In Beijing, we toured around the main campus of the Beijing University. At the Culture & Language University, we were welcomed by several Yao Professors, who were teaching Yao Language there. They encouraged us in their own words: "Any Yao or Iu-Mien students from around the world who wishes to learn about our "Iu Mien root" is always welcome at the Minority University in Beijing." So, if any of you interested going to Beijing to learn about our Iu Mien root, please don't hesitate to contact Professor Pan Cheng Qian, he's one of many Yao Professors who teaches Yao Language and Culture there. Don't worry, Professor Pan Cheng Qian can speak Mien very clearly. He can also speak Mandarin fluently. If you'd like to contact him, please email me and let me know. So, I can give you his address and office telephone number in Beijing. I also have a photo of him. The next day, we went and climbed The Great Wall!! I climbed almost to the highest point. The surroundings were so beautiful. I could see the clouds, and blankets of fog slowly moving away from the mountains. I felt like I was on the top of the world. It was great! Maybe that's why they called it The Great Wall. After few hours on the Wall, we (my group) took the cable-car down to the base. It was quite scary on the cable-car part. I must admit, my trip to China was very worthwhile. Our great journey was carefully arranged by the Chinese government, which provided most of the expenses. I'm very greatful for this wonderful trip. Thanks to Cheng Fow of Portland, Oregon, who sponsored us........ Over two million Yao in China today
After that one memorable week in Beijing, We flew to Guang Dong province, known as Canton. At the airport of Guang Dong, we were welcomed by two young ladies whom were accompanied by some government officials. The two ladies dressed in the old Yao tradition. Coned hats, stripe skirts and red/black colored gowns. They dressed traditionally to honored us.
In Guang Dong, most Yao were/are farmers, poor and under poverty. Their lifestyle in China were no different than those(Yao)in Thailand or Laos. They live in small villages far from the city. Few villages did have electricity but no running water. Their houses were more like huts with wooden shingles and walls, shinny dirt-floors. Chickens were roaming freely everywhere. As I looked further to the edges of the village, I saw men carrying logs on their shoulders walking toward their individual houses. I assumed they used those logs for firewoods, since they didn't have stoves to cook foods with, nor refrigerators to keep foods cool. Liannan and Lianshan counties (where many Yao people live), both were fairly nice and well modernized. For instance, there were nice motels equiped with cable T.V stations. Streets were illuminated by lights all around town. Many family markets were opened at night along the streets. During the day time, pedestrians, bikers, and motorcyclists were everywhere. The climate there was hot and humid. It rained the whole time we were there. Few rivers were flooded. We also visited many freaky, cold, dark caves and underground rivers which lied hundreds of meters deep beneath the earth. It was quite an experience for all of us.
All photos taken by Tom Saephanh
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China Yao Girls' 
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