The Dong woman usually wears a coat/dress combination type of clothing over a short pleated skirt or a pair of leggings. The coats dress of embroidered with elaborate designs of flowers or patterns around the necklines and/or on sleeve bands. The most striking feature of a Dong woman's dressing is the headpiece she wears.

On working days, she may wear just a cloth or towel wrapped on the top of her head, mostly for protection against natural elements. On special occasions, however, the headpiece is always adorned with intricate silver designs, and may vary in size and height. Silver is generally the most important jewelry material adorning a Dong woman, be it a pair of earrings, a necklace, a ring, a pair of bangles, or just buttons. A Dong woman in her native costume is indeed a dazzling presence to be admired.

The daily wear of a Dong man is comparatively simpler. A suit made of dark colored cloth, usually in native cotton fabric, is the daily attire. The material used is dyed with indigo and egg white. For generations, the Dong people have used the indigo leaves to dye their native processed cotton materials. Only when the material has been washed through the process of dyeing for five times, then the egg white is added to further secure the shade. In special occasions, men will add gold or silver as adornments.

If clothing can tell stories, then you only need to see a Dong woman in her native dress to be impressed by the pride and honor the wearer has toward her culture.

Dong Villages
Zhaoxing      Tang'An      Chengyang     

Culture of Dongs
Sanyuejie Festival      Marriage Customs      Music      New Year      Traditional costumes      Drum Towers      Flower Bridges      Lusheng Festival     
Dong Houses     Carrying the Governors Parade      Drama     Rice Planting     Traditional Common Law     Worship the Goddess Sa Sui