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In the past, the Li people lived in simple
straw huts designed to withstand the many typhoons
that strike Hainan Island every year. They dug
a pit in the ground, placed bamboo or wood poles
over it to form an oblong frame, and covered
it with straw. The result was a low-lying structure
that resembled an overturned boat.
The Li are most famous for their Bamboo-Skipping
Dance performed every year during the New Year
and on festival days, and are also known for their tattooing.
A woman's body is tattooed, beginning at age
15 and completed before marriage. The tattoos begin
on her face and continue down to her neck, chest,
arms and legs.
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