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Each Maonan village is inhabited by a group of
people with the same surname. Eighty percent
of the Maonan people have the surname "Tan."
The Maonan people eat sour food - sour meats,
pickles and snail soup, as well as sour hot
pepper, tomato, turnip, papaya and cucumber.
Sour meat is made with slices of pork or beef
mixed with salt and preserved for two or three
days. The slices are then covered with rice
flour that has been steamed and cooled. After
preserving in an air-tight jar for three months,
the meat is ready to eat.
The Maonan are hospitable to one another, calling
each other brothers and sisters when they meet. They are also hospitable to guests, entertaining them
with oranges and sweet potatoes. The Maonan are
known for their hats, which are artistically
woven with 700 thin strands of bamboo and decorated
with black designs. It is often given as an
engagement gift. A young man will give it to
the girl he likes on a special holiday. If the
girl accepts it, it means that she agrees to
their love.
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