Lahu students conduct chemical experiment, photo taken by Gao Xi in 1978. [Photo/ China Photographers Association]

Lahu ethnic group

The Lahu people, inhabiting Yunnan province, normally cook in bamboo containers, which can both retain the pristine flavor of materials and add the fragrance of the fresh bamboo. They also like to make tea in bamboo wares. Through frying, pressing and baking, when the tea is taken out and steeped, it smells extremely distinctive.

In their literature, there are many poems handed down orally. According to those, they are confident that their ancestors were born from cucurbit. This also affects their music. Many musical instruments are formed from cucurbit. Lusheng, a wind instrument constructed from bamboo and a gourd is their favorite.