Dating festival offers Miao artisan platform

The Miao ethnic group in Shidong town of Southwest China's Guizhou province celebrates a festival called "sisters' meal" on the 15th day of the third lunar month every year.

The dating custom is designed to enable young women to meet their future husbands at a lavish feast, wearing stunning traditional clothing.

Although the annual festival is closer to a beauty contest for the local Miao women, Wu Shuigen, a 51-year-old silversmith, sees it as an opportunity to showcase his work.