When you see the brown-black horse-tail hat worn by the adult men of the Yao ethnic group, you will surely be amazed by its delicate, exquisite and miniature craftsmanship. You may think it was made by the clever and skilled girls, but in fact, it is woven by those bold and rugged young men or adult men.

It is said that long ago, there was a Yao hunter who wrapped his head with a long cloth. Every day, he climbed mountains and rocks to chase game, often getting entangled by branches and vines, which delayed his pursuit and let many wild animals escape. On rainy days, the cloth absorbed water and became a heavy burden. Later, he used horse hair to weave a hat. It was light, smooth, waterproof, and durable, suitable for hunting on the mountain. Thus, people liked this "horse-tail hat" and started wearing it.

To make a "horse-tail hat", first, a wooden model with a large head is made, smoothed and polished, with a hole drilled in the middle to reduce the weight. When weaving, the weaver sits on a stool, placing the model on his knees. He holds the model with his left hand and uses a needle with horse hair in his right hand, carefully weaving it stitch by stitch. Making one "horse-tail hat" usually takes seven or eight days. The fastest also needs four or five days. Although it is time-consuming, it can be considered as a one-time effort, because a "horse-tail hat" can be worn for at least five or six years!

The Yao men love the "horse-tail hat". It symbolizes the intelligence, diligence and wisdom of Yao men. If an adult man does not wear the "horse-tail hat", the girls look down on him, and others find it hard to accept. Therefore, men must try every means to learn how to weave the "horse-tail hat". Even if they cannot weave it, they have to ask someone else to make one for them to wear.