Singing is a custom of the Yao young people in Jinping, Yunnan Province. Young men visit friends or relatives during festivals where they must sing a song expressing their gratitude to the host so they can enter his or her home. After supper, the guests must sing a song asking for bedclothes and a lamp. Having procured these things, the young men must lie in bed fully awake.
When darkness falls, crowds of girls in the village arrive at the host's house. Having explained their purpose in three songs, the girls bang on the door heavily with small wooden stools to wake up the guests and burn bamboo at the front door. Then, a clever, articulate and beautiful girl is chosen to sing a song inviting the young man: The lamp hangs in the tall pavilion; the phoenix comes and goes. The trip is long and tiring, but in order to see the beautiful osmanthus flowers it is worthy.
On hearing the song the young man comes out of the house and the girls persuade him to sit down by singing a song: A stool has four sides; it is near the fire. Sit down on the stool, or squat near the fire.
After the man is seated and the greeting songs are sung, it is time for the Pan Songs. The young man sings: The stream gets turbid when the river rises; how deep is the stream? I throw a stone to fathom the depth; I sing a song to find out whether you love me or not. The girls respond: A bright sun is shining over the cliff; Osmanthus blossoms at the foot of the cliff. I am the osmanthus rich in fragrance; you are the bee looking for me.
The young men and women use their wit, trying best to excel others in singing the Pan Songs and express their feelings of adoration. The activity continues until dawn when girls sing a song asking the young man to wash his face. Then the girls go home for dinner and prepare another round of Pan Songs for the evening.
