Kangba fashion: Beauty of Tibetan culture

Kangba clothes show the masculinity of men and highlight the slender figures of women. Men also put Tibetan broadswords on their belt while women wear precious accessories made of amber and corallites. [Photo by Han Jiajun/chinadaily.com.cn]

Yushu Tibetan autonomous prefecture, located in China's Qinghai province, is known not only for its beautiful landscapes but also its rich and unique culture, including the traditional Kangba costumes that have been listed as a national intangible cultural heritage.

The Kangba costumes are known for their rich colors and flowing tailoring. Five colors commonly used represent the five elements: yellow for the earth, blue for the sky, red for the solemnity of religion, white for purity, green for water and black for wealth. Kangba costumes are one branch of the Tibetan clothing culture which over the centuries has gradually developed its own style.