The procession with the buffalo returning to its home village, passing the Wind and Rain Bridge in the Wangdong village, Guizhou, China.
Buffalo handler with his buffalo getting ready to return to the home village after the match. The buffalo is wearing a blanket to keep him warm on a cold day in January. Wangdong village, Guizhou, China.
Owner petting his buffalo after the match. Wangdong village, Guizhou, China.
The men from the village celebrate their buffalo's victory. Wangdong village, Guizhou, China.
The losing buffalo runs away and the winner chases him until the owners manages to catch and restrain him. Wangdong village, Guizhou, China.
Local kids cheering for their buffalo. Wangdong village, Guizhou, China.
Village kids watching the buffalo fights. Wangdong village, Guizhou, China.
Two buffalos locks horns together during the fight. Each bout usually lasts less than a minute, a winner is declared if his opponent runs away. If neither bull runs away after six minutes, the fight is declared a draw and both bulls advance to the next round. Wangdong village, Guizhou, China.
Two buffalos locked together during the match. The winner is decided when his opponent runs away. If neither buffalo submits, then a draw is declared. The majority of fights finish without any injuries and some finish even without contact, as they have been known to run away on sight. Wangdong village, Guizhou, China.
Dong women dressed in their traditional outfits and holding the ribbons that will adorn the buffalo after the match. Wangdong village, Guizhou, China.
Music of drums, cymbals and bamboo flutes (lusheng) is an integral part of every fight. These musicians are waiting for their buffalos turn to fight. Wangdong village, Guizhou, China.
A village elder climbs the stairs to find the best seat on the morning of the fight. The arena was constructed a few days prior to the event. Wangdong village, Guizhou, China.
A Buffalo checks out the arena in Wangdong village a day before the fight. The entrance ceremony of the bullfight is called "stepping ground". Wangdong village, Guizhou, China.
A boy with the village flag runs in front of the crowd that is accompanying the buffalo to the arena, where it will attend the first fight of the year. Zhengying village in Guizhou, China.
The villagers accompany the buffalo to the arena, where it will attend the first fight of the year. Zhengying village in Guizhou, China.
The men in the village accompany the buffalo to the arena, where it will attend the first buffalo fight of the year. Zhengying village in Guizhou, China.
A child's drawing of a buffalo on a house in Wangdong village, Guizhou, China.
Kids feeding the buffalo before the buffalo fight in the Qiandongnan village in Guizhou, China.
A farmer washes the village's buffalo in the Huanggang village in Guizhou, China.
A traditional Dong minority village with octagonal pagoda-type drum towers. Villagers gather around the fire in the middle of the tower which burns almost all year round. Huanggang village in Guizhou, China.
The village elders gather around a fire in the buffalo shack on the day the buffalo leaves to the fight. Zhengying village in Guizhou, China.
