By Nelson Groom for Daily Mail Australia

Published: 09:40 EDT, 24 May 2016 | Updated: 01:35 EDT, 25 May 2016

A group of women have let their hair down to promote HIV awareness – and their cascading locks would give Rapunzel a run for her money.

The troupe of eight middle-aged women, who have hair up to 3.5 metres long, are touring across China in what's been deemed the world's only long-haired 'act.' 

The group, whose name translates to 'showing long hair across thousands of kilometres,' have visited Jining, East Chinas Shandong Province, to help cast the spotlight on an event promoting awareness of the disease.

Let down your hair: The troupe of eight middle-aged women have been deemed the world's only long-haired 'act'

Good cause: The real-life Rapunzels are touring across the country to help thrust a spotlight onto a promotional event

The women, who have been growing their hair for over 20 years, hail from Beijing, Shandong, Hubei, Guangxi, Shanxi, Henan, and Jilin.

They admit it is a hassle to maintain their lengthy locks, but say their aim is to promote traditional beauty to the world.

Growing extremely long hair is an ancient tradition in several ethnic Chinese minorities, including the Yao people of Huangluo Yao Village.

Long locks: The women, who have been growing their hair for over 20 years, hail from Beijing, Shandong, Hubei, Guangxi, Shanxi, Henan, and Jilin

Measuring up: They admit it is a hassle to maintain the hair, but say their aim is to promote traditional oriental beauty to the world

Two decades of work: Growing extremely long hair is an ancient tradition in several ethnic Chinese minorities who continue the tradition

Long black hair is a sign of health and prosperity among the tribes, where women only wash their hair once every month.

AIDS is a controversial topic in China, with sufferers shunned by their communities, and even their families, over an irrational fear of being infected.

The phenomenon has been put down to a lack of education about the illness, and especially how it is contracted and spread. The event in Jining sought to raise public awareness. 

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