Mongolian |
 |
| Population |
5 million |
| Location |
Inner Mongolia and northern |
| Religion |
Tibetian Buddhsm, Muslims |
| Mongolian led by Genghis Khan governed
China and established Yuan Dynasty from 1846-1890.
They have their own languages and three dialects.
Inner Mongolia is now an Autonomous Region in
China.They are mostly practitioners of Tibetian
Buddhism and Muslims.
|
|
Hui |
 |
| Population |
8,130,000 |
| Location |
NORTHWESTERN |
| Religion |
MUSLIM |
| The Hui have a long history
of intermarriage with other nationalities such as
Arabs, Han Chinese, etc. They follow many Muslim
rules and taboos, such as not eating any pork. The
men wear white or black skullcaps. Women cover themselves
with white, black or green veils. |
|
Tibetan |
｡｡ |
| Population |
4.6 million |
 |
| Location |
Tibet |
| Religion |
Tibetan Buddhism |
| Tibetans and Han Chinese have been
living together for thousand of years. China' sovereignty
over Tibet can be traced back to 13th Century.
Before becoming an Autonomous Region in China,
Tibet was under a feudal serfdom characterized
by the dictatorship of upper-class monks and nobles.
The feudal lords who constituted only five percent
of the population possessed 95 percent of the
means of production. Tibet serfs were even more
miserable than the black slaves in the United
States before the civil war. Tibet was at that
time not peaceful at all because the struggles
between the slaves and their lords were very fierce.
There were no other religions allowed in Tibet.
There were evidences that missioners were killed
in Tibet in the past.
Tibet is now an Autonomous Region in China. Tibetans
enjoy the same freedom of religions, education
and other rights as other Chinese.
|
|
Weiwuer |
｡｡ |
| Population |
0.7 million |
 |
| Location |
Xinjiang |
| Religion |
Muslims |
| Xinjiang is a Uygur Autonomous Region.
It is the largest region in China, covering one
sixth of China's total. A great deal of it is desert
and mountain. Weiwuer love dancing, singing and
playing their own unique musical instruments. They
are hospitable people. Visitors will be invited
to taste sweet grapes, melons and plums, drink tea,
and join the lively dancing.
|
|
Miao |
｡｡ |
| Population |
7.4 million |
 |
| Location |
Sichuan, Guizhou and Yunnan |
| Religion |
None |
Chinese historical records show that
the Miao ethnic group used to live along the Yellow
river, much earlier than any other ethnic group
in China. Because of wars, and changes in the living
environment, the Miao gradually established many
tribes when they moved further south. These tribes
have different lifestyles and different types of
costume developed during cultural exchanges with
other nationalities, while maintaining their own.
There are 23 varieties of costume, falling into
five types more prevalent in western Hunan Province,
southeastern Guizhou, in the region where Sichuan,
Guizhou and Yunnan provinces meet, and the Hainan
Province. Among the five types, the popular styles
in western Hunan Province, and eastern and southeastern
Guizhou Province are typical and more distinguishable.
|
|
Yi |
｡｡ |
| Population |
6.6 million |
 |
| Location |
Yunnan, Sichuan, Guizhou and Gunangxi |
| Religion |
None |
| Yi settles down in the valley surrounded
by mountains and streams. Yi has a beautiful language,
which is still being used today. There are many
history records, literature, medication study all
written in Yi language. Yi lives on farming and
animal husbandry. Their traditional painting, sculpture
and silversmith are beautiful. Fire Festival in
June is a big day for Yi. Just like other minority
groups, they are good in folk dancing and singing.
|
|
Zhuang |
｡｡ |
| Population |
15 million |
 |
| Location |
Mainly in Guangxi, some in Guangdong, Guizhou,
Yunnan and Hunan. |
| Religion |
None |
| Zhuang is the largest ethnic minority
group in China. They settle in the Guangxi Autonomous
Region and live on farming. Their tropical fruit
and farming product are very famous. They have own
language. Based on Han Chinese, They also created
a written language, which is still being used widely
today. Every March, they have a big festival to
celebrate with folk dancing and singing. |
|
Buyi |
｡｡ |
| Population: |
2.5 million |
 |
| Location: |
Guizhou, Yunnan, Sichuan and Guangxi |
Buyi is the native ethnic group living
in the highland, traced back to the Stone Age. They
are mainly in farming and forest product. Has own
language but not widely used. Their ancient architecture
becomes hot spot for tourist. Their stone house
is very unique and built based on the "Ying
Yang" theory.
|
|
Korean |
｡｡ |
| Population: |
2 million |
 |
| Location: |
Jilin, Heilongjiang, Liaoning,Inner Mongolia |
| Korean moved into China
300 years ago. They mainly live on farming. They
brought with them their own language and traditions.
Just like other Chinese, they respect elders and
love their children. They have very good education
system and achieve high level of education. They
excel in the area of science and art. |
|
Man (Manchu) |
｡｡ |
| Population: |
9.8 million |
 |
| Location: |
Northern China |
Manchu has a history more than 2,000
years. They mainly live in Liaoning and East Northern
China. Their ancestors mixed with Han Chinese, Mongolian
and Koreans in their early settlement. They governed
China for more than 300 years during Qing Dynasty.
Unfortunately Qing brought great disaster to China.
The imperial court failed to stop the Western power
invading China with their newest arms and opium.
It took Chinese 80 years to clean up the mess and
only until December 20, 1999, the last colony, Macao,
reverted back to China from 500 years occupation
by Portuguese. The only Chinese land still under
foreign occupation is Diaoyutai Island, which was
given to Japan by American at the end of the World
War II.
|
|
Dong |
｡｡ |
| Population: |
2.5 million
|
 |
| Location: |
Guizhou, Guangxi, Hunan |
| Dong lives on farming and fishing.
They have own languages and know Han Chinese well.
They have rich heritages in arts and music. Their
poetry is very famous. The most amazing architecture
is the drum tower, which was built thousand years
ago, without using any nails or slots |
|
Yao |
｡｡ |
| Population: |
2.1 million |
 |
| Location: |
Guangxi,Hunan, Yunnan, Guangdong, Guizhou |
| Yao originated in Yangtz
River and later moved south into the mountain area
in the Southern West of China. They have own language
but most of them know a few other languages. In
the remote area, some of them still keep own religion
and traditions, and very primitive living condition
by hunting and farming. They are good in dancing
and music. |
|
Bai |
｡｡ |
| Population: |
1.6 million
|
 |
| Location: |
Mostly in Yunnan, Guizhou, Hunan, Sichuan |
| Bai is a very old ethnic
group in China. Dali of Yunnan is their capital.
They are very good in science, architecture, medication
and literature. They live mainly on farming and
fishing. They have own language but also know Han
Chinese very well. Dali is now a hot tourist area
for its famous architecture, temples, sculpture,
visual arts, etc |
|
Tujia |
｡｡ |
| Population: |
5.7 million |
 |
| Location: |
Hunan, Hubei, Sichuan |
| Tujia's history can be traced back
2,000 years ago. They have been living in Hunan
and the neighboring provinces for years. They have
own languages. They have mixed with other minorities
and Han since early days. Most of them know a few
languages, including Han Chinese. They have no specific
religion and worship "White Tiger" as
their ancestor. |
|
Hani |
｡｡ |
| Population: |
1.25 million
|
 |
| Location: |
Yunnan |
| Hani lives on farming, usually 800
to 2500 above sea, high into the mountain area.
They are very good in creating farming field on
the slop of hills with unique watering system. They
have own language but have no specific religion.
They do worship nature and ancestors. Their New
Year starts on October. |
|
Kazakh(Hasake)
|
｡｡ |
| Population: |
1.1 million |
 |
| Location: |
Xinjiang |
| Kazakh settles in the north of Xinjiang.
They live on animal husbandry and farming. They
have own language and believe in Islam. Their beautiful
song and dancing are famous in China. |
|
Dai |
｡｡ |
| Population: |
1 million
|
 |
| Location: |
Yunnan |
| Dai is one of the largest minority
groups in Yunnan. Their own language is very closed
to India. All the history and literature were recorded
in Dai. They live on farming and have many tropical
plants. Their new year starts in June. |
|
Li |
｡｡ |
| Population: |
1.11 million
|
 |
| Location: |
Hainan |
| Li is the native in Hainan and can
be traced back to "Stone Age". They live
in farming and have the earliest weaving technology
in Chinese history. The technology was then transferred
to mainland China in Tang/Song Dynasties. Li has
no written language and use Han Chinese. |
|
Lisu |
｡｡ |
| Population: |
575,000
|
 |
| Location: |
Yunnan |
| Lisu migrated into this area since
8th Century. They live on hunting, forest product
and mineral. They have own language and wear traditional
cloth. Lisu is a very open and friendly |
|
Wa |
｡｡ |
| Population: |
352,000
|
 |
| Location: |
Yunnan |
| Wa has settled in this area for a
few thousand years. They live on farming and hunting.
There are many forest products and animals such
as tiger, bear, deer and elephant. Their language
is closed to the languages used in Burma and other
neighboring countries. |
|
She |
｡｡ |
| Population: |
630,000
|
 |
| Location: |
Fujian, Zhejiang |
| Since the years, 'She' has spread
into several provinces along the east coast. They
live on farming. They have own language but use
Han Chinese. They are very artistic and use bamboo
to make furniture, decoration and many other products.
|
|
Gaoshan |
｡｡ |
| Population: |
400,000
|
 |
| Location: |
Fujian, Taiwan |
| Gaoshan settles in Taiwan mountain
areas for centuries. Some of them migrated to the
east coast of mainland China. They have 15 languages,
some of them are closed to the languages used in
Indonesia. They live on farming. Gaoshan people
are organized into commune and every one in the
commune has clear responsibility. |
|
Lahu |
｡｡ |
| Population: |
415,000
|
 |
| Location: |
Yunnan |
| Lahu settles in the tropical mountain
area. They live on farming and forest industry.
They have own language but most of them use Han
Chinese and Dai language. Their written language
was greatly influenced by the missionary from the
West in late 19th Century. They like dancing and
music. Girls favor dark color cloth as traditional
fashion. |
|
Shui |
｡｡ |
| Population: |
346,000 |
 |
| Location: |
Guizhou |
| Shui is a native in Guizhou. They
live mainly on farming. They have an old language
with 400 words and only used for religion activities.
They also have own calendar. September is the starting
of a new year. They are very good in painting and
have a 700 years old history of diet technology. |
|
Dongxiang |
｡｡ |
| Population: |
374,000 |
 |
| Location: |
Gangsu, Qinghai, Ningxia |
| Dongxiang has same language as Mongolia.
They are Islam in religion and maintain all the
Islam traditions. They are a very open nation and
like dancing, singing and other activities. They
live on farming. Most of them use Han Chinese |
|
Naxi |
｡｡ |
| Population: |
278,000
|
 |
| Location: |
Yunnan |
| Naxi migrated from Qing Hai to Yunnan
long time ago. They live on farming and forest industry.
The forest there is unspoiled and can be a good
place for adventure. There are few thousand of different
types of flowers, flora and plants. They have own
language but often use Han Chinese |
|
Jingpo |
｡｡ |
| Population: |
119,000
|
 |
| Location: |
Yunnan |
| Jingpo settles in high mountains.
They live on farming and forest. Their products
include red wood, rubber, coffee, tea and many other
tropical products. They have five dialects and they
mixed in using these dialects in different situations. |
|
Haergehe (Khalkh)
|
｡｡ |
| Population: |
140,000 |
 |
| Location: |
Xinjiang |
| Khalkh migrated from
Mongol. They mixed with Uighur and Kazakh. They
have own language but also know Uighur , Kazakh
and Han Chinese. They are Islam and live on farming
and animal husbandry. Their literature is very famous
and like dancing and music. |
|
Tu |
｡｡ |
| Population: |
192,000 |
 |
| Location: |
Qinghai |
| Tu settles in the Qing
Hai. They lived on animal husbandry and now mainly
on farming. They have a few dialects and use Han
Chines or Tibetan language. They believe in Lama.
They have the longest festival season and like dancing
and music. |
|
Tartar |
｡｡ |
| Population: |
80,000 |
 |
| Location: |
Inner Mongolia |
| Tartar mainly settles
in Inner Mongolia. They live on animal husbandry.
They have own language but they also know other
languages such as Han Chinese, Mongolia and Uighur. |
|
Mulao |
｡｡ |
| Population: |
159,000
|
 |
| Location: |
Guangxi |
| Mulao settles in the mountain area.
They live on farming and mining. In their area,
there are rich minerals and coal mining is one of
the major industries. They have own language but
most of them know Han Chinese very well. They believe
in Taoism and Buddhism. |
|
Qiang |
｡｡ |
| Population: |
198,000
|
 |
| Location: |
Sichuan |
| Qiang has settle in the Qinhai and
Tibet for more than 3,000 years. They live on farming
and hunting. They have very old written language
but lost. They are many remains that show the superior
structure of the building constructed by Qiang. |
|
Bulang |
｡｡ |
| Population: |
82,000
|
 |
| Location: |
Yunnan |
| Bulang settles in the high mountain
area. They live on farming and tea is one of the
major products for them. There are many other tropical
products also. They have own language and some of
them also use Han Chinese, Dai and Wat languages. |
|
Sala |
｡｡ |
| Population: |
88,000 |
 |
| Location: |
Qinghai, Gansu and Xianjian |
| Sala migrated to this
area from Middle Asian countries. They settle along
the Yellow River and live on farming. They have
own language and no written language. They believe
in Islam and maintain Islam's tradition. |
|
Maonan |
｡｡ |
| Population: |
72,000 |
 |
| Location: |
Guangxi |
| Maonan is the native in Guangxi. They
live on farming and animal husbandry. Cattle farming
are a big industry for them. They have own language
and no written language. Most of them know Zhang
and Han Chinese. |
|
Gelao |
｡｡ |
| Population: |
438,000 |
 |
| Location: |
Guizhou, Guangxi and Yunnan |
| Gelao is an very old nation in Guizhou.
They live on farming and have own language. Most
of Gelao now use Han Chinese. They worship old tree
and have very unique "tree culture" |
|
Xibo |
｡｡ |
| Population: |
84,000 |
 |
| Location: |
Xinjiang, Liaoning and Jilin |
| Some of the Xibo moved from the Northern
East to the Northern West in the early 18th Century.
They were part of the Qing army to station in the
West of China. They now still maintain their own
written language and live on farming. Some of them
believe in Lama and other religions. Xibo is always
good at horse riding. The date of the migration
is still a big memory day for them. |
|
Achang |
｡｡ |
| Population: |
28,000
|
 |
| Location: |
Mostly in Yunnan |
| Achan is the earliest native in Yunnan.
They settle in the valley and live on farming. They
have own language but most of them can speak Han
Chinese, Dai and other languages. They have very
unique native dress and the girls wear beautiful
silver necklace and rings. |
|
Pumi |
｡｡ |
| Population: |
30,000 |
 |
| Location: |
Yunnan |
| Pumi moved to Yunan from
the north in 13th Century. They live on farming.
Their culture is influenced by many others such
as Tibet, Burma, Bai and Han Chinese. Most of them
use Han Chinese. They have own religion but some
of them believe in Lama or Taoism. |
|
Tajige (Tajik)
|
｡｡ |
| Population: |
33,500 |
 |
| Location: |
Xinjiang |
| Tajik is one of the oldest minority
groups in China. They settle on the main route of
"Silk Road" and benefit from the culture
exchanges to the West since the early day. They
have own language and believe in Islam. They live
on farming, animal husbandry and hunting. They are
good at horse riding. Eagle is their hero symbol. |
|
Nu |
｡｡ |
| Population: |
27,000 |
 |
| Location: |
Yunnan and Tibet |
| Nu settles in very remote area and
lived in very poor conditions. They have own language
but use Lisu and Han Chinese also. Only in the last
50 years, they have catch up with other minority
groups. |
|
Wuzibieke (Uzbek) |
｡｡ |
| Population: |
12,000 |
 |
| Location: |
Xinjiang |
| Uzbek migrated from Mongol. They mixed
with Uighur and Kazakh. They have own language but
also know Uighur , Kazakh and Han Chinese. They
are Islam and live on farming, trading and education |
|
Russian |
｡｡ |
| Population: |
13,500
|
 |
| Location: |
Xinjiang |
| Russian moved into China in 18th and
19th Century. They maintain their own language,
religion and tradition. They have better than average
education and live on farming, gardening, fishery,
art and education. Most of them use Hen Chinese
for communication. |
|
Owenke (Ewenki)
|
｡｡ |
| Population: |
26,300 |
 |
| Location: |
Inner Mongolia |
| Ewenki settles in Inner Mongolia and
along the Heilongjiang. They mixed with Mongolian,
Hen Chinese and Olunchun. They use Mongolian or
Hen Chinese language and believe in Tibetan Buddhism.
They live on farming and hunting. Their tradition
is closed to Mongolian. |
|
De'ang |
｡｡ |
| Population: |
15,400 |
 |
| Location: |
Yunnan |
| De'ang is the oldest native in Yunnan.
They are very close to Dai. They have own language
and use Dai, Jingpo and Han Chinese. Tea is their
main product. They are very good in silversmith.
|
|
Baoan |
｡｡ |
| Population: |
12,000 |
｡｡ |
| Location: |
Mostly in Gansu |
| Baoan settles in the
border area of Gansu and Qinhai. They live on farming.
They are very good in making sharp knife even since
the early day. They believe in Islam and have the
same tradition as other Islam people. They have
no written language and use Han Chinese mainly. |
|
Yugu |
｡｡ |
| Population: |
10,500 |
 |
| Location: |
Gansu |
| Yugu has an old history traced back
to the 9th Century. They live on animal husbandry
and farming. There is very rich reserve of precious
stones in the area and their jade is very famous.
Their language and tradition is closed to Tibetan.
Their religion is Lama. |
|
Jing (Vietnamese)
|
｡｡ |
| Population: |
18,900
|
 |
| Location: |
Guangxi |
| Vietnamese immigrated into China 400
years ago and settles down in this area. They live
on fishing along the seaside and fishery is the
main industry for them. They have own language but
know Han Chinese well. Catholic or Tao are the main
religions in Vietnamese. |
|
Tataer (Tatar)
|
｡｡ |
| Population: |
4,000
|
 |
| Location: |
Xinjiang |
| Tatar migrated to China in the early
19th Century from Europe and Russia. They mixed
with Uighur and Kazakh. They maintain their own
language, tradition and Islam religion. Their house
presents in European style, quite different from
Uighur and Kazakh. Their living standard is higher
at average since they are good at business and education. |
|
Dulong |
｡｡ |
| Population: |
5,800 |
 |
| Location: |
Yunnan |
| Dulong settles in the high mountain
area by the border of Tibet and Burma. They still
live in very primitive form. They have no written
language and use either Tibetan or Hen Chinese language.
They farm, hunt and maintain a very simple society
with social order and discipline. They are well
known as a nation with good credibility and morality. |
|
Olunchun |
｡｡ |
| Population: |
6,900
|
 |
| Location: |
Inner Mongolia |
| Olunchun settles in Inner Mongolia
and along the Heilongjiang. They mixed with Mongolian
and Hen Chinese. They use Mongolian or Hen Chinese
language and believe in religion. They live on farming
and hunting. |
|
Hezhe |
｡｡ |
| Population: |
4,245 |
 |
| Location: |
Heilongjiang |
| Hezhe settles along Heilongjiang River
and lives on fishing and hunting. They have own
language but most of the young generation now use
Han Chinese as the common language. They create
many innovative fishing tools and accumulate very
rich experience in fishery industry. |
|
Menba |
｡｡ |
| Population: |
7,475 |
 |
| Location: |
Tibet |
| Menba settles in the high Mountain
and seldom contacts with outside world. They are
closely related to Tibetan. The sixth Dala Lama
of Tibet was a Menba. They do no have own language
but use Tibetan's language. They became part of
China since 13th Century. |
|
Luboa |
｡｡ |
| Population: |
2,300 |
 |
| Location: |
Tibet |
| Luboa is one of the smallest ethnic
minority groups in China. They live in high mountain
area and seldom contact with outside world. They
still stay in very primitive society event today.
They live on hunting and farming. They have no written
language and only few of them know Tibetan or Chinese
language. |
|
Jinuo |
｡｡ |
| Population: |
18,000
|
 |
| Location: |
Yunnan |
| Jinuo settles in Jinuo Mountain and
lives on farming. Their tea is very famous. Their
society was very backward and still stayed at very
primitive stage until the 16th Century. They have
own religions and own language but no written language.
All Jinuo's women are good at weaving and making
cloths. |
