Ethnic Groups in China

China is a united multi-ethnic country since ancient times. Besides the Han nationality, China still has 55 ethnic groups, including Achang, Bai, Bonan, Blang, Bouyei, Korean, Daur, Dai, De'ang, Dongxiang, Derung, Oroqen, Russian, Ewenki, Gaoshan, Gelao, Hani, Kazak, Hezhen, Hui, Jino, Gin, ingpo, Kirgiz, Lahu, Li, Lisu, Lhoba, Manchu, Maonan, Mongolian, Monba, Miao, Mulam, Naxi, Nu, Primi, Qiang, Salar, She, Sui, Tajik, Tatar, Tu, Tujia, Va, Uygur, Uzbek, Xibe, Yi, Yuigur, Yao, Tibetan, and Zhuang. The ethnical groups account for only 8 percent of the population in China, so the 55 ethnic groups are used to be called as "Minority".
 
Han Nationality
Han Nationality is the main nationality in China, also the most ordinary one, with the largest population and longest history in China even in the world. Han is a comprehensive nationality to swallow anything and everything, with glorious culture. The Han nationality has almost 5,000 years' history, and the most important festival is the Spring Festival. The Taoism and Buddhism are the original and earliest religions, and the Catholicism and Christian are also popular latterly. In education, the Confucianism has great influence to Han Minority.

Tibetan in Tibet
Tibetan is the main ethnic in Tibet area and is one of the main minorities in China with long history of more than 4,000 years. Tibetan believes in the Mahayana Buddhism which absorbs the local Tibetan ceremony and content to form the Tibetan Buddhism, and they call the eminent monk as Lama. Same with the Han Buddhism, Tibetan Buddhism is very popular in Tibet, and it is easy to see some Lamas in Tibet area. From 13th Century to 16th Century, activities of Buddhism become more and more, the Buddhist temples almost cover everywhere of Tibet, including the Potala Palace, Ganden Monastery, Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery and Tashihunpo Monastery. Until now, they become the hottest tourist spots in Tibet.

Dai Nationality in Yunnan Province
The ethnic Dai almost live scattered in most places of Yunnan Province with long history in China. Referring the ethnic Dai, most people think of the Water-Sprinkling Festival which is one of the most important festivals in ethnic Dai. Same as the Spring Festival of Han, the Water-Sprinkling Festival is the traditional festival with national features for seeing off the old and welcoming the new in the midmonth of April. In this day, people all worship Buddha, and girls wash the Buddha with water covered by flowers. Then, they labber to each other and wish to each other. It is said the one who get the most water is the happiest and luckiest one in New Year. During the Water-sprinkling Festival, they also hold the dragon-boat racing, flying-light and some traditional entertainments and shows, and most of these activities are related to Buddhism.

Yi Nationality in Yunnan, Sichuan and Guizhou Provinces
The ethnic Yi lives scattered in Yunnan, Sichuan and Guizhou Provinces mainly, is one of the oldest nationalities in China, has deep study to calendar and religion in ancient time. The Torch Festival is the carnival of Yi, is held at the night from 24th to 26th of June in the lunar calendar, and is the grandest festival for Yi people. When night falls, people hold torches to walk around villages and pass through stockaded villages, and tramp over hill and dale. They scatter colophony powder to torches and play with each other by torches, lighten all over maintains and plains as day. According to the custom of Yi, the torch springs a gorgeous sparkle with a smell of aroma when the colophony powder is scattered to torch, reveal a good wish.

Miao Nationality in Guizhou Province
In the ancient record, the ethnic Miao has history of almost 5,000 years. What calculated during so many years is not only the abundant culture, but also the characteristic costume. The costume of Miao is famous all over the world with the bright color, heavy and complicated and profound cultural deposits. In the southeast of Guizhou Province, the costume of Miao has more than 200 kinds, is the area best preserve the most kinds of Miao costume in China and the world. It keeps the Chinese traditional crafts and techniques including the knitting, embroidering, etc. Pictures on costume show the bright national artistic characteristic. The brightest point of Miao Costume is the silver ornaments, so the sliver ornament is the representative mark of female in Miao.

Zhuang Nationality in Guangxi Province
The ethnic Zhuang has the largest population in the 55 minorities with long history and splendid culture, and Guangxi Province is their main settlement. The limestone is widely distributed in Zhuang minority area which is the world famous karst area. The stone hills rise straight from the ground, and grottoes and buried rivers in stone hills. This kind of terrain constitutes landscape of Guilin is the top in the world and the Yangshuo's is the top in Guilin. Zhuang minority area has a moderate climate and abundant rain water so that it produces rich kinds of fruit. And it also has large area of forests, abounds in many famous and precious timbers, such as the cathaya argyrophylla, camphorwood, etc.