China is a large country noted for its dense population and vast territory. There are 55 minority ethnic groups in addition to the Han who represent 92% of the population. The defining elements of an ethnic group are language, homeland, and social values. 53 minority ethnic groups use spoken languages of their own; 23 minority ethnic groups have their own written languages.
Most of the 7 percent of the minority ethnic groups live in the vast areas of the West, Southwest and Northwest. The largest is the 12 million-strong Zhuang in southwestern China. Although minority ethnic groups account for about 7% of the population, they are distributed over some 50% of Chinese territory, mostly in the border regions. Equality, unity and common prosperity are the fundamental objectives of the government in handling the relations between minority ethnic groups. China exercises a policy of regional autonomy for various minority ethnic groups, allowing ethnic group peoples living in compact communities to establish self-government and direct their own affairs.
The Han people are found in all parts of the country, but mainly in the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River (Huanghe), the Yangtze River (Changjiang), and the Pearl River (Zhujiang) as well as the Songliao Plains.
The Han nationality has its own spoken and written language, known as the Chinese language, which belongs to the Chinese-Tibetan language family. It is commonly used nowadays throughout China and is the working language of the United Nations. The Chinese language has a history of four thousand years, originating from pictograph. Traditionally, agriculture was the Hans' main occupation. Agriculture provided the nation's basic wealth and was highly advanced, especially in irrigation and intensive farming. There was also a high level of handicraft production, such as bronze, silk, porcelain, architecture, and painting. The Han culture belongs to the world's oldest civilizations, boasting a lot of outstanding achievements in many fields including politics, military affairs, philosophy, literature, history, art and natural science, etc. The rich Han culture has given birth to many notable scientists, philosophers, artists and poets who, as the nation's elite, have had great influence on the course of Chinese history. China 's four great inventions -- compass, papermaking, printing and gunpowder -- have exerted great influence on the history of human development.
In Han culture, Confucianism, the oldest form of Chinese religion whose concepts and teachings have dominated the Chinese ruling class as well as intellectuals for the last two thousand years, is a philosophy rather than a religion. Ancestor worship is widely practiced across the entire country; although it has been simplified in modern time, it never fades away from the Chinese community. Buddhism is the most popular form of Chinese religion. Since its introduction in 400AD, Buddhism has slipped into and occupies every aspect of the Chinese lifestyle. Daoism, named national religion, originated in the Han Dynasty, but is not widely accepted. Besides, there is an increasing number of Chinese who practices Roman Catholicism, Christianism and Islamism.
The appellation of "Han" originated from the Han Dynasty during the 2 nd and 3 rd centuries, the first prosperous dynasty of Chinese history after Qin unifying China . And it continues to be the majority population in China , merged with many different tribal clans like the Yi, Qian, Di and Man. Before that, the people were called "Huaxia".
The earliest Han people can be traced to the Hua Xia tribe, who originally settled in the middle area of the Yellow River (Huanghe). The legendary leader of the Hua Xia tribe was Huang Di (Emperor Yellow). The Chinese refer to themselves as the descendants of Huang Di, and describe the Yellow River as the cradle of their civilization development.
Organs of self-government in regional autonomous areas enjoy extensive self-government rights beyond those held by other state organs at the same level. These include enacting regulations for self-government and specialized regulations corresponding to local political, economic and cultural conditions; making independent use of local revenue, and independently arranging and managing construction, education, science, culture, public health and other local undertakings. The Central Government has greatly assisted in the training of ethnic group cadres and technicians through the establishment of institutes and cadre schools for minority ethnic groups to supplement regular colleges and universities. It has, in addition, supplied the ethnic group autonomous areas with large quantities of financial aid and material resources in order to promote their economic and cultural development.
| Achang
The Achang ethnic group has a population of 27,700, gathering mainly in Longchuan, Lianghe, Luxi and Ruili counties in Dehong Dai-Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture in south-western Yunnan Province.
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| Bai
The Bai ethnic group has a population of around 2 million, 90 percent of which live in the Bai Autonomous County west of Yunnan Province. Only a small part of their community are scattered in Sichuan, Guizhou, and Hunan Provinces.
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| Blang
The Blang people, with a population of about 82,400, live mainly in the Mt. Blang, Xiding, Bada and Daluo areas of Menghai County in Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture in south-western Yunnan Province.
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| Bonan
The Bonan ethnic group is one of China's smallest ethnic groups. With a population of 12212, they mainly cluster in the area around Mt. Jishishan and Linxia County, southwest of Gansu province.
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| Bouyei
The Bouyei (also Buyi) people, with a population of 2,545,059, are mainly scattered in the Bouyei and Miao autonomous prefectures in south Guizhou and Anshun.
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| Dai
The Dai ethnic group, with a population of about 1.2 million, mainly lives in the Dai Autonomous Region and the Dehong Dai-Jingpo Autonomous Region in Xishuangbanna in the southern part of Yunnan province.
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| Daur
With a population of 13,000, the Daur people live mainly in Inner Mongolia, Heilongjiang and Xinjiang with the Han or other ethnic group. The Daur people are thought to be descendants of the Khitan, an ancient nomad tribe who lived in the lower reaches of the Heilong River and founded the Liao Dynasty (916-1125).
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| De'ang
The De'ang ethnic group has a population of 15,400 that is widely distributed over a vast area of 30,000 square kilometers, mixing with the Dai, Jingpo, Va and other ethnic groups. Most De'ang people live in Luxi County in Dehong Dai-Jingpo Autonomous Preference and in Zhenkang County in Lincang Preference in Yunnan Province.
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| Dong
There is a popular misconception among the peoples of Western nations that the inhabitants of the PRC are all alike. Having in mind that the country covers some 9,596,960 square km it is clear that this cannot be true. Just like in Europe and continental America, there are many diverse ethnic groups.
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| DongXiang
The Dongxiang ethnic group, numbering about 380,000 in total, can be found mainly in Dongxiang Autonomous County of Gansu province with the remainder scattered in Qinghai, Ningxia and Xinjiang provinces.
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| Dulong
The Dulong (also known as Drung) ethnic group is one of the smallest ethnic groups in China. With a total population of about 5816 (data from the census in 2000), the Dulongs mainly live in the Dulong River Valley in the Gongshan Dulong and Nu Autonomous County in north-western Yunnan Province.
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| Ewenki
The Ewenki ethnic group has a population of 26,315 that is sparsely distributed across seven banners (counties) in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and in Nahe County in Heilongjiang Province, mixing together with the Mongolians, Daurs, Hans and Oroqens.
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| Gaoshan
The Gaoshan people, about 415,000 in total, account for less than 2 per cent of the 17 million inhabitants, based on statistics published by Taiwan authorities in June 1982 of Taiwan Province.
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| Gelao
The Gelao ethnic group has a population of about 438,200, which is distributed among some 20 cities and counties such as Zunyi, Anshun, Liupanshui, Qianjin and Zhijin in northern and western Guizhou Province. Some live also in Guangxi, Yunnan and Sichuan provinces.
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| Chinese Han
Han Chinese (Simplified Chinese: 汉族; Traditional Chinese: 漢族; pinyin: hànzú) is a term which refers to the majority ethnic group within China and the largest single human ethnic group in the world.
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| Hani
The Hani ethnic group is one of the many unique tribes in Yunnan Province. With a population of 1.25 million, they are mainly distributed over the mountain areas between the Red River and the Lancang River in Yunnan Province.
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| Hezhe
One of the smallest ethnic ethnic groups in the People's Republic of China are the Hezhes. With a population of 4,300, these nomadic people mainly live in the Tongjiang, Fuyuan and Raohe counties by the rivers of Songhua, Heilongjiang and Wusuli in China's northeastern Heilongjiang Province.
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| Hui
The Hui ethnic group, with a total population of about 8.6 million is one of China's largest ethnic groups. This group is mainly distributed in Ningxia, Gansu, Henan, Hebei, Qinghai, Shandong, Yunnan, Xinjiang, Liaoning and Anhui provinces.
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| Jing
The 22,517 people of this very small ethnic minority live in compact communities primarily in the three islands of Wanwei, Wutou and Shanxin in the Fangcheng Multi-ethnic Autonomous County, the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, near the Sino-Vietnamese border. About one quarter of them live among the Han and Zhuang ethnic groups in nearby counties and towns.
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| JingPo
According to the latest census data, the Jingpo ethnic ethnic group has a population of about 119,209 people. Sharing land with the Deang, Lisu, Achang and Han people, the Jingpo people are concentrated in the Dehong Dai-Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture in Yunnan Province in southeastern China.
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| Jinuo
The Jinuo (also Jino) ethnic group, with a total population of 18,021, reside primarily in Jinghong County of Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture in Yunnan Province.
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| Kazak
With a population of 111,718, the Kazak ethnic group is distributed mainly in the Xinjiang Ili Kazak autonomous prefecture, Mori and Barkol Kazak autonomous counties. In addition, they also live in the Gansu and Qinghai provinces.
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| Kirgiz
The Kirgiz ethnic group, with a total population of 143,500, is scattered throughout the southwest of the Xinjiang Autonomous Region. A small percentage of this ethnic group lives in northern Xinjiang and Heilongjiang province.
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| Korean
The Korean minority in China has a population of 1,920,597, mainly living in the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in Jilin Province.
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| Lahu
The 410,000 members of China's Lahu ethnic group live primarily in Yunnan's Lancang Lahu Autonomous County and neighboring counties such as Menglian, Shuangjiang, and Simao. This region is also home to Hans, Dais, Yis, Hanis, Blangs, and Vas.
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| Li
The Li ethnic group, with a population of 1.30 million, mainly reside in Hainan Province, China's second largest island after Taiwan.
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| Lisu
The Lisu, with a population of about 700,000, mainly live in concentrated communities in Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture in Yunnan Province.
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| Lhoba (luoba)
The 2,965 people of the Lhoba ethnic minority have their homes mainly in Mainling, Medog, Lhunze and Nangxian counties in southeastern Tibet. Additionally, a small number live in Luoyu, southern Tibet.
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| Manchu
The Manchu, with a population of 9.8 million, are mainly distributed in Liaoning, Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces, of which Liaoning has the most Manchus.
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| Maonan
The Maonan ethnic minority has a population of 107,166, living in the northern part of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.
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| Monpa (Moinba,Menba)
The Monpa (ménbàzú, Tibetan) are an ethnic group in the People's Republic of China, with a population of 50,000, centered in the districts of Tawang and West Kameng.
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| Miao
The Miao ethnic group has a population of about 8 million, mainly scattered in Guizhou, Hunan, Yunnan, Sichuan, Guangxi, Hubei and Hainan provinces.
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| Mongolian
With a total population of 4.8 million, the Mongolians live mainly in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Some are distributed in Xinjiang, Liaoning, Jilin, Heilongjiang, Gansu and Qinghai. There are also some scattered in Sichuan, Ningxia, Yunnan and Beijing.
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| Mulam (Mulao)
The Mulam ethnic minority has a population of 207,352, of which the majority live in Luocheng County in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Others are scattered in neighboring counties.
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| Naxi
With a population of about 300,000, Naxi (also spelled Nakhi or Nahi) mainly live in concentrated communities in the Naxi Autonomous County of Lijing in the Yunnan Province, and the rest are scattered throughout the Weixi, Zhongdian, Ninglang, Deqin, Yongsheng, Heqing, Jianchuan and Lanping counties in the Yunnan Province, as well as Yanyuan, Yanbian and Muli counties in the Sichuan Province.
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| Nu
The Nu ethnic group has a population of 27,123 in which 96 % live in Gongshan, Fugong, Laping and Bijiang counties in Yunnan Province, along with Lisus, Drungs, Tibetans, Naxis, Bais and Hans.
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| Oroqen
The Oroqen ethnic group, with a population of about 6,900 is the third smallest of the 55 ethnic groups in China.
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| Ozbek
The Ozbek ethnic group, with a population of 14,800, mainly live in compact communities in Yining, Tacheng, Kashgar, Urumqi, Shache, and Yecheng in the Xinjiang Uigur Autonomous Region.
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| Pumi
With a population of about 30,000, the Pumi ethnic group is mainly distributed in Lanping, Lijiang, Weixi and Yongsheng counties of Yunnan Province, as well as in the Yi Autonomous County of Ninglang. Some live in Muli and Yanyuan counties in Sichuan Province as well.
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| Qiang
The Qiang ethnic minority has a population of 306,072 who mostly dwell in hilly areas, crisscrossed by rivers and streams, in the Maowen Qiang Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan Province.
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| Russian
The Russian ethnic group in China has a population of about 13,000, mainly living in Ili, Tacheng, Altay and Urumqi in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. There is also a sparse distribution in Heilongjiang Province and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.
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| Salar
The "Salar Ethnic Group," with a population of 87,690, mainly live in the Xunhua Salar Autonomous County in eastern Qinghai Province. There is also a sparse distribution in Gansu, Xinjiang and some other counties in Qinghai province.
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| She
The She ethnic group, with a population of about 634,700, mainly lives in Fujian and Zhejiang provinces, and some are scattered throughout Jiangxi, Guangdong and Anhui provinces. They live in small groups and are widely distributed.
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| Shui
There are in China 406,902 Shuis, the majority of whom dwell on the upper reaches of the Longjiang and Duliu rivers that meander across plains and rolling land interspersed with vast expanses of forests in southern Guizhou Province.
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| Tajik
The Tajik ethnic group has a population of 45,000, of which 60% live in Tashi Ku'ergan Tajik Autonomous County, while others live in South Xinjiang.
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| Tatar
The Tatar ethnic group in China has a population of about 10,000, most of whom live in the towns of Yining, Tacheng, and Urumqi in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.
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| Tibetan
The Tibetan population, at around 4.59 million, is mainly distributed in the "Tibet Autonomous Region", Qinghai, Gansu, Sichuan and Yunnan provinces.
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| Tu
The Tu ethnic group, with a population of about 191,624, is concentrated in the Minhe and Datong counties and the Huzhu Autonomous County in the eastern part of Qinghai Province. Others live sparsely in Ledu and Menyuan in Qinghai Province and in the Tianzhu Tibetan Autonomous County in Gansu Province.
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| Tujia
The Tujia ethnic group, having a population of 5,704,223, mainly live in compact communities in the Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture in western Hunan Province and Enshi Tujia Autonomous Prefecture in Hubei Province.
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| Uigur
The Uigur, with a total population of 7.21 million, have lived at the foot of Mt. Tianshan for several centuries. They used to colonize in the north and northwest region of China, suffering from the wars between tribes, before migrating to the Western Regions (present Xinjiang).
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| Wa
The Wa people number around 351,974 and live mainly in compact communities in the Ximeng, Cangyuan, Menglian, Gengma, Lancang, Shuangjiang, Zhenkang and Yongde counties in southwestern Yunnan Province.
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| Xibe
In China, there are 83,000 people who fall under the ethnic group category of Xibe. Most live in the fertile areas along the Ili River in northwestern Xinjiang, especially in the Ili Kazak autonomous prefecture's Qapqal Xibe autonomous county and the Huocheng and Gongliu counties along the Ili River.
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| Yao
The Yao ethnic group, with a population of 2.13 million, is mainly scattered in the mountain areas in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Hunan, Yunnan, Guangdong, Guizhou and Jiangxi provinces.
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| Yi
With a population of 6,572,173, the Yi ethnic group is mainly scattered in Yunnan, Sichuan, Guizhou and Guangxi provinces, in which Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan province holds the single largest Yi community in China.
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| Yugur
The Yugur ethnic ethnic group has a population of about 15,000, with 90% of them living in the South Yugur Autonomous County, and the rest in the Huangnibao area of Jiuquan in Gansu province. (In Chinese, "Yugur" means "wealth and stability").
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| Zhuang
The Zhuang, with a population of about 18 million, are the largest ethnic group group in China. Most of the Zhuang people live in compact communities in the Zhuang Autonomous Region in Guangxi, with the rest scattered throughout Yunnan, Guangdong, Guizhou and Hunan provinces.
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