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Minority Nationalities

One of the most fascinating aspects of living in the peripheral province of Yunnan is getting to know the different minzu, or ethnic groups (sometimes known as minority nationalities) who inhabit this part of the country. This ethnic diversity results from Yunnan’s location at a crossroads of nations and cultures – here Tibetan, Burmese, and Thai peoples meet in a colourful and vibrant mixture of customs, cuisine, language and national dress. The variety and distinctness of cultures has been maintained (at least in days gone by) by physical geography – the high mountain ranges and deep river valleys which characterize Yunnan terrain provide very effective barriers.

Some of these people live in remote mountain communities and are severely economically and socially disadvantaged, as well as being the subject of negative stereotyping by some Han Chinese, who regard them as little more than exotic zoo animals. In an economically poor province, local government has been quick in promoting this sideshow for the tourist market, as is evidenced by the vast numbers of domestic tour groups who make the journey to places such as Dali, Lijiang, or Xishuangbanna. However, many minzu people, especially the younger generation, are well educated, dress in the “modern” style and might not even own the national costume their mother or grandmother wears every day.

               
Above left: colourfully dressed and be-hatted Yi nationality women at a market in Ninglang contrast with (and outnumber) a woman dressed in a manner we might perceive as being more traditionally 'Chinese'; Above right: Lesley, Freda and Edie getting ready to attend a Chinese New Year's Day Festival in a Bai village near Dali (Edie later got her own outfit!).

Official statistics state that 33% of the Yunnan's population belongs to one of 25 minority groups, Han Chinese making up the remainder. (Ali polled his Grade 2 students and the figure was 30%). In Simao Prefecture the figure is higher: 60% of the 2.4 million inhabitants are from an ethnic group, mostly Yi, Hani, Dai, Wa, Miao, Hui and Bulang nationality. We concentrate here on the people we've met in our travels throughout Yunnan, or day-to-day around Simao. Click on the buttons above, or the links below, to find out more.

               
Above left: Freda and Edie trying out the Wa nationality drums (hollowed out tree logs) on display in the Simao Teachers' College Art Gallery;
Above centre: Lahu man at the Simao Tea Festival 2007
Above right: a Wa nationality dance being performed by students from the Dance Department of Simao Teachers' College

References
Yunnan Province, China (2001), Stephen Mansfield, Bradt Travel Guides
China (2005), Lonely Planet Guidebooks
Paul Noll website: www.paulnoll.com (for China-wide Minority Nationalities)
Yunnan Travel website: www.chinatravelyunnan.com (for Yunnan Minority Nationalities)
A Travel Guide to Yunnan (1998), Jin Siwei, Yunnan Publishing House of Nationalities

Bibliography
Tales from Within the Clouds – Nakhi Stories of China (1997), Carolyn Han, University of Hawaii Press.
The Demon King and Other Festival Folktales of China (1995), Carolyn Han, University of Hawaii Press.
Why Snails have Shells – Minority and Folk Tales of China (1993), Carolyn Han, University of Hawaii Press.
Slaves of the Cool Mountains (1959), Alan Winington, Seven Seas.
Forgotten Kingdom (1957), Peter Goullart, John Murray.

All photographs on these pages are ©LEAF
Text for individual nationalities was compiled and edited from the references quoted above