25 Minorities in Yunnan
Yunnan is a microcosm of China in the areas of minority affairs and nationality relations. The province has 25 minority groups, nearly half of the country’s total (56 ethnic groups) . With such ethnic diversity it is important to ask the question: what criteria are used to determine minority status and classification? Basically, there are five ways: Race , Language, Culture, Religion, History.
In Yunnan race is not a major consideration, as it is in northwest China where Caucasian exist, Language and culture, however, are of primary interest because they are the basis for classifying most minority nationalities. Religion plays a role in groups such as the Hui ( Muslims ) who, to all intents and purposes, are Chinese except for their faith. Historical background can sometimes tip the balance in determining the status of a people. The Bai , who have a high cultural level and speak a language closely related to Mandarin, are clearly not Chinese on the basis of their long, well-recorded and independent history.
–Achang Ethnic Group
–Bai Ethnic Group
–Bouyei Ethnic Group
–Bulang Ethnic Group
–Dai Ethnic Group
–Deang Ethnic Group
–Dulong Ethnic Group
–Hani Ethnic Group
–Hui Ethnic Group
–Jingpo Ethnic Group
–Jinuo Ethnic Group
–Lahu Ethnic Group
–Lisu Ethnic Group
–Man Ethnic Group
–Miao Ethnic Group
–Mongol Ethnic Group
–Naxi Ethnic Group
–Nu Ethnic Group
–Pumi Ethnic Group
–Shui Ethnic Group
–Tibetan Ethnic Group
–Wa Ethnic Group
–Yao Ethnic Group
–Yi Ethnic Group
–Zhuang Ethnic Group
The peoples
Except 25 minorities mentioned in Yunnan, there are three kinds of the Peoples, for the reason of they are not the really a kind of minority in China . but they are the certain branches of the minorities. The three Peoples have the special customs which are quite different with their original nations and very interesting in the recent days for their names in tourism of Yunnan.