China Ethnic Minority Tours

China is a country composed of fifty-six different nationalities People of the Han nationality are the most numerous, constituting 93.3 percent of the Chinese people as a whole. People of the other fifty five nationalities are generally referred to as minority nationalities. Minority nationalities whose populations exceed one million each are Mongolian, Muslim, Tibetan, Uygur, Miao, Yi, Zhuang, Bouyei, Korean, Manchu, Tujia, Hani, Dong, Yao, and Bai—fifteen altogether. People of the Han nationality live primarily in the three major drainages-the Yellow, the Yangtze, and the Pearl Rivers, plus the Song-Liao Plain in China's northeast. Though their populations are smaller, the minority nationalities are scattered over large areas. Their principal homes are in the border areas of China's northwest, southeast, and northeast. In some cases one nationality lives exclusively in one area; in others different nationalities mingle and live jointly in one area.

In general, the Zhuang, Miao and Dong live in Guangxi and Guizhou. In Tibet, Qinghai and western Sichuan there are Tibetans. Muslims live in Xinjiang on the Silk Road, Ningxia and Gansu. Many ethnic groups can be visited in Yunnan such as the Bai, Naxi, Dai and Moshuo.

In terms of social development and economic structure, some nationalities are totally different from any of the others. At the time of Liberation when the Han people and thirty million Zhuangs, Muslims, and Uygurs had begun to enter the socialist stage of historical development, several other nationalities, such as the Tibetans, the Dais, and the Hanis, were still living under a feudal system of serfdom.

Meanwhile, the Yis, who lived in the mountainous regions of Sichuan and Yunnan, still maintained a slave system. Some other nationalities such as Dulong in Yunnan, Orogen in Inner Mongolia, and some of the Lis on Hainan Island and some of the Gaoshans on Taiwan, lived under a primitive commune system. Each nationality in China, regardless of its size in population or territory, can participate as equals in the political life of China. All the minority nationalities are represented in the National People's Congress, the organ of supreme power in China.

In order to allow travellers to get to know these ethnic people and their customs better, we offer the following well-designed China Ethnic Minority Tours to the places of ethnic minorities, including trip to Guangxi, Guizhou, Yunnan and Tibet. At the same time you can create you own trips of Ethnic Minority.

Top Ethnic Minorities Regions in China

Guangxi

With Southeast Asia in close proximity to the south, and sitting adjacent to Viet Nam, the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region on the northern extremity of the Beibu Bay is southwest China's gateway to the sea. Nature has endowed the region with a unique landscape that belongs only in fairy tales. As a typical karst land-form, limestone formations cover almost half of the land, giving rise to spectacular natural wonders that won Guangxi a lot of adages. Guilin's landscape is unmatched under heaven says one. The natural beauty of Yangshuo beats that of Guilin runs another. The Silver Beach of Beihai, which is typical of the subtropical seashore of Beihu Bay, is an enchanting summer resort with "gentle waves, long beach, white sand, and no sharks". The Zhuangs, Yaos, Miaos, Dongs and many other ethnic minority peoples in Guangxi are known for their time-honoured and exotic folkways. The Sino-Vietnamese border, more than 1,000 km in length, is studded with beautiful spots and ancient sites. Read more about Guangxi Tours

•    4 Days Essence of Guilin and Yangshuo Tour

•    5 Days Guilin, Longsheng and Yangshuo Tour

Guizhou

Located at hinterland of southwest China, it is called Qian or Gui for short. With its abundant beautiful natural scenes, unique folk customs, splendid history and culture and pleasant climate, it forms primitive and pristine landscape with its own characteristics. It possesses not only exquisiteness of southern China, but also spectacles of northern China. Read more about Guizhou Tours

Yunnan

Yunnan Province lies at the southwestern part of China and is known as "Dian" hort. It was the living place of the Dians in the Warring State Period. Yunnan Province is regarded as "Mysterious Land" by people outside the province for its beauty^ fertility and wonder. The magnificent and peculiar scenes together with the brilliant and splendid history and culture constitute the rich tourism resources of Yunnan Province. The special geological environments helps create acclimate for it as unique as the saying goes, "Four seasons at the mountain and different weathers in each ten li". Furthermore, Yunnan Province is also abundant in species of animals and plants, hence its reputation as "Kingdom of Animals and Plants". Read more about Yunnan Tours

•    6 Days Yunnan Ethnic Minorities Tour

•    9 Days Yunnan Classic Tour

Tibet

The Tibet Autonomous Region lies on Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in the southwestern part of China, and is the largest and highest plateau in the world. The unique geological environment breeds the snowy landscape as well as the unique culture of Tibet. As the average altitude of the Tibetan region is over 4,000 meters above sea level, it is regarded as one of the "Three Poles on Earth" with the other two being South and North Poles. The snow-capped mountains, open fields, rivers, lakes and forests make up the a-mazing beauty of Tibet. The ancient traditional Tibetan Buddhism has formed a cultural system of its own, ending the land with mystery and charm. Generous and unconstrained, the Tibetans are good at singing and dancing, so the land has been known as the "Ocean of Songs and Dances". Read more about Tibet Tours
 

•    4 Days Essence of Lhasa Tour

•    6 Days Mystical Tibet Tour
 

Tips for Visiting Ethnic Minorities

Each minority ethnic group has its own traditions and festival. For those who wish to participate in their festival, it is necessary to plan the date of the trip carefully. The most important festivals are the festival of the third day of the third lunar month of the Zhuang, the Shoton Festival for the Tibetans and the Sisters’ Meal Festival of Miao. Each year the exact date changes according to the lunar calendar. For details please consult to our trip advisors.
 

Respect costumes of Ethnic Minorities

Each ethnic group has its own costume, when you enter their territory, you must respect their dress. It is preferable to get information beforehand via the Internet or in books, in order to better appreciate and respect their customs. Our TOUR guides are always able to help you during the visit. It is a good idea to prepare small gifts for children (candies, pens, toys, notebooks...) especially when you visit families.