Minority Nationalities

Minority nationalities are more numerous in Yunnan Province than in any other place in the nation. Besides the Han nationality,there are 25 minority groups, each with a population of more than 4000. Early in the Clan Society period, Yunnan was populated with three major tribes: the Qiang, Pu and Yue. They were the earliest residents in the area and, after generations of migration, disintegration, development and assimilation, they gradually separated from each other and settled down. The Yi people are mainly focused in the northeast, central and northern area of Yunnan. The Bai inhabit the area around Erhai Lake and its surrounds. The Zhuang and Miao populate the east and southeast of the province. The Bai,Zhuang,Hui and Naxi usually populate the plain area. Dai and Achang ethnic groups reside in the valley and the Yi, Hani, Lagu, Wa, Jingpo, Bulang, Yao and Deang generally live halfway up the mountains. The Miao people make their living in the plateaus of northwest Yunnan. Suyu, Nu and Dulong usually live in the mountains along the Nujiang River and Dulongjiang River.

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