The Chinese people are not just one ethnic group—here are some of the largest ethnic groups in China by population!

I. Overview of China's Ethnic Groups and Core Policies

• Basic National Conditions: China is a unified multi-ethnic country with 56 ethnic groups collectively known as the "Chinese nation." The Han ethnic group accounts for approximately 91.1% of the population and is distributed nationwide; the remaining 55 ethnic groups are collectively referred to as "ethnic minorities," primarily residing in regions such as Northeast, Northwest, and Southwest China.
• Core Policies: China implements policies of "ethnic equality, ethnic unity, and regional ethnic autonomy," ensuring all ethnic groups enjoy equal political, economic, and cultural rights. The state actively encourages and protects minority languages, customs, and traditional cultures.
• Cultural Characteristics: While each ethnic group preserves its unique culture, they also intermingle and influence one another—such as the Han Chinese Spring Festival, the Mongolian Naadam Festival, and the Tibetan Losar (Tibetan New Year)—together forming a "garden of diverse cultures" that constitutes Chinese civilization.

II. Ten Representative Ethnic Groups and Cultural Highlights

1. Han Ethnic Group (Largest Population, Deepest Cultural Roots)

• Distribution: Found throughout the country, the Han are China’s largest ethnic group and the primary bearers of most historical and cultural traditions, including Chinese characters, Confucianism, and traditional festivals.
• Cultural Symbols:
• Festivals: Spring Festival (Chinese New Year on the first day of the lunar calendar—family reunions, pasting spring couplets, eating dumplings or reunion dinner); Mid-Autumn Festival (15th day of the 8th lunar month—moon viewing and eating mooncakes, symbolizing family unity);
• Customs: Wedding rituals like "bowing to heaven and earth"; traditional attire "Hanfu" (loose robes with wide sleeves, embodying ritual culture);
• Heritage: World Cultural Heritage sites like the Great Wall and the Forbidden City were largely built under Han leadership; Peking Opera, calligraphy, and traditional Chinese medicine are iconic cultural treasures.

2. Mongolian Ethnic Group ("Horseback Nation" of the Grasslands)

• Distribution: Primarily concentrated in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, with some communities in Xinjiang and Qinghai, centered around nomadic pastoral culture.
• Cultural Symbols:
• Festival: Naadam Festival (held annually in summer, featuring the "Three Manly Skills"—wrestling, horse racing, and archery—the liveliest celebration on the grasslands);
• Lifestyle: Traditional dwelling "ger" or "yurt" (easily assembled and disassembled, suited for nomadic life); diet centered on beef, mutton, milk tea, and airag (fermented mare’s milk); "hand-grabbed meat" is a signature dish for guests;
• Arts: Morin khuur (horsehead fiddle—with a carved horse head, its resonant tones narrate grassland stories); long-song folk music (wordless sustained vocalizations, hailed as the "living fossil of grassland music").

3. Tibetan Ethnic Group (Cultural Ambassadors of the Snowy Plateau)

• Distribution: Mainly residing in the Tibet Autonomous Region, Qinghai, and western Sichuan, living on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau at an average altitude above 4,000 meters.
• Cultural Symbols:
• Festivals: Losar (Tibetan New Year, close in timing to the lunar Chinese New Year—wearing new clothes, eating "guthuk" noodle soup, dancing Guozhuang); Shoton Festival (summer festival featuring Buddha unveiling ceremonies, Tibetan opera performances, and yogurt consumption);
• Beliefs: Most follow Tibetan Buddhism; the Potala Palace (Lhasa) and Jokhang Temple are key religious sites; common devotional practices include circumambulating prayer wheels and full-body prostrations;
• Features: Traditional attire "chuba" (thick and warm, worn flexibly according to temperature); staple foods include tsampa (roasted barley flour), butter tea, and yak meat.

4. Uyghur Ethnic Group ("Singing and Dancing Nation" of Xinjiang)

• Distribution: Primarily settled in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, the largest ethnic minority in Xinjiang, with a culture blending Central Asian and Central Plains influences.
• Cultural Symbols:
• Festivals: Eid al-Fitr (major Islamic festival marking the end of Ramadan—feasting on pilaf and baked buns); Eid al-Adha (Festival of Sacrifice—family gatherings and charitable giving);
• Arts: Renowned for song and dance; "Twelve Muqam" (a grand suite integrating music, song, and dance, inscribed on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list); "Meshrep" dances feature lively rhythms and community participation;
• Cuisine: Grilled lamb skewers ("grilled kidneys," "whole roasted lamb"), pilaf (slow-cooked rice with lamb and carrots), and naan (fermented flatbread, long-lasting)—all signature dishes.

5. Zhuang Ethnic Group (Largest Minority by Population)

• Distribution: Mainly in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, with communities in Yunnan and Guangdong; the most populous among China’s 55 ethnic minorities (approximately 19 million).
• Cultural Symbols:
• Festival: March 3rd Song Festival (on the 3rd day of the 3rd lunar month—young men and women exchange antiphonal songs and toss embroidered balls to find partners; now a statutory holiday in Guangxi);
• Features: Traditional bronze drums (elaborately decorated, used in rituals and celebrations, symbolizing authority); stilted wooden houses ("ganlan" architecture—livestock kept below, living quarters above—to suit humid southern climates);
• Cuisine: Five-colored glutinous rice (dyed black, red, yellow, white, and purple using plant extracts, symbolizing good fortune); Luosifen (river snail noodles—sour bamboo shoots and rice noodles, tangy and spicy, recently trending as a "viral delicacy").

6. Hui Ethnic Group (Most Widely Distributed Minority)

• Distribution: No concentrated settlements; scattered across all provinces, mainly in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Gansu, and Henan—the most geographically dispersed ethnic minority in China.
• Cultural Symbols:
• Beliefs: Most follow Islam, adhering to halal dietary laws (no pork or lard; meat must be slaughtered by an imam);
• Festivals: Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha—similar to Uyghurs but with customs more integrated into Central Plains lifestyles;
• Features: Rich culinary traditions—"Lanzhou hand-pulled noodles" (clear broth, white radish, red chili oil, green herbs—fresh and chewy); Ningxia hand-grabbed lamb; Xi’an lamb paomo (crumbled flatbread in lamb soup). Traditional attire includes white or dark headscarves for women and white skullcaps for men.

7. Manchu Ethnic Group (Closely Tied to Qing Dynasty History)

• Distribution: Primarily in Northeast China’s three provinces (Liaoning, Jilin, Heilongjiang), with some in Hebei and Beijing; established the Qing Dynasty (1636–1912), profoundly influencing modern Chinese history.
• Cultural Symbols:
• Customs: Traditional attire "qipao" (originally Manchu women’s dress, later evolved into a classic Chinese feminine garment emphasizing elegance and slimness); men historically wore "changpao magua" (long robe with riding jacket);
• Festival: Banjin Festival (13th day of the 10th lunar month—commemorating the official naming of the Manchu people in 1635; features dishes like "slaughtered pig feast" and sticky bean buns);
• Features: Diet emphasizes sticky foods and meats; "sour cabbage and pork hotpot" (a Northeastern specialty where sour cabbage cuts through richness); "sachima" (fried sweet pastry, not overly sweet). Some areas retain "Shamanic" traditions (ritual ceremonies).

8. Yi Ethnic Group ("People of Fire," Passionate and Free-Spirited)

• Distribution: Mainly in Sichuan, Yunnan, and Guizhou—among the larger ethnic minorities in Southwest China, with culture deeply infused with fire symbolism.
• Cultural Symbols:
• Festival: Torch Festival (24th day of the 6th lunar month—lighting torches to ward off evil, dancing; at night, countless torches form a sea of fire, earning it the nickname "Oriental Carnival");
• Features: Traditional "Ten-Month Solar Calendar" (divides the year into 10 months of 36 days each—an ancient astronomical achievement); vibrant clothing; women’s headdresses adorned with silver ornaments that chime while dancing;
• Cuisine: "Tuotuo meat" (large chunks of boiled pork dipped in chili powder); bitter buckwheat tea (refreshing and aids digestion—a healthy beverage).

9. Miao Ethnic Group (People of Silver Ornaments and Embroidery)

• Distribution: Mainly in Guizhou, Hunan, and Yunnan; comprising numerous subgroups (around 100), each with slight variations in attire and customs, yet all sharing a rich silver ornament tradition.
• Cultural Symbols:
• Attire: Women wear full sets of silver jewelry—headpieces, necklaces, bracelets—weighing 10–20 pounds, symbolizing wealth and auspiciousness; embroidery is exquisite, featuring floral, avian, and totemic patterns;
• Festivals: Miao New Year (11th lunar month—ancestor worship, lusheng pipe dancing, eating sour fish soup); Sisters’ Meal Festival (3rd lunar month—young people sing antiphonal songs and share "sisters’ rice" to express affection);
• Cuisine: Sour fish soup (fish cooked in fermented tomato-chili broth—tangy and appetizing, considered the Miao "national dish"); cured smoked pork (distinctive flavor from preservation method).

10. Dai Ethnic Group ("People of Water" in Tropical Rainforests)

• Distribution: Primarily in Xishuangbanna and Dehong, Yunnan—residing in tropical and subtropical zones, with culture closely linked to water and rainforests.
• Cultural Symbols:
• Festival: Water-Splashing Festival (mid-April Gregorian calendar—people splash water on each other as blessings, symbolizing washing away misfortune; the Dai’s grandest festival, attracting global tourists);
• Dwellings: Bamboo houses (wooden structures—upper level for living, lower for ventilation—adapted to hot, humid climates); skilled in cultivating rice and rubber; Xishuangbanna is dubbed the "Kingdom of Tropical Plants";
• Features: Peacock Dance (mimicking peacock movements—graceful and fluid; famously promoted globally by dancer Yang Liping); cuisine centers on glutinous rice, pineapple rice, and Dai-style barbecue (lemongrass-grilled fish).

III. Practical Tips (Foreigner-Friendly Advice)

1. Respect Customs: When visiting ethnic minority areas, respect local taboos—for example, avoid stepping on oboo (stone cairns symbolizing deities) on Mongolian grasslands; do not wear hats or take photos inside Tibetan temples; adhere to halal rules in Hui restaurants.
2. Language Communication: Most minorities have their own languages (e.g., Mongolian, Tibetan, Uyghur), but many also speak Mandarin. Service staff in tourist areas generally manage basic English; learning a few polite phrases beforehand helps (e.g., Uyghur "Yaxshimusiz" = Hello).
3. Experience Recommendations: Participating in ethnic festivals (e.g., Water-Splashing Festival, Naadam) offers the best cultural immersion. Check festival dates in advance and follow local participation etiquette (e.g., during the Water-Splashing Festival, avoid splashing elderly people or young children excessively).