Xishuangbanna is a multi-nationality prefecture, besides Han, there are 12 ethnic groups living on this mysterious and rich land, who are an indispensable part of Chinese nationality. They speak different languages, wear different costumes, perform different traditions and have different culture backgrounds, but same honest, hospitable, hard-working and optimistic about life.

Dai Minority is the biggest ethnic group in locality, has a population of around 280000, accounting for 35% of the total of Xishuangbanna, most of them live in the basins that river crosses, where land is fertile and water is abundant, engaged in rice growing or other cash crops. Dai is the most civilized ethnic group compared with other minorities in this region, they have written language that evolved from Sanskrit and systematic knowledge which was brought in with Buddhism around 800 years ago. Theravada Buddhism is the prevailing religion of Dai, temples can be found in almost every Dai village, their religion is tightly combined with their education and life, Dai established their knowledge system through Buddhism, and they have been passing it down and inheriting it same way. Main festival

Aini Minority is a branch of Hani (in northern part of Thailand or some other Southeast Asian regions, known as Aka), has a population of 170000 in Xishuangbanna, accounting for 19% of total, is the second biggest ethnic group. Aini people evolved from Qiang, an ancient ethnic horde of China, they lived nomadic lives and kept moving from one place to another, around 1100 years ago, they moved into Xishuangbanna from Honghe and Mojiang. This is a mountainous minority, mainly live in Gelanhe, Xiding of Menghai, Jingha, Damenglong of Jinghong and Mengrun of Mengla. Aini is animist, believe that everything is with soul, and in tradition of setting up a wooden gate at the entrance of village to keep devils out. They have colorful spoken expressions, but no written language. Main festival

Bulang Minority has a population of 37000 in Xishuangbanna, is a mountainous ethnic group, mainly live in Bulang Shan Mountain area of Menghai. They believe in both Theravada Buddhism and animism. Bulang have their spoken language, no written script, but they adopted a lot from Dai after Theravada Buddhism was introduced into this region, Dai people's culture and religion keeps quite big influence on Bulang people's life, although they belong to different language families, Dai evolved from ancient Yue tribe, belonging to Han-Tibetan Family, and Bulang was from ancient Pu people, belong to Mhong-Khmer Family. They speak Dai language, use Dai's written script, even spend similar festivals as Dai people do. Bulang's ancestors were the earliest ethnic group to domesticate wild tea tree for consumption. Main festival

Lahu Minority has a population of around 50000 in Xishuangbanna, mainly live in Meng'Ar and Mengman of Menghai. Lahu people used to be a part of ancient nomadic tribe - Chiang, as the time went on and the tribe migrated, they evolved into an independent nationality of today. Lahu people has belief in animism, believe their ancestor was born out of a cucurbit, some of them believe in as well Christianity brought by western missionaries at the end of 19th century and the beginning of 20th century. Lahu has 3 branches according to their different dialects, costumes and traditions, Black Lahu, White Lahu and Yellow Lahu, the one that live in Xishuangbanna mainly belong to Black Lahu Branch, who stay out-of-the-way and still perform old tradition of having woman's hair shaved after her marriage. Main festival

Jinuo Minority, known as Youle in the past, is a unique ethnic group in China, only in Jinuo Shan Mountain area of Jinghong, Xishaungbanna can they be seen, total population is just around 18000. Jinuo believes in animism, especially believe in the souls of ancestors and God of sun, Sun Drum is holy to them and indispensable in every village, it is said that their ancestors, a boy and his sister, survived an flood catastrophe by hiding in a big drum, flood destroyed world, for multiplication of human they got married and became ancestors of Jinuo ---- it's an interesting coincidence, Jinuo happens to mean the descendants of mother's brother in their own language. Jinuo have spoken language, but no written characters. They are the last ethnic group to be classified as an independent nationality of China in 1979. Main Festival

Yao Minority has a population of around 16000 in Xishuangbanna. They mainly live in Yao Qu area of Mengla. Yao people in this area originally were immigrants from Guanxi in the middle of Qing Dynasty, around 200 years ago, on their way of moving, some settled down in Xishuangbanna, some went further and entered Laos and North of Thailand, where known as Mhong. Yao believe in animism, perform worship to ancestors and partially Taoism, they have no written language, Chinese characters are adopted by them for record in  daily life, but differently  pronounced. Yao people are in interesting traditions, youth bite each other to express love for each other, when boy is around 15 or 16 years old, grown-up ceremony would be held for him, and, girls are in habit of having their eyebrows shaved...Main festival

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