Chinese Minority and Chinese Han people
China has a huge population of 1.3 billion people. This population is a composition of Han Chinese and 55 officially recognized ethnic minorities. Han Chinese makes up 92% of the population while the 55 ethnic minorities compose 8% of the rest.
Ethnic minority group
Each ethnic minority group has his own unique racial, social, cultural and economic background. This vast composition of ethnic minorities and their differences have contributed to China as the world's richest country with different cultures, dialects and history.
Zhuang
The Zhuang are the largest ethnic minority in China. Most are farmers who live in Guanxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.
Mongols
The Mongols in China live mainly in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Many Mongols are nomadic herders. They travel from place to place with their animals and live in round, felt-covered yurts.
Hui
The Hui are one of China's largest ethnic minorities. Many live in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, but Hui communities are scattered throughout the country. Most Hui are Muslims.
Tibetans
Ethnic Tibetans live on the high Tibetan Plateau of southwestern China. Most Tibetans are followers of the Gelugpa, or Yellow Hat, sect of Buddhism.
Miao
Most Miao people live in Guizhou Hunan and Yunnan provinces. The Miao are well known for their intricate and colorful embroidery, which they sew into their clothing, and the intricate silver jewelry they make.
Yi
The Yi live mainly in the mountainous areas of southwestern China. Traditional Yi society was a caste system consisting of landowning nobles, commoners, and slaves, but this system ended in the mid-20th century. Today the majority of Yi are farmers.
