Yi Ethnic Minority

Yunnan Province has the largest number of Yi Ethnic Minority. Yi people are distributed in 31 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities, and they are mainly concentrated in Yunnan Province, accounting for about 60% of the total population of Yi people. In addition, the population of Yi people in Sichuan and Guizhou provinces is more than 100000, and other provinces and cities have a small number of Yi people.

History of Yi Ethnic Minority in Yunnan

As early as 2000 years ago, the ancestors of Yi people lived and multiplied in Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, Jinsha River and Lancang River area. In the Western Han Dynasty, a group of ancestors took “Kunming” as their name and engaged in agriculture and nomadism in the area centered on Erhai Lake, Yunnan Province. “Yi(夷)” in the Eastern Han, Wei, Jin, southern and Northern Dynasties, and “wuman(乌蛮)” in the Tang and Song dynasties were all the names given to the ancestors of the Yi nationality in Southwest China at that time. In the 8th century AD, Nanzhao state was established with Yi and Bai as the main body. In 937, Dali regime was established.

Distribution of Yi Ethnic Minority in Yunnan

The Yi people are almost all over the counties and urban areas of Yunnan Province. The places with concentrated distribution have become Yi Autonomous Counties or Yi + other ethnic autonomous counties. The Yi people in these autonomous counties not only have distinctive features, but also have strong Yi customs, which is a good place for you to experience Yi customs and even Yunnan customs.

Yi Autonomous Prefecture in Yunnan

Yi Autonomous Counties in Yunnan

Yi Ethnic Townships in Yunnan

Baoshan

Dali

Kunming

Lijiang

Lincang

Puer

Wenshan

Yuxi

Zhaotong

Qujing and Xishuangbanna

Featured Yi Villages in Yunnan

Protection Area of Yi Ethnic Culture

Cultural Heritages of Yi Ethnic Minority in Yunnan

National Intangible Cultural Heritages of Yi in Yunnan

Inheritors of Yi’s National Intangible Cultural Heritages in Yunnan

Festivals of Yi Ethnic Minority in Yunnan