Chinese Nationalities (Zhuang Minority)

The Zhuang Minority is the most populous of China's Nationalities, and one of the best integrated with the Han. Zhuang origins go back well before the time of Christ. They share with the Dai (ethnic kin of the people of Thailand) common linguistic roots and love of festival singing and dancing. The Zhuang have had a close affiliation with the Han for centuries. The Zhuang are found in the Provinces of Yunnan, Guangdong, Guizhou, and the Guangxi Autonomous Region. They speak a language related to Thai, but many speak Chinese. The Chinese written language was formerly used, but in 1955 a Zhuang written language based on Latin letters was devised. Religions include Buddhism, Daoism, ancestor worship and Christianity. They are part of the Sino-Tibetan Thai ethno linguistic group.

Above ---- The Longsheng area of Guangxi is famed for its dramatic dragon-backed rice terraces. Rising 3,000 feet from the valley floor, the paddy fields are the result of 18 generations of toil by the Zhuang minority people. An intricate system of bamboo pipes keeps the terraces well watered.