Jingpo Ethnic Group

The Jingpo people are one of China's ethnic minorities, possessing their own distinct language and writing system. Their language belongs to the Tibeto-Burman branch of the Sino-Tibetan family, with five major dialect groups categorized into the Jingpo and Burmese subgroups. The Jingpo people use two writing systems: Jingpo script and Zaiwa script, both of which are phonetic alphabets based on Latin letters. The origins of the Jingpo people are closely tied to the ancient Di-Qiang tribes of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. They are divided into five main branches: "Jingpo," "Zaiwa," "Lechi," "Lang'e," and "Bola." The majority of Jingpo people reside in the mountainous regions of Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture in Yunnan Province, while a smaller number live in areas bordering Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture and Myanmar’s Kachin State. In Myanmar, most Kachin subgroups share cultural and historical ties with the Jingpo people living in China.

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Dai ethnic group

The Dai people (Romanized: Dai), also known as the Thai people (Thai script: ไทย, Romanized: Thai) or the Shan people (Romanized: Shan), speak the Dai language (also called Thai), which belongs to the Tai branch of the Kra-Dai family within the Sino-Tibetan language system. For the Dai, the peacock and the elephant are considered symbols of good fortune. Their rich and vibrant folklore reflects a deep connection to nature. Traditionally, the Dai prefer to live near water sources, valuing cleanliness above all—often taking daily baths and even frequent hair washes among women—earning them the affectionate nickname "the Water People." Historically, the Dai have predominantly practiced Theravada Buddhism and indigenous animist beliefs. Today, the Dai people can be found across several countries, including China, India, Vietnam, and Cambodia. As of 2000, there were approximately 115,000 Dai individuals residing within China's borders.

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De'ang Ethnic Group

The De'ang people, also known as the "Benglong," are an ethnic minority inhabiting the mountainous regions along the China-Myanmar border. Their language belongs to the Austroasiatic family, specifically the Wa-De'ang branch of the Mon-Khmer subfamily. It is divided into three dialects: "Bule," "Rumai," and "Ruojin." The De'ang do not have a written script of their own. Over centuries of coexistence with groups such as the Dai, Han, and Jingpo peoples, many De'ang individuals have become fluent in Dai, Mandarin Chinese, and Jingpo. Primarily residing in areas where China meets the Union of Myanmar, the De'ang represent a classic example of a dispersed yet locally concentrated ethnic group. Their distribution spans a remarkably wide geographic area: on the Chinese side, they are mainly found across nine counties and cities in three prefectures—Dehong, Baoshan, and Lincang—in Yunnan Province. On the Myanmar side, they are settled primarily in Shan State.

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Lisu people

The Lisu people belong to the Southern Asian type of the Mongoloid race. Their ethnic language is part of the Yi branch within the Tibeto-Burman subfamily of the Sino-Tibetan language family. The Lisu script is divided into New and Old Lisu systems, and most Lisu individuals adhere to indigenous religious beliefs. Originating from the ancient Di-Qiang ethnic group, the Lisu share historical ties with the Yi people. They are primarily concentrated in the regions surrounding the Nujiang and the upper reaches of the Nmai Hka River (a tributary of the Irrawaddy River)—areas that span the border regions of Yunnan Province in China, Tibet, and Kachin State in Myanmar. Smaller communities of Lisu can also be found in other parts of Yunnan Province in China, as well as in northeastern India and areas along the Thailand-Myanmar border. According to the Sixth National Population Census conducted in 2010, the total Lisu population within China was recorded at 1,261,311 people.

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Munao Zongge Festival – The Jingpo People's Carnival

The Munaung Zhongge Festival originally served as a ritualistic ceremony to ward off evil and promote goodness, symbolizing blessings of prosperity and happiness while celebrating the bountiful harvest. Known as "Munaung" among the Jingpo people and "Zhongge" among the Wa, the name itself evokes the idea of everyone coming together to dance joyfully. Legend has it that only the children of the sun were once permitted to perform the Munaung Zhongge—until Ning Guanwa, the ancestral figure of the Jingpo tribe, brought this sacred dance down to earth for humanity. During the festival, Jingpo men and women don their finest traditional attire and gather from far and wide, immersing themselves in lively music and vibrant dance. At the heart of the festivities is the iconic "Nao Shuang"—two highly respected leaders who take center stage. Adorned with stunning peacock-feather crowns, these revered figures lead the way, gracefully guiding the jubilant crowd with elegant yet powerful movements, their hands waving shimmering silver swords that catch the light as they set the rhythm for the entire Zhongge procession.

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Kuo Festival – The Lisu People's Carnival

"Kuo Shi" is a transliteration from the Lisu language, meaning "New Year's Day." The Kuo Shi Festival is a celebrated holiday among the Lisu people. Known as the most important traditional festival for the Lisu, it corresponds to the Chinese New Year. Historically, the Lisu determined when to celebrate based on their observations of natural signs—specifically, the timing of seasonal changes. As a result, each village marked the festival on different dates, typically falling between the fifth day of the twelfth lunar month and the tenth day of the first lunar month in the following year, spanning roughly one month. Interestingly, this period coincides with the blooming of cherry blossoms, which is why the Lisu traditionally celebrate their New Year whenever the cherry blossoms are in full bloom each year.

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