The Hill Tribes of China, Guizhou Province

Out of a countrywide population of about 1.4 Billion people in China, approximately 100 million are considered to be ethnic minorities. Many of them live in the hills of Guizhou, a province in the Southwest China. One of the largest ethnic group living in Guizhou are the Miao minority--about 5 million-which include the Hmongs, red Miao, black Miao, long skirt Miao, pink beaded Miao , hundred- bird Miao etc. Several additional tribes such as the Dong, Shui, Dingbau Yao also inhabit the isolated mountain villages in the Guizhou province.

These tribal minorities have been living in the hills of Guizhou province for thousand years. However, several members of Hmong, Yao, and Akha tribes, during famines or other natural disasters migrated to the neighboring countries such as Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Mynamar. Of course, after the Vietnam war, many Hmongs are now settles in various parts of the US.

In late October, 2015, I had the good fortune to visit this amazing Guizhou province and photograph these minorities with their incredibly colorful embroidered costumes. I photographed several hill tribe harvest festivals, dancing carnivals, buffalo fights,markets, and other village ceremonies.

Despite nearly 50 years of Comminism (Mao is still referred in the Guizhou province), the traditional village societies of these minorities still remain intact. There is still the presence of a village chief and the elders preside over ceremonies and arbitrate disputes between tribal members. The Miao practice forms of Shaminism, animism and some ancestor worship.Magic abounds, with rice and herbs bearing healing qualities and animal blood warding off evil spirits.

The photographs in this gallery depict the various aspects of the tribal and village life in the Guizhou region and highlight their colorful costumes and friendly disposition.