Hani Ethnic Minority

Hani is an ethnic minority in southwest China, and the 16th largest ethnic group in China. Yunnan is home to the most Hani people in China, and the total population of Hani in China is about 1.66 million. The Hani people speak Hani language. Before 1949, they had no written language of their own, and had to carve notches on sticks to keep records. In 1957, the central government helped them create a script based on the Latin alphabet.
The Hani people have many branches, comprising over 20 subgroups. They called themselves Hani, Aini, Kaduo, Biyue, Heni, Yani, Baihong, Haoni and the like. With the founding of the PRC in 1949, according to the opinions of the ethnic group, Hani ethnic minority was decided as the unified name of the ethnic group.

Hani Ethnic Towns

Donglang Hani Ethnic Town
Fazhanhe Hani Ethnic Town
Huimin Hani Ethnic Town
Jiujing Hani Ethnic Town
Gelanghe Hani Ethnic Town
Jingha Hani Ethnic Town
Xiding Hani and Bulang Ethnic Town

Distribution of Hani Ethnic Minority

Hani is mainly distributed between the Yuanjiang river and Lancang river in Yunnan, China. They mostly live in Honghe Hani and Yi autonomous prefecture, Xishuangbanna prefecture, Pu'er city and Yuxi city, including Yuanyang, Lvchun, Mojiang, Ning'er, Jiangcheng, Yuanjiang, Zhenyuan, Xinping county and other counties. Kunming, Chuxiong city, Qujing city and other places also have the distribution of Hani ethnic minority.

Terraced Culture of Hani Ethnic Minority

Reclaiming terraces in the mountains is the specialty of the Hani ethnic minority and has been a tradition for thousands of years. After experiencing more than 1200 years, Hani people have created the large-scale Hani terraced fields by taking advantage of the geographical and climatic conditions of "four seasons in one mountain and different weathers every ten miles" in the southwest plateau, have built the farming pattern of "forest, villages, rice terraces, rivers", forming the core of terraced culture. Honghe prefecture is featuring high mountains and deep valleys, from the valley to the top of the mountain, there appears the three-dimensional climate of tropical, subtropical, temperate zong, frigid zone. The virtuous circle of "forest, village, terrace fields, rivers" has formed the agricultural ecosystem of Hani wisdom, the high coordination between man and nature, is the product of the wonderful combination of culture and nature.

Main Hani Rice Terraces in Honghe

Longshuba Rice Terraces
Bada Rice Terraces
Qingkou Hani Rice Terraces
Duoyishu Rice Terraces
Laohuzui Rice Terraces
Shengcun Hani Rice Terraces

Long Street Banquet of Hani Ethnic Minority

Long Street Banquet, also known as Long Table Banquet, is a time-honored culinary tradition prevailing especially among the Hani people. As an epitome of their food culture, etiquette, custom, singing and dancing, Long Street Banquet is usually held during festivals, grand occasions such as wedding ceremonies or newborn babies' one-year-old birthday parties. Nowadays, as long as you join a group tour, you can experience this timeworn tradition all year around in the majority of Hani villages, which are mainly scattered in Southwest China, a treasure trove of minorities.
Recommended Tours

4 Days Long Street Banquet Festival and Yuanyang Rice Terraces Photography Tour
7 Days Honghe Hani Ethnic Minority’s Long Street Banquet Festival and Yuanyang Rice Terraces Photograph Tour

Cultural Heritages of Hani Ethnic Minority

Manggu Drum Dance
Hani Haba- Folk Song of Hani
Epopee “Luoqiluoye and Zhasizhayi”
Lezuo Dance in Honghe County
Terraced Field Farming Rituals and Customs
Jiujixian Sacrafice of Hani
Palm Fan Dance of Hani

Inheritors

Jiang Pei
Li Pa
Lu Wenxue
Shen Jie
Li Heniu
Su Zhaoxiang
Mu Tianguang
Che Kesan
Zhang Guifen
Chen Yufa
Li Shengfang
Li Mige
Cao Shixiang
Luo Weikuan
Chen Xiniang
Che Ge
Zhu Xiaohe

Festivals of Hani Ethnic Minority

The traditional festivals of the Hani people are mainly Shiyuenian(十月年) and June Festival(六月节). Shiyuenian, known as Zhatele(扎勒特), is celebrated every year in the 10th lunar calendar and lasts five or six days. It is the longest and richest festival of the Hani people of the year, similar to the Spring Festival of the Han nationality. Kuzhazha festival, known as June festival, is held in the 6th lunar month, lasting 3-5 days. Besides, like their Han neighbors, Hani people also celebrate the Spring Festival, the Dragon Boat Festival and the Mid-autumn Festival.

Ang Ma Tu Sacrificial Festival
AngMaTu Festival in Yuanyang
Long Street Banquet
Honghe Hani Rice Terraces Culture Tourism Festival
Red Eggs Festival in Ning'er
Sun Festival in Mojiang County
King of Tuoluo Competition
Tea Ancestor Worship of Laowushan Mountain
Buffalo Body Painting Contest
Ababaluo Festival in Lancang
Gatangpa Festival in Lancang
Damoqiu Trapeze of Hani
Kuzhazha Festival in Honghe County
Kaiyangmen Festival in Honghe County
Long Street Banquet in Honghe County
Long Street Banquet in Jinping County
AngMaTu (Dragon Worship) Festival in Jinping
Bitter Bamboo Shoots Festival
AngMaTu (Dragon Worship) Festival in Lvchun
Long Street Banquet in Lvchun County
Habo Long Street Banquet in Yuanyang County
Grasshopper Catching (Zhuomazha) Festival
Gatangpa Festival of Aka Ethnic People
Misuozha Festival
Miaoaina Festival
Girls Festival (Guniangjie) in Yuanyang
Limazhu Festival
Kuzhazha Festival (Liuyuenian)
New Rice Festival (Xinmijie)
Zhalete Festival
Kawopeng Festival in Yuanyang
Kuzhazha Festival in Jinping County
New Year Festival in Jiangcheng County
YangAna Festival of Yiche Ethnic People

Hani Villages

Azheke Village
Gewu Village
Daduma Village
Dalaotang Village
Nanke Village
Gekui Village

Keep Reading

Chepu Village Hani Ethnic Culture Protection Area in Yangjie Town of Honghe County
Hencoop House: A Unique Building in Hani Ethnic Villages