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

Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture
Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture

Yi Autonomous Counties in Yunnan

Shilin Yi Autonomous County(Kunming)
Xundian Hui and Yi Autonomous County(Kunming)
Luquan Yi and Miao Autonomous County(Kunming)
Eshan Yi Autonomous County(Yuxi)
Xinping Yi and Dai Autonomous County(Yuxi)
Yuanjiang Hani, Yi and Dai Autonomous County(Yuxi)
Ninglang Yi Autonomous County(LIjiang)
Ninger Hani and Yi Autonomous County(Puer)
Jingdong Yi Autonomous County(Puer)
Zhenyuan Yi, Hani and Lahu County(Puer)
Jinggu Dai and Yi Autonomous County(Puer)
Jiangcheng Hani and Yi Autonomous County(Puer)
Yangbi Yi Autonomous County(Dali)
Nanjian Yi Autonomous County(Dali)
Weishan Yi and Hui Autonomous County(Dali)

Yi Ethnic Townships in Yunnan
Baoshan

Goujie Yi and Miao Ethnic Town
Wama Yi and Bai Ethnic Town
Wafang Yi and Miao Ethnic Town
Mangkuan Yi and Dai Ethnic Town
Yangliu Bai and Yi Ethnic Town
Bailang Yi and Bulang Ethnic Town
Mulaoyuan Bulang and Yi Ethnic Town
Mucheng Yi and Lisu Ethnic Town
Zhujie Yi Ethnic Town

Dali

Taiyi Yi Ethnic Township
Dongshan Yi Ethnic Township
Zhongying Lisu and Yi Ethnic Township
Lawu Yi Ethnic Township
Niujie Yi Ethnic Township
Changjie Yi Ethnic Township
Shuixie Yi Ethnic Township
Beidou Yi Ethnic Township
Liuhe Yi Ethnic Township
Yonghe Yi Ethnic Town
Tuanjie Yi Ethnic Town

Kunming

Shuanghe Yi Ethnic Town
Xiyang Yi Ethnic Town
Gengjiaying Yi and Miao Ethnic Town
Jiuxiang Yi and Hui Ethnic Town
Luomian Yi and Miao Ethnic Town
Ala Yi Ethnic Town

Lijiang

Yangping Yi Ethnic Town
Liude Lisu and Yi Ethnic Town
Dongshan Lisu and Yi Ethnic Town
Guanghua Lisu and Yi Ethnic Town
Songping Lisu and Yi Ethnic Town
Daan Yi and Naxi Ethnic Town
Cuiyu Lisu and Pumi Ethnic Town
Shilongba Yi and Dai Ethnic Town

Lincang

Pingcun Yi and Dai Ethnic Town
Xinhua Yi and Miao Ethnic Town
Yaojie Yi Ethnic Town
Guo Dazhai Yi and Bai Ethnic Town
Manghuai Yi and Bulang Ethnic Town
Lishu Yi and Dai Ethnic Town
Houqing Yi Ethnic Town
Mengjiao Dai, Yi and Lahu Ethnic Town
Wumulong Yi Ethnic Town
Daxueshan Yi, Lahu, Dai Ethnic Township

Puer

Qianliu Yi Ethnic Town
Yutang Yi Ethnic Town
Mengnong Yi Ethnic Town

Wenshan

Shupi Yi Ethnic Town 
Shede Yi Ethnic Town
Badaoshao Yi Ethnic Town
Nijiao Yi Ethnic Town
Xindian Yi Ethnic Town
Baxin Yi Ethnic Town
Binglie Yi Ethnic Town
Liujing Yi Ethnic Town
Dongshan Yi Ethnic Town
Ashe Yi Ethnic Town
Ganhe Yi Ethnic Town
Panlong Yi Ethnic Town
Weimo Yi Ethnic Town

Yuxi

Lishan Yi Ethnic Town
Gaoda Dai and Yi Ethnic Town
Anhua Yi Ethnic Town
Tonghongdian Yi and Miao Ethnic Town
Luohe Yi Ethnic Town
Xiaoshiqiao Yi Ethnic Town
Pubei Yi Ethnic Town
Shijie Yi Ethnic Town
Tongchang Yi Ethnic Town

Zhaotong

Xiaolongdong Hui and Yi Ethnic Town
Qinggangling Hui and Yi Ethnic Town
Manan Miao and Yi Ethnic Town
Wuzhai Yi and Miao Ethnic Town
Guozhu Yi Ethnic Town
Linkou Yi and Miao Ethnic Town
Shanggaoqiao Hui, Yi and Miao Ethnic Town
Shuanghe Miao and Yi Ethnic Town
Kuixiang Miao and Yi Ethnic Town
Longjie Miao and Yi Ethnic Town
Shulin Yi and Miao Ethnic Town

Qujing and Xishuangbanna

Jiuwuji Yi Ethnic Town
Longqing Yi and Zhuang Ethnic Town
Xiangming Yi Ethnic Town

Featured Yi Villages in Yunnan

Longmai Village in Funing County, Wenshan
Laotao Village in Wuding County, Chuxiong
Madougou Village in Wuding County, Chuxiong
Liyuan Village in Lufeng County, Chuxiong
Luchudu Village in Gejiu City, Honghe
Yongning Village in Mengzi City, Honghe
Longche Village in Shiping County, Honghe
Chegu Village in Honghe County, Honghe Prefecture
Daduma Village in Jinping County, Honghe
Yakouzhe Village in Jinping County, Honghe
Baishiyan Village in Yanshan County, Wenshan
Douyan Village in Gejiu County, Honghe
Lawan Village in Mouding County, Chuxiong
Luomo Village in Gejiu City, Honghe
Heiyudong Village in Yanshan County, Wenshan

Protection Area of Yi Ethnic Culture

Xiaoliangshan Traditional Culture Conservation Area of Yi Ethnic Minority in Yuanmou County, Chuxiong
Gaodian Village Yi (Azhe) Ethnic Culture Protection Area in Xunjiansi Town, Mile City
Hongwan Village Yi (Axi) Ethnic Culture Protection Area in Xiyi Town of Mile City, Honghe
Mayouping Village Yi Ethnic Culture Protection Area in Guantun Town of Yao’an County, Chuxiong
Nuohei Yi Ethnic Culture Protection Area in Shilin County, Kunming

Cultural Heritages of Yi Ethnic Minority in Yunnan
National Intangible Cultural Heritages of Yi in Yunnan

Yi Ethnic Costume-making Skill
Cross-stitch Skill
Yi-style Wrestling
Folk Song (Toasting Song)
Traditional Medicine
“Cha Mu” – Creation Myths
Bronze Drum Dance
Hulusheng Dance
Yanhe Dance (Tobacco Case Dance)
Haicai Qiang
The Epopee “Ashima”
Magu Dance
Left Feet Dance or Zuojiaowu Dance
Sheepskin Drum Dance
Yi Embroidery
Huadeng (Flower Lantern) Opera
Torch Festival
Tiaocai Dance

Inheritors of Yi’s National Intangible Cultural Heritages in Yunnan

Luo Yufang – Yi Ethnic Costume Making
Li Maorong – Yi Opera Project
Guo Youzhen – Meige Project
Cha Chunmei – Yi Dage Project
Zhong Tianzhen – Yi Hulusheng Dance
Yang Yingjin – Yi Hulusheng Dance
Shi Wanheng – Yi Folk Music
Hou Baoyun – Yi Folk Music
Bi Huayu – “Bi Mo” Priest
Wang Yufang – The Epopee “Ashima” 

Festivals of Yi Ethnic Minority in Yunnan

Lingbaoshan Mountain Pilgrimage
Daogan Festival
Duanwu Herbs Festival
Torch Festival in Chuxiong City
Torch Festival in Shuangbai County, Chuxiong
Torch Festival in Ninglang County, Lijiang
Torch Festival in Jingdong County, Puer
Torch Festival in Jinggu County, Puer
Yizunian (Shiyuenian) New Year in Chuxiong
Red-crowned Crane Festival in Chuxiong
New Rice (Xinxiaomi) Festival in Chuxiong
Farm Cattle Festival in Chuxiong
Inviting God Playing Festival in Chuxiong City
Kaijing Festival in Chuxiong
Kaijie Festival in Shuangbai County, Chuxiong
Dragon Worship Festival in Chuxiong
Taiping Lehui Festival in Chuxiong
Huagu (Flower Drum) Culture Festival in Chuxiong
Eryueba (February 8th) Festival in Chuxiong
Xiangshan Festival in Shuangbai County, Chuxiong
Breast-touching Festival in Chuxiong
Left Feet Dance Culture Festival in Chuxiong
Liuyueliu (June 6th) Festival in Chuxiong
Ganmaojie Festival in Chuxiong
Matsutake Picking and Kaishan Festival
Meige Culture Festival in Chuxiong
Hulusheng Culture Festival in Chuxiong
Qiushanhui Festival in  Chuxiong
Saizhuang Festival in Chuxiong
Chahua Festival in Chuxiong
Lianchi Embroidery Festival in Chuxiong
Ganniao Festival in Wuding County, Chuxiong
Longhuahui Festival in Lufeng County, Chuxiong
Tiaogupo Festival in Shiping County, Honghe
Guniang Festival or Girl’s Day in Honghe