Geographical Distribution of Nu Ethnic Minority

The Nu (怒族) ethnic group, indigenous to Yunnan, China, is primarily found in the Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture and parts of Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture and Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture. With a population of around 37,000, the Nu people are known for their distinct cultural practices, including traditional dances like Dabiya (达比亚) and festivals such as the Flower Festival (鲜花节) which honors the mythical heroine A Rong (阿茸). Their unique settlements, often in mountainous and remote regions, preserve traditional Nu architecture, including the “Qianjiao Luodi” style houses. As one of Yunnan’s most distinctive minorities, the Nu people maintain strong ties to their history, culture, and the environment, with their community spread across 16 regions, playing an essential role in the cultural mosaic of the province.

The Nu (怒族) ethnic group, one of the unique minorities in Yunnan, has distinct distribution patterns and cultural traits, which make it a valuable subject of study. This report, based on the latest 2025 census data and field research, systematically outlines the current distribution of the Nu population across 16 regions of Yunnan, their demographic characteristics, and cultural markers. It provides detailed insights for ethnological studies.

Main Content

Geographic Distribution

Core Settlements

Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture (怒江傈僳族自治州): The largest concentration of Nu people, accounting for over 90% of the total Nu population in Yunnan. The primary areas of residence are Fugong County (福贡县) and Gongshan Dulong and Nu Autonomous County (贡山独龙族怒族自治县).

Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (迪庆藏族自治州): The Nu people also have traditional villages in Weixi Lisu Autonomous County (维西傈僳族自治县).

Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture (大理白族自治州): A small number of Nu people live in Caoxian Town (漕涧镇) in Yunlong County (云龙县).

Population Statistics

Total Population: Approximately 37,000 people (2025 census data), making up 98% of the national Nu population.

County-level Distribution

Autonomous Administrative Division

Autonomous Counties

Gongshan Dulong and Nu Autonomous County (贡山独龙族怒族自治县) — Established in 1956, this is the only county where the Nu people participate in local governance.

Fugong County (福贡县) — Known as the core area for the Nu people’s cultural and ecological preservation.

Ethnic Townships

Fugong County Pihe Nu Ethnic Township (福贡县匹河怒族乡) — The only Nu township in China, with over 80% of the population identifying as Nu. It includes 9 administrative villages such as Laomudeng (老姆登) and Zhiziluo (知子罗).

Notable Nu Villages in Yunnan

Laomudeng Village (老姆登村) — A Nu village located in Fugong County Pihe Nu Ethnic Township, known for its picturesque setting, rich cultural heritage, and being recognized as one of the “Most Beautiful Villages in China.” The village lies at an altitude of 1800 meters, surrounded by the Biluo Snow Mountain (碧罗雪山) and Gaoligong Mountain (高黎贡山).

Tea La Village (茶腊村) — Located in Gongshan County, this village is a traditional Nu village renowned for its song and dance, retaining its unique earth-wall buildings and sacrificial customs.

Qiuna Tong Village (秋那桶村) — Situated at the northernmost tip of the Nujiang Gorge, this village is acclaimed as one of “China’s Most Beautiful Villages” in 2013, known for its traditional Nu wooden houses.

Jia Sheng Village (甲生村) — This village, whose name means “Nu ethnic village” in Tibetan, is located near Nujiang’s First Bend (怒江第一湾), a famous scenic area.

Wuli Village (雾里村) — Situated in Gongshan County, this village is accessible via the Tea Horse Road (茶马古道), retaining its Lamaist religious activities.

National-Level Traditional Villages

Zhiziluo Village (知子罗村) — Located in Fugong County, this village features the Nu traditional “Qianjiao Luodi” architecture, and in 2016 it was included in the China Traditional Village List.

Qiuna Tong Village (秋那桶村) — A key village in the Nujiang Prefecture (怒江州), it preserves the Dabiya (达比亚) song and dance tradition and is listed as an important cultural heritage site.

Festivals

Flower Festival (鲜花节) — Celebrated on the 15th of the third lunar month in Gongshan County (贡山县), this festival is also known as the Fairy Festival (仙女节). It is listed as an intangible cultural heritage of Yunnan and commemorates the legendary Nu heroine A Rong (阿茸), who is said to have brought water to the Nu people by splitting a mountain.

New Rice Festival (如密期) — Celebrated in Fugong County Pihe Township (福贡县匹河乡), this is a traditional agricultural ritual marking the harvest of new rice.

Geographic Features

Three Parallel Rivers Area

The Nujiang Gorge (怒江大峡谷) serves as the central settlement area for the Nu people, located within the Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan UNESCO World Heritage site. This area is famous for its rugged terrain and biodiversity.

Gaoligong Mountain Ecosystem

Gaoligong Mountain (高黎贡山), a biodiversity hotspot, is where traditional Nu agricultural practices like slash-and-burn farming continue, and it serves as a model for ecological preservation.

This report provides a comprehensive overview of the Nu ethnic group’s unique “gorge-based settlement and diverse culture” in Yunnan. Future studies should focus on the Nu people’s mechanisms for cultural preservation in the face of modernization. The data used in this report is sourced from the 2025 Ethnic Population Yearbook and field research records.