Geographical Distribution of Pumi Ethnic Minority

The Pumi (普米族) people are an ethnic group primarily found in Yunnan Province (云南), particularly in the Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture (怒江傈僳族自治州), with significant populations in Lanping Bai and Pumi Autonomous County (兰坪白族普米族自治县) and surrounding areas such as Lijiang (丽江). The Pumi are known for their unique culture, including traditional festivals like Wuxi Festival (吾昔节), which marks their New Year, and Dashiwu Festival (大十五节), celebrated with mountain worship and communal bonfire parties.

Their settlements, characterized by traditional wooden houses, are often found in scenic regions like the Three Parallel Rivers area and the Laojun Mountain Area (老君山片区), both of which hold Danxia landforms (丹霞地貌) and significant cultural value. The Pumi practice subsistence farming and are known for their distinct customs, including traditional wedding ceremonies and unique burial rites, often centered around rituals such as “Sheep Offering” (给羊子) to guide the souls of the deceased.

With a population of over 42,000 in Yunnan, the Pumi continue to maintain their heritage while integrating into the broader multi-ethnic landscape of the region, coexisting with groups like the Bai (白族), Yi (彝族), and Lisu (傈僳族).

Core Distribution and Population Data

Main Settling Regions

Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture (怒江傈僳族自治州): This is the core settlement area for the Pumi (普米族) people. About 80% of the Pumi population (15,800 people) resides in Lanping Bai and Pumi Autonomous County (兰坪白族普米族自治县), with the remaining population scattered across six other towns, including Tongdian Township (通甸镇) and Hexi Township (河西乡).

Lijiang City (丽江市): Ninglang Yi Autonomous County (宁蒗彝族自治县), Yulong Naxi Autonomous County (玉龙纳西族自治县), and Yongsheng County (永胜县) serve as secondary settlement areas, where Pumi (普米族) people live alongside the Yi (彝族) and Naxi (纳西族) ethnic groups.

Other Areas: The Pumi (普米族) people also live in more scattered communities in Diqing Prefecture (迪庆州), Weixi County (维西县), Lincang Yun County (临沧云县), and areas in Sichuan Province such as Muli (木里) and Yanyuan (盐源), creating a pattern of “large dispersion, small settlements.”

Population Statistics

Total Population: The total population of Pumi (普米族) in China is 42,861 (2010 census), with Yunnan (云南) accounting for 42,043 people. Among these, Lanping County (兰坪县) hosts 7.5% of the total Pumi (普米族) population.

Most Populous Areas:

• Prefecture: Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture (怒江傈僳族自治州), with Lanping County (兰坪县) being the central area.

• County: Lanping Bai and Pumi Autonomous County (兰坪白族普米族自治县).

• Towns: Tongdian Township (通甸镇) and Hexi Township (河西乡), where Pumi people constitute the majority of the population.

Autonomous Administrative Divisions

Autonomous Counties

Lanping Bai and Pumi Autonomous County (兰坪白族普米族自治县) (established in 1987) is the only Bai (白族) and Pumi (普米族) autonomous county in China. It oversees 4 townships, 3 towns, and 2 subdistricts, with a multi-ethnic population that includes Pumi (普米族), Bai (白族), and Lisu (傈僳族).

Ethnic Townships

Cuiju Lisu and Pumi Ethnic Township (翠玉傈僳族普米族乡) in Ninglang County (宁蒗县): This township includes Pumi (普米族) villages, preserving traditional wooden houses and agricultural culture.

Other Multi-Ethnic Townships: There are other townships such as Biaocun Lisu Ethnic Township (表村傈僳族乡) in Yulong County (云龙县), where Pumi (普米族) people live alongside other ethnic groups in a joint autonomous system.

Unique Village Systems

Traditional Villages and Cultural Villages

Luoguqing Village (罗古箐村) in Tongdian Township (通甸镇), Lanping County (兰坪县): This village is recognized as a National Forest Village (国家森林乡村) and a Traditional Chinese Village (中国传统村落). The village features Pumi (普米族) culture, including hiking homestays and Pumi cultural experiences, and retains its traditional wooden houses and Danxia landforms (丹霞地貌).

Yushi Chang Village (玉狮场村) in Hexi Township (河西乡), Lanping County (兰坪县): A Traditional Chinese Village (中国传统村落) surrounded by 80,000 acres of virgin forest, the majority of the village population is Pumi (普米族). The village has resisted development to preserve its ecosystem.

Dayang Village (大羊村) in Hexi Township (河西乡), Lanping County (兰坪县): A settlement dating back to the Yuan Dynasty (元代), Dayang Village was included in the List of Traditional Chinese Villages (中国传统村落名录) in 2023. The village preserves traditional farming methods like pine needle composting.

Festival Venues

Wuxi Festival (吾昔节) (Pumi New Year): Celebrated in Lanping (兰坪) and Ninglang (宁蒗), this festival includes rituals such as the coming-of-age ceremony, horse racing, and sacrifices, with a duration ranging from 3 to 15 days.

Dashiwu Festival (大十五节) in Ninglang (宁蒗): Held from the 14th to 15th day of the 12th lunar month, the festival includes mountain worship and bonfire parties.

Geographical and Cultural Landmarks

Three Parallel Rivers Region (三江并流区): The area where the Nujiang River (怒江), Lancang River (澜沧江), and Jinsha River (金沙江) converge. This region is the traditional homeland of the Pumi (普米族) people and retains traces of slash-and-burn agriculture.

Laojun Mountain Area (老君山片区): Home to Luoguqing Village (罗古箐村), this area is characterized by Danxia landforms (丹霞地貌) and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, blending both natural beauty and Pumi (普米族) cultural heritage.