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Zhuang Minority Map

Zhuang Ethnic Minority

With an estimated population of approximately 18 million people, the Zhuang are the most populous of all the ethnic minorities in China. Nearly 90% of Zhuang people can be found in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, with smaller constituencies in the provinces of Yunnan, Guangdong, Guizhou, and Hunan. Compared to Mandarin Chinese, which only has 4 tones, their indigenous language has a staggering 8 tones and is closely related to the languages of the Dong, Bouyei and Dai ethnic minorities, as well as the standard Thai of Thailand and the standard Lao of Laos. As if that wasn’t confusing enough, they also boast two different writing systems!

Zhuangs of Detian

Since they are the largest ethnic group besides the Hans, they ae spread throughout Guanxi. This group of Zhuang are found near Detian Waterfalls which share its border with Vietnam.

Mingshi Scenic Area Zhuang Village

Mingshi Scenic Area features typical karst landscape, rice fields, and Zhuang minority villages and winding river. The scenery there is quite beautiful. It is often refered as “Small Guilin”. This was the backdrop in in the television series “The Journey of Flower” (花千骨).