As a large united multi-national state, China is formed by 56 ethnic groups. Han Chinese account for 91.59% of the whole Chinese population and the other 55 make up the remaining 8.41% according to the Fifth National Population Census of 2000.
These ethnic groups share China’s vast (广阔) lands but at the same time many live in their own communities. The relationships between them have been formed over many years.
Chinese Han People
With a population of 1159.4 million, the Han Chinese can be found in almost every part of China. However, they mainly live in the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River, Yangtze River and the Pearl River, and also in the Northeast Plain Region (Songliao Plain). They form the largest ethnic group within China and also the largest in the world.
55 minorities in China
Although they make up only a small part of the Chinese population, the 55 minority ethnic groups are distributed (分布) throughout different regions of China. The regions where they are most concentrated are Southwest China, Northwest China and Northeast China. No matter whether it is Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang, Ningxia, Guangxi, Xizang, Yunnan, Guizhou, Qinghai or another province, one can find Chinese minorities. The greatest number of minorities can be found in Yunnan Province (25 ethnic groups). Zhuang has the largest population (more than 16 million) of minority ethnic groups.
In order to ensure that the 56 Chinese ethnic groups live together in harmony (和谐), the government introduced a set of policies (政策), and the policy of regional autonomy for minorities is the most fundamental (基本的). Under this policy, five autonomous regions; Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang, Guangxi, Ningxia and Xizang have been set up. With guidance from the Chinese government, the minorities in areas that have been given regional autonomy can deal with their own affairs (事务). Together with the Han people, the Chinese minorities are making great efforts to build a great China.
Topic and theme: The main | |
·Formed: Han people and the other 55 minorities (the population is ·The living area: China’s vast lands and their own communities. | |
Chinese Han People ·They live in vast part of China. ·They are | 55 minorities in China ·They can be found in different regions of China. ·Yunnan has 25 ethnic groups, but |
How to live in harmony: ·Five autonomous regions have been set up. ·The government guides the minorities to deal with their own affairs. ·The minorities are making contribution to building a great China |