The Miao people, one of China's 55 ethnic minority groups, live primarily in southwest China's mountainous areas, such as the province of Guizhou. 

As the Miao people don't have their own written language, they pass on their legends, traditions and history with the help of a needle and a thread, in the form of embroidery. Miao people produce some of the most beautiful embroideries in the world that involves several different unique and complex stitches. For the Miao people, embroidery is seen as a woman's art form. Miao girls learn various techniques around the age of six or seven from their mothers and sisters. After several years of practice, their skill develops enough to work on their most important piece of embroidery – their wedding dress. 

The Miao live in wooden houses that are built on mountain slopes, usually one or two stories high. While grain is stored in the top floor, the ground floor of the house is for the livestock and poultry. The Miao grow their own vegetables and are skilled at unique farming techniques, such as keeping fish in their paddy fields. The Miao cuisine menu spans a broad spectrum of choices, with sour soup both being their cooking heritage and base for the famous Guizhou dish 'fish in sour soup.' 

With their variety of traditions, literature, arts and crafts, the Miao people not only provide a glimpse into the ancient culture but also manage to preserve their ethnic identity intriguingly to the present day. 

Explore the Miao ethnic group with Travelogue on CGTN. The programme broadcasts on Sundays at 7:30 a.m. and rebroadcasts on Mondays 2:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and Fridays 6:30 a.m. (Beijing Time).