A taste of Hainan’s ethnic culture

World
Europe

China’s southern island province of Hainan – location of the 2017 Boao Forum for Asia - is home to several ethnic groups. Han Chinese make up the majority of the population, but the Li, Miao, and Hui people are also big presences in the province.

Although ethnic identities on the island have diluted over the centuries, groups including the Li people, the indigenous inhabitants of Hainan, have retained unique characteristics.

VCG Photo.

If you’re planning a visit to Hainan, be sure to add a visit to the Li and Miao villages to your schedule!

For one thing, the hospitable villagers will treat you to traditional food and drinks such as the distinctive local rice and the mellow rice wine. If you’re daring enough, you can even try a bite of rat. Mountain mouse, field mouse, house mouse, and squirrel are all caught and made into dishes by the Li people.

VCG Photo

The Li and Miao people also have a legacy of other intangible cultural heritages that have been preserved over their thousand-year stay on the island, such as decorative woven fabrics, bamboo dances and the Miao women’s singing.

All the unique culture and art of ethnic minorities add to the Chinese beach destination's charm for foreign tourists.

VCG Photo