Diqing Ethnic Minorities and Customs

The main ethnic group in Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture are Tibetan,Naxis and Lisus.Lisu people stay in Weixi Lisu Autonomous County. Total population of Diqing is around 330 thousand, consisting of Tibetan, Naxi, Bai, Yi, Hui, Miao, Nu, Pume, Lisu, etc, 25 ethnic groups go well with each other and live altogether. Deqing is autonomous prefecture of Tibetan people.

Shangri-La is the capital of Diqing Tibetan Ethnic Minority Autonomous Prefecture. It covers an area of over 11,600 square kilometers, resting 3,280 meters above sea level. This area is the junction of Yunnan, Sichuan and Tibet. The Balagengzong, Haba and Langdu Mountains reach towards the clouds, while the Jinsha (Golden Sand) and Lancang (Mekong) Rivers crisscross the landscape, flanked by overhanging cliffs. Spring and summer are the best seasons with moderate temperatures, though the temperature can vary greatly within the space of one day. The average annual temperature is 5.6 degrees Celsius, and the average rainfall is 634mm.

Living on the world famous plateau, the Tibetan people also boast a unique lifestyle and set of skills. In the field of the arts, Tibetan calligraphy values strictness and delicateness, be it on steles or sutras; The Thangka and other Buddhist pictures, with fluent lines and bright colors, depict figures vividly; their architecture, like the Potala Place and Jokhang Temple, is charming and brilliant; the Zang people are famous for expressing their feelings through song and dance, notably the step dance and the masked Tibetan opera. Princess Wencheng is one of the eight best known plays.

In the scientific arena, Tibetan medicine, combining various forms of traditional Chinese medicine, is said to have developed the schools of acupuncture and massage. The Mentsekhang (Tibetan Traditional Hospital) is its home. The Tibetan calendar is also worthy of mention, for it is complete and has helped the Zang people a lot.