With a total population of about 1.2 million, the Hani ethnic minority has enjoyed a long history. Most of them live in the south of Yunnan, including Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, Yuxi City and Pu’er City etc.

Hani people also call themselves Heyi, Heni, Ani and Woni etc; while the Hani people can be divided into several branches, such as Aini, Biyue, Haoni, Yeche and Duoni etc. The dancers pictured belong to the Yeche branch.

The traditional costumes of the Hanis vary in line with the branch they belong to as well as the age. Inlaid on their wearing are mostly colourful embroideries and silver decorations, so they can be recognised from a distance.

The terraced paddy fields are masterpieces created by generations of Hanis who have toiled and multiplied in the counties of Yuanyang, Honghe, Lvchun and even Jinping. Yuanyang is the core area of the Hani terraced fields, with over 0.17 million Mu (11,330 hectares)—and the utmost terraces’ number from the top to bottom of a mountain being as large as 3,000. At present, Hani terraced fields have been applying for world cultural heritage status.

Mushroom-like house, the traditional residence of the Hanis, is normally constructed of earth walls, bamboo or wooden frames, and thatched roof. Such creative design can keep the inside cool in summer and warm in winter.

The Hanis have good knowledge of the ecological system. Four elements have been well conserved in their society, namely forest, water system, village, and terraced fields, manifesting the concept: Man and Nature Live in Harmony.

The “Ten Month” New Year Festival is equivalent to the Chinese Spring Festival, falling on the first Dragon Day of lunar October. The Hanis spend it expressing thanks to the earth--and most importantly celebrating the harvest of the year.

All the attention during the festival is drawn to the Street Banquet at which each family organises one or two tables of food to invite each other to enjoy. Noshing through the street, people convey their best wishes and pray for thriving livestock and bumper harvests in the future.

The Street Banquet is where one can find the most drool-inducing Hani ethnic food; and all the household dishes offer a bite of Hani ethnic culture.