Asia Report - Map of Asia Entire . All Countries, Borders & Capitals
Full Geographical Overview Map of Asia Entire with Zoom & Scroll Functions, Relief Feautures, Oceans, Main Rivers and Capital Cities.
This Map of Asia includes all Asian Countries with Names and Borders, Disputed Border Regions in Asia, Capital Cities of all Asian Countries and Main Rivers and Mountain Ranges.
China is a multi-Ethnic Society dominated by the Han Ethnic Group. According to a National Census held in the year 2000 there are currently 56 Ethnic Groups living within the Borders of the Peoples Republic of China. The Total number of Citizens in China, according to the census was 1265.86 Million, excluded Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. Of these Ethnic Groups the Han are by far the most numerous, totalling around 91.6 % of the total population of China. Accordingly, the other 55 Ethnic Groups in China account for about 8.4 % of the population, or 106.43 million people.
Compared to the National Census of the year 2000 there was a 13.5 % increase in the rise of members of another Ethnic Group then the Han. The Ethnic Minority Population rose by 23 million between 1990 AD and 2000 AD. The populations of a number of Ethnic Groups Rose, the Gaoshan, The Qiang, the Maonan, Bonan and Tijia populations rose by about 40 %. Few Ethnic Groups did not experience growth. Already marginalized, the Uzbek (Xinjiang-Uygur AR) population shrunk further, by 2300 persons of 15.000 in total and the small Tatar population of Xinjiang-Uygur Autonomous Region lost a 170 souls (of 5 to 6000 in total).
The Second Ethnic Group in China are the Zhuangs. Only residing in Southern China the Zhuang Population measures 16178.800 million Souls. Mainly residing in the Guanxi (Zhuang) Autonomous Region of China. the Zhuang can further be found in Yunnan, Guangdong, Guizhou and Hunan Provinces.
The Third are the Manchu, originally from North-Western China's Manchurian Region. Fourth are the Hui, the first and largest Islamic Ethnic Minority of China. The Hui can be found all over China where they mainly engage in trade. They are further described below.
The Ethnic Group of (mixed) European Blood are the Russians , the Tatars and the Tajiks.
Almost last on the list, measuring just some 300.000 people, the Goashan are not, as yet, in practical terms an Ethnic Minority of the Peoples Republic of China as they are mainly found on the island of Taiwan. Only 4.500 Gaoshan live on the Chinese mainland. The Gaoshan are the aboriginal inhabitants of the island of Taiwan and are counted as native to the PRC by it's Government for political and historical reasons. The Gaoshan descend from large immigrations by Han People to Taiwan Island in the 17Th Century. The Gaoshan mainly live in Tribes in the mountainous central region of Taiwan, the Zhongu Plain of East Taiwan and at Langyu Island where they used to live in primitive societies of hunting and fishing. The Gaoshan in the Zhongu Plain are still active in practice farming, however most have joined modern society.
The number of Gaoshan rose by about 40 % since 1990 AD.
The smallest and most endangered Ethnic Group are the Lhoba who originate from Tibet Autonomous Region of China. These colorful people now count only a few. They can be found only in the South-West of Tibet where they traditionally live of farming, hunting and gathering. Although encouraged by the Central Government and provided with roads and schools they have a still primitive society their own language and natural and animalistic beliefs.
Above is a listing of the 56 Ethnic Groups and their populations. Adjacent Video-Clip features all 56 Minorities in a comprehensive cultural presentation
(Created by Xinhua.Net for the Chinese Government).
Since the establishment of the Peoples Republic of China and the identification and inclusion of the 36 Minority Groups the Chinese Government has implemented a system of Ethnic Affairs through which the Minorities can be supported in their developement in various ways, while their cultural identity, way of life and folklore.
This system has been chosen for historical as well as practical reasons.
Chinese ethnic minorities together make up a small minority of the population in comparison to the Han in China. Furthermore, many ethnic minorities live together in close-knit, often secluded communities with their own customs, rules and beliefs. Together
The main pillar of this system provides many minorities with their own homelands in the so-called Autonomous Regions and Prefectures of China. In these Autonomous Regions self-government has been established to ensure the autonomy of the ethnic groups, albeit under ultimate sovreign authority and supervision of the Central Government.
Unfortunatly due to Political Upheavals such as the Cultural Revolution, this plan has not always succeeded.
In 1984 however, China enacted the Law on Regional Autonomy for Ethnic Minorities, providing the rights and duties of the regional self-government in Autonomous Regions in political, economical and cultural fields. This provided a new and clear National legal cadre through which the Minorities could claim and exercise their rights, as well as work with the National Government for their development and cultural needs. In 2001 AD amandments were accepted to further enhance this Law. Many amendments relate to the economic field of development however.
Since the year 1985 Ethnic Minorities have seen more freedom of movement and the reestablishement of their cultures. Many Temples and Mosques have been reopened.
There are currently five autonomous regions in China. These are Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Xinjiang-Uygur Autonomous Region, Tibet Autonomous Region, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region along the Yellow River and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in the South of China. Apart from these large autonomous regions there are several autonomous counties and prefectures, which have been designated by provincial or autonomous governments and since the 1990's were all approved of by the Central Government Legislatory.
Today there are 155 autonomous area's within China designated for the Ethnic Minorities. These are the 5 Autonomous Regions and 30 autonomous prefectures, 120 autonomous counties (banners).
Tibet, Xinjiang and Yunnan, and less Gansu Province and Sichuan are especially well-known for their ethnic minority autonomous prefectures and counties, drawing many tourists each year.
Of the 55 minority ethnic groups 48 are blessed with their own autonomous area's and 75% of the Ethnic Population lives within these zones. Together they make up 64% of the entire geographic suface area of China as a Nation.
Autonomous Area's can be divided into five main groups. First and foremost are regions based on a compact community of one ethnic group. The easiest examples of these are Tibet, Xinjiang-Uygur and of course Guanxi Zhuang Autonomous Regions, but on a lower level there are many more. Second are the autonomous regions based on the majority population of two ethnic groups. Examples of these are the Haixi Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture in Qinghai Province and the Tibetan Autonomous Region of Qinghai. Third in line are the autonomous regions based upon the majority population of several minority groups, such as Longsheng Ethnic Autonomous County within Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Fourth are the autonomous area's consisting of several ethnic minority communities located geographically together within an autonomous region, such as Gongcheng Yao in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Fifth and Last are the autonomous regions based upon a majority ethnic population that is scattered nation-wide in smaller and larger communities. Example in case are the Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture in Gansu Province, but Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region also ranks in this Fifth class.
Ethnic Minorities in China in General :
these facts call for a comprehensive approach to ensure the equal participation of all minorities, even the small, under a larger system of one Governement.
