The People's Republic of China officially recognises 55 distinct ethnic minorities along with the Han majority.

[1] In 2005, the Program to Support the Ethnic Minorities with Small Populations (2005–2010) was formulated and implemented, covering 640 different ethnic-minority villages as recipients of assistance.

[2] Provinces Autonomous regions Sub-provincial autonomous prefectures Autonomous prefectures Leagues (Aimag) (abolishing) Prefectures Provincial-controlled cities Provincial-controlled counties Autonomous counties County-level cities DistrictsEthnic districts Banners (Hoxu)Autonomous banners Shennongjia Forestry District Liuzhi Special District Wolong Special Administrative Region Workers and peasants districts Ethnic townships Towns Subdistricts Subdistrict bureaux Sum Ethnic sum County-controlled districts County-controlled district bureaux (obsolete) Management committees Town-level city Areas Villages · Gaqa · Ranches Village Committees Communities Capital cities New areas Autonomous administrative divisions National central cities History: before 1912, 1912–49, 1949–present Since the end of the Great Leap Forward and the implementation of the open-door policy, rapid urbanisation has been a feature of the Chinese economy for four decades.

Fei states that the origins of the ethnic minorities are due to populations that have been separated a long time and have established their own features and cultures.

[4] The evidence supports the plural and indigenous origins theory, that people separated and the different environments gave rise to unique cultures.

[1] The ethnic groups of Mongolians, Manchu, Uyghur, Tibetan and Hui have large populations in the Northern regions of China.

[1] Factors that contribute to the state of the rural villages economic situations include the level of local labour, industrialisation and agriculture.

[1] The obstacles to educating a large rural population have been recognised as one of the largest challenges facing the reform-era Chinese government.

[3] On the national level, the Chinese government balances a guiding principle of unity with the desire for ethnic autonomy.

[8] Challenging the limits imposed by the national government, as the Tibetans and Uyghurs have in their demands for self-determination, may lead to conflict with the state.

[8] Tourism in rural China's ethnic villages has long been a staple of development; especially important to attracting tourists is an area's natural landscape and cultural heritage.

[1] As part of the 11th Five Year Plan beginning in 2006, the Chinese Government declared that developing rural tourism would contribute to building a "New Socialist Countryside".

[11] Often, the ethnic and rural traits of villages are played up in order to build better tourism infrastructure and cater to urban views about modernity.

[12] Tourism authorities have been encouraged to produce development plans that rely on exotic cultural images based on the stereotypes charming countryside dwellers.

[8] These strategies include performing entertaining traditional songs and dances, using colourful images on postcards and trinkets, beautifying local architecture, and using signage to attract drivers from the highway.

[12] To enhance a destination's appeal, government may seize control over determining the role of ethnic minorities in marketing and development.

[1] The majority of the Miao people are situated in villages in the Guizhou province where farming is their main source of income.

Tourist attraction that they have include acrobatic performances, fire eating and walking on glass or hot metal that are not related to the Miao culture.

[15] The company advertised the “climbing the knife ladder” and “jumping into the sea of fire” as an exclusive Miao performance.

The Basha stage a performance for the tourists of the unique ‘hugun’ hairstyle, where they use a scythe to shave hair on the back and side.

This government initiative has led to the monthly income of the villagers to increase and is higher than other surrounding Dong areas.

[17] The Luoshui village is located in Ninglang County in the Yunnan Province and on the shore of the Lugu Lake.

There was the introduction of the Household Responsibility System that allowed families to control their own land and income in the 1970s to 1980s.

Many of the households divided areas under their stilted homes where they would normally keep livestock, so they could lease them out to migrants workers that came to work due to the Tourism boom.

The village showcases Dong traditional architecture such as stilted buildings made of wood, drum towers, wells and “lounge bridges” which are used for transportation but also have a recreational area such as a gallery.