Daur Ethnic Group

Youyi Daur, Manchu and Kirgiz Ethnic Town in Fuyu County, Qiqihar

Youyi Daur, Manchu and Kirgiz Ethnic Town in Fuyu County, Qiqihar

Youyi Daur, Manchu and Kirgiz Ethnic Town in Fuyu County, Qiqihar

Youyi Daur, Manchu and Kirgiz Ethnic Town in Fuyu County, Qiqihar

Youyi Daur, Manchu and Kirgiz Ethnic Town in Fuyu County, Qiqihar

Youyi Daur, Manchu and Kirgiz Ethnic Town in Fuyu County, Qiqihar

Youyi Daur, Manchu and Kirgiz Ethnic Town in Fuyu County, Qiqihar

Youyi Daur, Manchu and Kirgiz Ethnic Town in Fuyu County, Qiqihar

Youyi Daur, Manchu and Kirgiz Ethnic Town in Fuyu County, Qiqihar

Youyi Daur, Manchu and Kirgiz Ethnic Town in Fuyu County, Qiqihar

Youyi Daur, Manchu and Kirgiz Ethnic Town in Fuyu County, Qiqihar

Youyi Daur, Manchu and Kirgiz Ethnic Town in Fuyu County, Qiqihar

Youyi Daur, Manchu and Kirgiz Ethnic Town in Fuyu County, Qiqihar

The Daur ethnic group (达斡尔族) is one of the ancient peoples of northern China, with origins traced primarily to the Khitan descendants. According to the 2020 national census, there are 132,299 Daur people. Their main settlements are in Hulunbuir, Inner Mongolia (内蒙古呼伦贝尔), Qiqihar, Heilongjiang (黑龙江齐齐哈尔), and Tacheng, Xinjiang (新疆塔城), with smaller communities in Liaoning (辽宁), Beijing (北京), Jilin (吉林), and Hebei (河北).

The Daur call themselves “Daur (达斡尔),” meaning “pioneer.” Their language belongs to the Altaic family, Mongolic branch, and is divided into four dialects: Teha, Qiqihar, Hailar, and Xinjiang. The Daur do not have a unique written language but commonly use Chinese and Mongolian scripts.

Cultural symbols of the Daur are distinct and vibrant: thousand-year hockey (Beiko), Rurigele dance (鲁日格勒舞), shamanism, and culinary specialties like willow sprout dishes (柳蒿芽). Morin Dawa Daur Autonomous Banner (莫力达瓦达斡尔族自治旗) is celebrated as the “Hometown of Chinese Hockey.”

National Distribution of the Daur People

Core Autonomous Regions

• Morin Dawa Daur Autonomous Banner (莫力达瓦达斡尔族自治旗), Inner Mongolia: The only Daur autonomous banner in China, with 33,300 Daur people, accounting for 11.5% of the local population.
• Meilisi Daur District (梅里斯达斡尔族区), Qiqihar, Heilongjiang: The only designated Daur district, with 15,000 Daur people, representing 11.9% of residents.

Key Settlements by County and City

Inner Mongolia

• Ewenki Autonomous Banner (鄂温克族自治旗): 8,200 Daur (4.5%)
• Zalantun City (扎兰屯市): 6,500 Daur (1.8%)
• Arong Banner (阿荣旗): 5,800 Daur (2.1%)
• Yakeshi City (牙克石市): 3,200 Daur (1.2%)
• Oroqen Autonomous Banner (鄂伦春自治旗): 1,800 Daur (0.9%)

Heilongjiang

• Fularji District, Qiqihar (齐齐哈尔富拉尔基区): 4,100 Daur (2.8%)
• Longjiang County (龙江县): 3,500 Daur (1.1%)
• Fuyu County (富裕县): 2,900 Daur (1.5%)
• Nehe City (讷河市): 2,400 Daur (0.8%)
• Nenjiang, Heihe (嫩江市): 2,100 Daur (0.9%)
• Aihui District (爱辉区): 1,500 Daur (0.7%)

Xinjiang

• Tacheng City (塔城市): 4,800 Daur (2.3%)

Other Provinces

• Liaoning (沈阳 Shenyang, 大连 Dalian): 0.04%
• Beijing (北京): 0.004%
• Jilin and Hebei: scattered small communities

Core Towns with High Daur Population

Inner Mongolia – Morin Dawa Daur Autonomous Banner

• Tengke Town (腾克镇): 8,500 Daur (72%) – Folk culture hub
• Arla Town (阿尔拉镇): 6,200 Daur (68%) – Hockey origin
• Xiwaltu Town (西瓦尔图镇): 4,800 Daur (55%)
• Denteke Town (登特科镇): 3,900 Daur (48%)

Heilongjiang – Meilisi Daur District

• Woniutu Daur Town (卧牛吐达斡尔族镇): 7,200 Daur (75%)
• Manggetu Daur Township (莽格吐达斡尔族乡): 4,500 Daur (82%)
• Yarser Town (雅尔塞镇): 3,300 Daur (42%)

Xinjiang – Tacheng

• Axier Daur Township (阿西尔达斡尔族乡): 4,200 Daur (88%) – Only Daur township in Xinjiang

Folk Culture

Traditional Clothing

The Daur attire combines mountain hunting and plain farming influences with distinct gender differences.

Women: Dark blue right-cross robes with colorful cuffs, embroidered vests, black head wraps with silver pins and tassels, silver necklaces and bracelets, ceremonial embroidery intricate for festivals.

Men: Dark blue or black jackets and pants, white headwraps with red tassels, winter fur robes (reindeer), short knife on the waist, leather boots. Practical and imposing.

Distinctive Daur Residences – Yazengeri Houses

Traditional wooden log grass houses (木刻楞草房) face south, featuring thick earthen walls, wooden beams, and straw roofs for insulation. Courtyards are enclosed with willow fences. Interiors feature U-shaped stoves for heating, daily life, and ancestor worship. Key villages: Tengke Folk Village (腾克民俗村), Hala New Village (哈拉新村), Eermenqin Village (额尔门沁村).

Marriage Customs

The Daur practice monogamy, with intermarriage permitted with Han, Mongol, and Ewenki groups. Wedding steps include: proposal → engagement → gift exchange → horse-led bride reception → wedding ceremony → post-wedding visit. Songs, Hakumale dance (哈库麦勒舞), and meat banquets feature prominently.

Etiquette and Taboos

Hospitality: Offer milk wine, salted milk tea, and hand-held meat; elders sit at the stove, younger guests bow.

Prohibitions: Do not touch ancestral shrines or stomp on stoves, cut village sacred trees, hunt spiritually significant birds, or tap bowls and speak inauspicious words during festivals.

Religion

Shamanism is central, worshiping sky, mountain, water, and ancestral spirits. Shaman-led rituals include blessings, exorcisms, and offerings at Ovoo (敖包) and ancestral sites.

Influence from neighboring peoples introduced Tibetan Buddhism and Han Buddhism, coexisting peacefully. Daur culture highly respects nature, actively preserving forests, rivers, and wildlife.

Traditional Festivals

• Anye Festival (阿涅节) – Lunar New Year, family rituals, hockey, horse racing, archery, singing, and dancing.
• Kumule Festival (库木勒节) – May, harvest of willow sprouts, wild vegetable banquets, music, dance, commemorating ancestral survival.
• Heihuairi (黑灰日) – Lunar January 16, neighbors smear black soot for protection.
• Ovoo Worship (祭敖包) – Summer offerings atop mountains for blessings.
• Dragon Boat Festival (端午节) – Herbs, sachets, sticky rice, archery, horse racing, hockey integration.

Cultural Arts

• Rurigele Dance (鲁日格勒舞 / Hakumale): National intangible heritage, depicts hunting, farming, and ritual scenes.
• Hockey (Beiko / 曲棍球): Thousand-year tradition; Morin Dawa is China’s hockey hub.
• Uqin Singing (乌钦说唱): National intangible heritage, accompanied by four-string fiddle, recounting history and heroes.
• Birch Bark Crafts (桦树皮工艺): Functional and aesthetic, waterproof, lightweight.
• Daur Embroidery (达斡尔刺绣): Floral and geometric motifs on robes, vests, and pouches, vibrant and detailed.

Culinary Highlights

• Willow Sprout Braised Ribs (柳蒿芽炖排骨 / Kumule dish): Signature festive dish with aromatic herbs and tender meat.
• Millet Rice (稷子米饭): Traditional staple, soft and sweet, often paired with milk or butter.
• Hand-Held Meat (手把肉): Boiled beef or lamb, served plain for guests.
• Milk Wine (奶酒): Low-alcohol, sweet fermented dairy, served during festivals.
• Buckwheat Noodles (荞麦饸饹): Served with meat soup and pickles for winter warmth.
• Suzi Pancakes (苏子面饼): Crispy exterior, soft interior, daily tea snack.
• Salted Milk Tea (咸奶茶): Brick tea boiled with fresh milk and salt, essential daily drink.

Tourism Destinations

Museums and Cultural Centers

• Daur National Museum (达斡尔民族博物馆, Morin Dawa, Ni’erji Town 尼尔基镇): China’s largest Daur-specific museum.
• China Daur Ethnic Park (中国达斡尔民族园, Morin Dawa 4A): Includes Shamanism Museum, traditional houses, ovoo, hero sculptures, scenic Ni’erji Lake (尼尔基湖), and Jin Great Wall ruins.
• Meilisi Daur Intangible Heritage Hall (梅里斯区哈拉新村): Live demonstrations of embroidery, birch crafts, and Uqin singing.

Core Scenic Spots

• Morin Dawa Cultural Tourism Zone (莫旗文旅片区): Integrates ethnic park, folk villages, hockey base, and Ni’erji Lake.
• Hala New Village (哈拉新村, Qiqihar): Known as “China’s First Daur Village,” 70% Daur population, ancient city ruins, folk square, heritage hall.
• Eermenqin Village (额尔门沁村): Preserved ancient village, Uqin singing heritage, living folk museum.
• Arla Hockey Village (阿尔拉镇): Hockey origin, exhibition and experience zones.
• Axier Daur Township (阿西尔达斡尔族乡, Tacheng): Qing frontier history, grassland scenery, and ethnic traditions.

Notable Villages

• Tengke Folk Village (腾克民俗村, Morin Dawa): Original ecological village, immersive folk experience.
• Xiborong Folk Village (西博荣民俗村): Traditional dwellings, cultural activities.
• Guoni Village (郭尼村): Red culture and folk heritage fusion.
• Xiaokumule Village (小库木尔村): Birch bark craft center.
• Prosperity Village (繁荣村, Nenjiang): Multi-ethnic, natural scenery.
• Manggetu Village (莽格吐村): 82% Daur, traditional customs preserved.

Ancient Towns

• Ni’erji Town (尼尔基镇, Morin Dawa): Cultural hub blending modern and traditional Daur architecture.
• Woniutu Town (卧牛吐镇, Meilisi District): 75% Daur, rich cultural presence.
• Tengke Town (腾克镇, Morin Dawa): Folk culture center, ecological villages.

Travel Guide and Tips

Best Visiting Times

• May: Kumule Festival, willow sprout harvest, folk banquets, music, and dance.
• June to August: Summer cools in grasslands and mountains; ovoo worship, horse racing, archery, hockey.
• December to February: Ice and snow season, Anye Festival, Heihuairi, northern winter festivities.

Suggested 5-Day Itinerary

• Day 1: Arrive Morin Dawa → Daur National Museum → China Daur Ethnic Park (Shaman Museum, traditional houses, ovoo).
• Day 2: Tengke Folk Village (folk costumes, birch crafts, Rurigele dance) → willow sprout lunch → Xiborong Folk Village.
• Day 3: Arla Town (hockey museum, experience game) → Ni’erji Lake sightseeing → evening transfer to Qiqihar.
• Day 4: Hala New Village (heritage hall, ancient city ruins, folk performances) → Eermenqin Village (Uqin singing, traditional dwellings).
• Day 5: Prosperity Village (Baillian Mountain hike, folk experiences) → return.

Cultural Experiences

• Sports: Hockey, archery, horse racing.
• Arts: Rurigele dance, Uqin singing, Hani paper cutting.
• Handicrafts: Birch bark products, Daur embroidery.
• Food: Willow sprout picking, cooking, milk wine brewing, hand-held meat preparation.
• Rituals: Ovoo and ancestral worship observation.

Travel Tips

• Respect customs: Dress properly at ritual sites, ask permission before photographing residents.
• Food: Rich in meat and wild vegetables; inform hosts of dietary restrictions.
• Clothing: Northern regions have large temperature differences; bring windproof and warm clothing, non-slip shoes for village paths.
• Environment: Protect nature and heritage buildings; avoid littering.