Ewenki Ethnic Group

Xingwang Ewenki Ethnic Town in Nehe City, Qiqihar

Xingwang Ewenki Ethnic Town in Nehe City, Qiqihar

Xingwang Ewenki Ethnic Town in Nehe City, Qiqihar

Xingwang Ewenki Ethnic Town in Nehe City, Qiqihar

Xingwang Ewenki Ethnic Town in Nehe City, Qiqihar

Xingwang Ewenki Ethnic Town in Nehe City, Qiqihar

Xingwang Ewenki Ethnic Town in Nehe City, Qiqihar

Xingwang Ewenki Ethnic Town in Nehe City, Qiqihar

Xingwang Ewenki Ethnic Town in Nehe City, Qiqihar

Xingwang Ewenki Ethnic Town in Nehe City, Qiqihar

Xingwang Ewenki Ethnic Town in Nehe City, Qiqihar

Xingwang Ewenki Ethnic Town in Nehe City, Qiqihar

Xingwang Ewenki Ethnic Town in Nehe City, Qiqihar

Xingwang Ewenki Ethnic Town in Nehe City, Qiqihar

Xingwang Ewenki Ethnic Town in Nehe City, Qiqihar

Xingwang Ewenki Ethnic Town in Nehe City, Qiqihar

Xingwang Ewenki Ethnic Town in Nehe City, Qiqihar

Xingwang Ewenki Ethnic Town in Nehe City, Qiqihar

Xingwang Ewenki Ethnic Town in Nehe City, Qiqihar

Xingwang Ewenki Ethnic Town in Nehe City, Qiqihar

Xingwang Ewenki Ethnic Town in Nehe City, Qiqihar

Xingwang Ewenki Ethnic Town in Nehe City, Qiqihar

Xingwang Ewenki Ethnic Town in Nehe City, Qiqihar

The Evenki ethnic group (鄂温克族) is one of the oldest Tungusic peoples in Northeast Asia, self-named “Evenki,” meaning “people living in the great forests and mountains.” Historically, they are divided into Solon (索伦), Tungus (通古斯), and Reindeer People (使鹿/雅库特). According to the 2020 census, China has 34,617 Evenki, over 80% of whom live in Hulunbuir (呼伦贝尔), Inner Mongolia (内蒙古自治区). They are China’s only reindeer-herding ethnic group, with language belonging to the Altaic family and no native written script. Mongolian is used in pastoral areas, while Chinese is used in farming and forest regions. Their cultural core includes reindeer culture, birch bark crafts, shamanism, Seben Festival (瑟宾节), and Aobao cairn worship (敖包祭祀).

Population Distribution

Core Provinces and Cities

• Inner Mongolia (内蒙古自治区): 31,000, concentrated in Hulunbuir (呼伦贝尔市).
• Heilongjiang (黑龙江省): 3,000, mainly in Nehe (讷河市).
• Other regions: scattered in Jilin (吉林), Xinjiang (新疆), Beijing (北京).

Core Counties and Towns (Inner Mongolia)

• Evenki Autonomous Banner (鄂温克族自治旗, Hulunbuir 呼伦贝尔市): 10,000, 7.1% of the county, core Solon/Tungus area.
• Genhe City (根河市, Hulunbuir 呼伦贝尔市): 4,000, 2.5%, home to the Oroqiya Reindeer Tribe (敖鲁古雅使鹿部落).
• Morin Dawa Daur Autonomous Banner (莫力达瓦达斡尔族自治旗, Hulunbuir 呼伦贝尔市): 4,900, 2.2%.
• Arong Banner (阿荣旗, Hulunbuir 呼伦贝尔市): 2,200, 1.8%.
• Chen Barhu Banner (陈巴尔虎旗, Hulunbuir 呼伦贝尔市): 1,500, 1.5%, Tungus settlements.

High-Concentration Townships

• Oroqiya Evenki Ethnic Township (敖鲁古雅鄂温克族乡, Genhe 根河市): 316 people, 21.8%, China’s only Reindeer People village.
• Bayan Evenki Ethnic Township (巴彦鄂温克民族乡, Morin Dawa 莫旗): 3,500, 35%.
• Dular Evenki Ethnic Township (杜拉尔鄂温克民族乡, Morin Dawa 莫旗): 3,000, 30%.
• Chabachi Evenki Ethnic Township (查巴奇鄂温克族乡, Arong 阿荣旗): 2,800, 28%.
• Sama Street Evenki Township (萨马街鄂温克民族乡, Zalantun 扎兰屯市): 2,500, 25%.
• Xingwang Evenki Ethnic Township (兴旺鄂温克民族乡, Nehe 讷河市): 2,500, 40%, Solon core area.

Folk Culture

Traditional Clothing

• Reindeer Evenki (使鹿鄂温克, Oroqiya 敖鲁古雅): long robes, leather hats, boots with fur outward, decorated with bones, shells, and copper bells; women wear hats, earrings, necklaces, and leather skirts.
• Solon/Tungus Evenki (索伦/通古斯鄂温克): cotton robes, short jackets, wide pants with colorful belts; men wear head scarves and carry knives; women braid hair, wear silver ornaments, embroidered shoes.

Traditional Housing

• Xianrenzhu (仙人柱, Reindeer Hunters): cone-shaped tents with birch bark in summer, animal skins in winter, central hearth, diameter 4–5 m, height 3–4 m.
• Mongolian Yurts (蒙古包, Pastoralists): circular felt houses, wood frame, central skylight, hearth inside.
• Log/Adobe Houses (木刻楞/土房, Farming Solon): log walls with wood/soil roofs, warm and moisture-proof.

Marriage Customs

• Monogamous, no same-clan marriage.
• Courtship: gifts of reindeer, horses, meat, birch boxes; shamans perform divination.
• Engagement: silver, fur, cloth, reindeer, engagement banquet with deer milk wine.
• Wedding: Xianrenzhu or yurt, shamanic blessing, circle dance, roast deer, deer milk porridge; grooms often move in with brides.
• Unique rituals: bride kidnapping, crossing fire pits, horse saddles, offering deer milk wine.

Etiquette and Taboos

• Serve guests deer milk wine, roasted meat, meat porridge; sit properly on the hearth; no stepping on fire pits, no moving mats.
• Forbidden: hunting reindeer (except ritual), cutting sacred trees, polluting water, making noise in Xianrenzhu, swearing.
• During shaman rituals and Aobao ceremonies: no quarrels, killing, wearing bright clothes; women avoid hunting rituals.

Religion and Beliefs

• Shamanism (萨满教): animism, worship sun, moon, mountain, river, fire, deer, ancestors; shamans wear ceremonial hats, robes, and drums, perform spirit dances for blessing and protection.
• Aobao Worship (敖包祭祀): April–June, pray for weather, harvest, livestock, and protection.
• Reindeer Totem: central clan symbol, especially among Reindeer People.
• Tibetan Buddhism (喇嘛教): pastoral areas blend lama rituals with shamanism.

Traditional Festivals

• Seben Festival (瑟宾节, National Intangible Heritage): mid-late May or June 18, 3–5 days; mountain/fire god worship, shaman dance, Qiangshu competition, horse racing, wrestling, archery, deer milk wine feast.
• Mikuole Festival (米阔勒节): late May, livestock branding, counting, horse racing, wrestling, folk dances, milk wine exchange.
• Aobao Ceremony (敖包会): April–June, clan ritual; animal sacrifice, lama chanting, shamanic dance, horse racing, archery, feast.
• Anye Festival (阿涅节, Lunar New Year): December–January, ancestor worship, fire rituals, deer milk wine, hand-held meat, archery, birch boats.
• Ominari Festival (奥米纳日): April or August, shamanic blood sacrifice, circle dances, wrestling, community blessing.

Cultural Arts

• Birch Bark Crafts (桦树皮文化): lightweight, waterproof, carved boats, boxes, hats, totems, deer/cloud/geometric motifs.
• Shaman Dance (萨满舞): ceremonial hat (antlers/feathers), robe with bells, vigorous movements, simulating deer and eagle.
• Qiangshu Competition (抢枢): teams compete for wooden ancestor axis, symbolizes ancestral protection.
• Folk Music and Dance: circle dance (罕伯舞), high-pitched folk songs, instruments include shaman drums, jaw harp, deer whistle, birch whistle.
• Folk Literature: creation epics, myths, ancient songs, proverbs, riddles, orally transmitted.

Cuisine

• Focus on meat, dairy, and grains, using deer, beef, lamb, oats, buckwheat, wild vegetables, and fruits.
• Signature dishes: roasted deer, hand-held meat, deer milk porridge, stewed wild boar, roast roe deer, milk skin, dried milk.
• Staple snacks: oat rice, buckwheat cakes, birch bark steamed rice, wild fruit cakes.
• Drinks: deer milk wine, milk tea, spring water, wild fruit wine.

Cultural Tourism

Museums and Cultural Centers

• Oroqiya Evenki Reindeer Culture Museum (敖鲁古雅驯鹿文化博物馆, Genhe 根河市): only museum in China for Reindeer People, displays reindeer specimens, birch crafts, shaman instruments, traditional clothing, hunting tools.
• Evenki Autonomous Banner Museum (鄂温克旗民族博物馆, Bayan Tohai 巴彦托海镇): Solon/Tungus history, clothing, festivals, handicrafts.
• Nehe Solon Village Ethnic Museum (讷河索伦村鄂温克民俗馆, Heilongjiang 讷河市): traditional lifestyle display, folk performance, non-heritage craft experience.

Key Scenic Areas

• Oroqiya Reindeer Tribe Scenic Area (敖鲁古雅使鹿部落景区, Genhe 根河市, 4A): Reindeer park, folk village, Xianrenzhu tents, shaman culture, birch crafts, hunting experience; feed and ride reindeer.
• Bayan Hushuo Grassland Scenic Area (巴彦呼硕草原景区, Evenki Banner 鄂温克旗, 4A): grassland with Aobao ritual site, yurt clusters, Seben Festival square, horse racing, folk museum; experience Aobao worship, hand-held meat, song and dance, Qiangshu competition.
• Shiwei Village (室韦村, Ergun 额尔古纳市): Sino-Russian border traditional village, log houses, river scenery, Evenki-Russian culture, birch craft.

Traditional Villages and Towns

• Oroqiya Village (敖鲁古雅村, Genhe 根河市), Shiwei Village (室韦村, Ergun 额尔古纳市), Bayan Tohai Town (巴彦托海镇, Evenki Banner 鄂温克旗), Nehe Solon Village (索伦村, Heilongjiang 讷河市).
• Historic towns: Oroqiya Ancient Town (敖鲁古雅古镇), Bayan Tohai Ancient Town (巴彦托海古镇), Shiwei Ancient Town (室韦古镇).

Travel Tips

Best Time to Visit

• June–August: Seben Festival (June 18), Mikuole Festival, active reindeer, green forests, blooming grasslands, mild temperatures (15–25°C).
• September: golden forests, reindeer in peak condition, photography season, birch craft harvest.
• December–February: extreme cold (-30°C to -40°C), snow landscapes, reindeer trekking, shaman rituals, snow horse racing.

Suggested 4-Day Itinerary (Hulunbuir)

• Day 1: Hailar → Evenki Banner (Bayan Tohai 巴彦托海镇) → Evenki Museum → Bayan Hushuo Grassland → stay in Mongolian yurt.
• Day 2: Evenki Banner → Genhe → Oroqiya Reindeer Tribe → feed reindeer → shamanic culture → birch craft → stay in Xianrenzhu/folk village.
• Day 3: Oroqiya → Ergun → Shiwei Village → log house tour → border scenery → Evenki folk experience → stay in local homestay.
• Day 4: Shiwei → Ergun → Hailar → return (optional visit to Evenki townships in Morin Dawa).

Folk and Cultural Experiences

• Crafts: birch bark boxes, birch boats, reindeer leather, shaman drums, deer milk wine, embroidery.
• Music and Dance: circle dance, shaman dance, Evenki songs, deer whistle.
• Festivals: Seben Festival (Qiangshu, horse racing), Mikuole Festival (reindeer branding), Aobao Ceremony, Anye Festival (fire worship).
• Adventure: feed/ride reindeer, forest trekking, simulated hunting, tasting deer milk wine, hand-held meat feast.

Visitor Etiquette

• Shaman/ritual areas: dress modestly, no touching instruments or idols, no loud noise, photography only with permission.
• Folk customs: ask before photographing, avoid entering tents/houses uninvited, do not step on fire pits, sacred sites, or trees, do not harm reindeer.
• Clothing: summer light jackets, long pants; autumn thicker coats; winter extreme cold gear (down jackets, snow boots, gloves, scarves).
• Food: rich in meat and dairy, mild alcohol from deer milk; wild vegetables and mushrooms should be confirmed safe.
• Environmental protection: respect forests, grasslands, reindeer; no littering or picking plants; preserve village and forest integrity.