Kazak Ethnic Group

Training and raising falcons of Kazak Ethnic Group

Training and raising falcons of Kazak Ethnic Group

Training and raising falcons of Kazak Ethnic Group

Training and raising falcons of Kazak Ethnic Group

Training and raising falcons of Kazak Ethnic Group

Training and raising falcons of Kazak Ethnic Group

Training and raising falcons of Kazak Ethnic Group

Training and raising falcons of Kazak Ethnic Group

Training and raising falcons of Kazak Ethnic Group

Training and raising falcons of Kazak Ethnic Group

Training and raising falcons of Kazak Ethnic Group

The Kazak ethnic group (哈萨克族) is one of Northwest China’s most prominent cross-border nomadic communities. According to the 2020 national census, their population in China reached 1,562,518. Their origins trace back to ancient nomadic tribes such as the Xiongnu (匈奴) and Wusun (乌孙). The Kazak Khanate was established in the 15th century, and over time, the Kazak people gradually migrated to the grasslands of Northwest China. Kazak people speak a Turkic language within the Altaic language family, written using an Arabic-based script, while many are also fluent in Mandarin Chinese. Generations of nomads have relied on livestock herding and seasonal migration, developing a rich culture deeply connected to the natural rhythms of the steppe. Horses, eagles, and grasslands are central symbols of Kazak culture, earning them the titles of “The Horseback Nation” and “Guardians of the Steppe Eagle.” Visitors are drawn to their open landscapes, vibrant festivals, and centuries-old nomadic traditions that remain remarkably intact.

Distribution Across China

Provincial Distribution

• Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (新疆维吾尔自治区): 1.558 million, 99.7% of the national population – the primary settlement area with sprawling grasslands, traditional villages, and cultural hubs that attract travelers seeking authentic Kazak experiences.
• Gansu Province (甘肃省): 4,000, mainly in Aksai Kazak Autonomous County (阿克塞哈萨克族自治县), where the local culture blends Gansu landscapes with traditional nomadic lifestyles.
• Other provinces and cities: Sparse populations in Beijing (北京), Shanghai (上海), and Qinghai (青海), often urban Kazaks maintaining heritage practices amidst city life, offering a glimpse of Kazak identity in modern China.

Key County-Level Settlements

Key Villages and Towns

• Qiongkushitai Village (琼库什台村), Tekesi County (特克斯县): 12,000 Kazak residents (89%), traditional nomadic village with snow-capped mountains, pine forests, and expansive grasslands. Visitors can walk among ancient wooden homes and yurts, experiencing a living museum of Kazak heritage.
• Nalati Village (那拉提村), Xinyuan County (新源县): 28,000 Kazak residents (78%), core area of the “Sky Grassland (空中草原)” with concentrated nomadic cultural experiences including horseback riding, traditional food tasting, and local craft workshops.
• Handegate Village (汗德尕特村), Altay City (阿勒泰市): 8,000 residents (91%), birthplace of traditional eagle training techniques. Tourists can witness majestic eagles hunting alongside skilled falconers, a spectacle that embodies centuries of nomadic life.
• Dashitou Village (大石头村), Mulei County (木垒县): 7,000 residents (95%), pure nomadic lifestyle village where visitors can experience seasonal migration rituals, traditional yurt setups, and local festivals celebrating grassland life and livestock culture.
• Aktas Village (阿克塔斯村), Aksai County (阿克塞县): 3,000 residents (75%), core Gansu Kazak folk culture village offering immersive tours of historic homes, traditional handicrafts, and local culinary experiences.

Folk Culture and Heritage

Traditional Dwellings

• Yurts (Kiyiz Yurt 克依孜宇): Signature circular tents made of wool felt and wooden frames, portable for seasonal migration. Interiors feature decorative felt, wooden chests, carpets, and central hearths for living, hosting guests, and rituals. Visitors often stay overnight in these yurts to experience authentic nomadic living, enjoy storytelling around the hearth, and witness traditional ceremonies. Settled homes often use whitewashed walls with blue windows, maintaining elements of traditional yurt layout, blending comfort with cultural authenticity.

Ethnic Costumes

• Men: White long robes, wide-leg pants, dark vests, fox-fur hats (Tumaq), leather boots, and belt knives—ideal for horseback riding and participating in local festivals.
• Women: Colorful dresses (Kuileik 库伊莱克) with fitted vests, feathered hats (Kizkurez 克孜库热) or scarves, embroidered patterns, silver and gemstone accessories, reflecting the vibrant steppe spirit. Travelers can enjoy photo experiences in traditional attire, making visits highly memorable.

Intangible Cultural Heritage

• Dombra Music (冬不拉): Two-string plucked instrument with melodic tunes celebrating horses, grasslands, and heroes. Live performances allow visitors to feel the emotional pulse of the steppe.
• Eagle Training (驯鹰习俗): Centuries-old practice of training hunting eagles for foxes and rabbits. Tourists can participate in interactive sessions, observing how hunters and eagles work together.
• Felt Art (花毡技艺): Handcrafted wool rugs with geometric and animal motifs, colorful and functional, giving travelers a chance to learn traditional embroidery techniques.
• Black Horse Dance (黑走马舞): Energetic dance mimicking galloping horses, often accompanied by dombra music, performed during festivals and weddings.
• Epic of Manas (史诗《玛纳斯》): Oral epic chronicling hero Manas and his descendants defending the grasslands, often narrated by local elders during cultural shows.

Marriage Customs

The Kazak people practice monogamy, with marriage based on freedom of choice, family background, and virtue. Engagements involve presenting gifts such as horses, sheep, jewelry, and fabrics, followed by selecting an auspicious wedding date. Wedding celebrations are divided into three stages: engagement, welcoming the bride, and the marriage ceremony. On the wedding day, the groom’s horseback procession travels to the bride’s home, where the family sets up a “gate-blocking” ritual, including singing, horse races, and sheep-catching games. Wedding feasts feature hand-grabbed meat, boortsog (包尔沙克), and fermented mare’s milk, accompanied by live dombra music and Black Horse Dance performances, often lasting three days. After marriage, the bride joins her husband’s nomadic household, emphasizing family harmony and respect for elders, while visitors can witness authentic nomadic wedding traditions firsthand, making it a unique cultural highlight.

Traditional Festivals

• Nowruz Festival (纳吾热孜节, 3月21日): The oldest Kazak festival celebrating the arrival of spring. Families clean courtyards, prepare kuji porridge (meat, rice, wheat, milk dumplings), sing traditional songs, and participate in sheep-catching, horse racing, wrestling, and dombra performances. Visitors experience the vibrant, community-focused celebrations and witness centuries-old spring rituals.
• Eid al-Adha (古尔邦节): Major Islamic festival on the 12th month of the lunar calendar. Families perform ritual animal sacrifices, distributing meat among family, friends, and the needy, and celebrate with communal meals of hand-grabbed meat and pilaf. Folk songs, dances, and horse races accompany the festivities, offering travelers a vivid view of faith, generosity, and pastoral life.
• Eid al-Fitr (肉孜节): Marks the end of Ramadan. Early morning prayers, festive meals including boortsog and fermented mare’s milk, and visiting relatives highlight family unity. Travelers can witness the fusion of Islamic practice with Kazak folk traditions.
• Grassland Horse Racing Festival: Held in July-August when pastures are lush. Features horse racing, sheep-catching, wrestling, and archery competitions. Spectators can see Kazak bravery and athleticism, fully immersing in the nomadic sports culture of the steppe.

Beliefs and Taboos

Religious Beliefs

The Kazak people are predominantly Sunni Muslims, gradually converting from the 11th century, adhering to Islamic law. Remnants of Shamanistic practices remain, with reverence for the blue sky, grasslands, sun, moon, and ancestors, reflecting deep respect for nature and life. In some regions, ancestor worship continues through periodic rituals to seek blessings and protection.

Social and Cultural Taboos

• Dietary restrictions: Avoid pork, dog, and donkey meat; refrain from consuming carrion or blood. Wasting food or stepping on it is considered disrespectful.
• Etiquette: Elders and guests are respected with handshakes or hand-kissing gestures. Loud behavior, smoking, drinking in front of elders, stepping over thresholds, or pointing with fingers is taboo.
• Lifestyle: Grasslands and water sources must not be damaged. Women who are pregnant or recently delivered avoid weddings or rituals. Visitors are expected to respect the steppe, animals, and local customs, enhancing their travel experience.
• Nomadic practices: Do not disturb livestock or falcons; keep quiet during seasonal migrations. Travelers can witness nomadic life with respect and participation, deepening appreciation for centuries-old survival skills.

Signature Cuisine

Meat Dishes

• Hand-grabbed Meat (手抓肉): Fresh lamb or horse meat boiled and cut into bite-sized pieces, served with salt. Essential for festivals and hospitality, offering pure pastoral flavors.
• Smoked Horse Sausage (索古姆): Horse ribs and fat stuffed into intestines, smoked and air-dried. Sliced thin, it is a festive delicacy for adventurous food lovers.

Dairy Specialties

• Boortsog (包尔沙克): Deep-fried dough, golden and crispy outside, soft inside, symbolizing reunion. Served with honey or tea, popular at festivals.
• Fermented Mare’s Milk (马奶子): Tangy and slightly sweet, rich in probiotics, an essential celebratory drink.
• Milk Nuggets (库尔特): Dried concentrated cow or sheep milk, sweet, salty, and portable, perfect for travelers exploring the steppe.

Staple Dishes and Snacks

• Pilaf (抓饭 / Pulao): Lamb, carrots, onions, and rice cooked together, aromatic and hearty, a festival staple.
• Kazak Milk Tea (奶茶): Brick tea simmered with milk and salt, warm, nourishing, and perfect for steppe weather.

Visitors can enjoy interactive cooking experiences, tasting dishes while learning traditional preparation methods, creating lasting cultural memories.

Cultural Tourism Attractions

Museums and Cultural Centers

• Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture Museum (伊犁哈萨克自治州博物馆, 伊宁): National secondary museum showcasing migration history, nomadic culture, folk arts, and grassland civilization. Visitors can walk through recreated yurts, wedding settings, and cultural exhibits.
• Aksai Kazak Ethnic Museum (阿克塞哈萨克族民族博物馆, 甘肃): Over 1,700 artifacts highlighting history, costumes, tools, large felt art, and eagle training equipment.
• Altay Grassland Stone Man Cultural Park (阿勒泰草原石人哈萨克民族文化园, 布尔津县): Nomadic culture immersion with stone figures, yurts, folk dances, and live eagle displays.
• Nalati Kazak Folk Museum (那拉提哈萨克民俗博物馆, 新源县): Traditional dwellings, costumes, and dombra performances, offering visitors hands-on cultural experiences.

Key Scenic Areas

• Nalati Tourist Area (那拉提旅游风景区): Known as the “Sky Grassland,” it features the largest Kazak settlement grasslands, snow-capped peaks, forests, rivers, and thriving nomadic traditions.
• Qiongkushitai Historic Village (琼库什台村, 特克斯县): Ancient nomadic village with yurts and wooden homes, surrounded by majestic mountains and pine forests.
• Barkol Grassland Scenic Area (巴里坤草原景区): Eastern Xinjiang’s largest grassland with pastures, traditional yurts, horse race tracks, and lively folk villages.
• Aksai Ethnic Cultural Park (阿克塞民族风情园, 甘肃): Showcases Asia’s largest Kazak yurt, folk streets, and ongoing cultural performances.
• Mulei Poplar Forest Grassland (木垒胡杨林草原景区): Grasslands, desert, and poplar forests combine to offer yurt stays, horse riding, and heritage tours.

Historic Towns and Villages

• Kazanqi Folk Town (喀赞其, 伊宁): Century-old settlement with blue-and-white buildings, stone streets, local crafts, and live folk music.
• Burqin Five-Color Beach Town (五彩滩, 阿勒泰布尔津): Nomadic culture meets colorful Danxia landscapes, with folk accommodations and horse expeditions.
• Barkol Ancient Town (巴里坤古城): Steppe history meets Han culture, featuring ancient city walls, shops, and museums, with immersive grassland lifestyle experiences.

Travel Guide and Experiences

Recommended Seasons

• Spring (April-May): Grasslands turn green, Nowruz festival, participate in spring rituals and local nomadic farming.
• Summer (June-August): Lush pastures, wildflowers, horse races, sheep-catching contests, and campfires—perfect for nature and cultural immersion.
• Autumn (September-October): Golden grasslands, robust livestock, harvest celebrations, tasting hand-grabbed meat and smoked horse sausages.
• Winter (November-March): Snowy expanses, winter festivals, eagle hunting, horse riding, and snow activities, highlighting Kazak winter traditions.

Suggested Itineraries

1. Ili Grassland Nomadic 6-Day Tour: Museum visits, Kazak villages, Nalati grasslands, wetlands, and horse culture.
2. Altay Eagle Training 5-Day Tour: Stone Man Cultural Park, Handegate Village, Burqin, Kanas, White Haba border grasslands.
3. Gansu Aksai Border 2-Day Experience: Museum, ethnic park, Aktas Village, and grassland sightseeing.

Must-Do Activities

• Intangible heritage: Dombra performances, felt-making, eagle training, Black Horse Dance lessons.
• Folk activities: Horse racing, sheep-catching, wrestling, archery, and wedding demonstrations.
• Nomadic life: Stay in yurts, milk livestock, make boortsog and milk nuggets, ride horses across the steppe.
• Festival participation: Nowruz, Eid al-Adha, Grassland Horse Racing Festival, with rituals, folk songs, and dances.

Culinary Highlights

• Signature meat: Hand-grabbed meat, smoked horse sausage, roasted lamb, horse tenderloin.
• Dairy: Milk nuggets, curd, butter, fermented mare’s milk, yogurt.
• Grain and pastries: Boortsog, pilaf, fried dough, flatbread.
• Beverages: Kazak milk tea, mare’s milk wine, camel milk.

Accommodation Suggestions

• Yining: Kazak-themed guesthouses, Kazanqi Folk Town inns, grassland-style hotels.
• Qiongkushitai: Rustic wooden homes, yurts, and open-air campsites.
• Nalati: Grassland resorts, nomadic yurts, scenic-view guesthouses.
• Altay: Eagle-culture lodges, grassland wooden homes, snow-mountain hot spring hotels.
• Aksai: Ethnic park yurts, cozy Kazak homestays.