Kyrgyz 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

The Kyrgyz Ethnic Group (柯尔克孜族) is an ancient nomadic people of China, with a population of 204,402 according to the 2020 census. Historically, they were known as “Gikun (鬲昆)”, “Jiankun (坚昆)”, “Kyrgyz (黠戛斯)”, and during the Qing Dynasty as “Burut (布鲁特)”. The name “Kyrgyz” (柯尔克孜) means “Forty Tribes” or “Grassland People”. Related ethnic groups abroad include the Kyrgyz (吉尔吉斯族), the majority in Kyrgyzstan (吉尔吉斯斯坦).

Their language belongs to the Altaic family, Turkic branch, with an Arabic-based script. Southern Xinjiang residents are often bilingual in Uyghur, while northern Xinjiang Kyrgyz communicate in Kazakh. The core settlement is in Kizilsu Kyrgyz Autonomous Prefecture (克孜勒苏柯尔克孜自治州, “KZ Prefecture”), located in the eastern Pamir Plateau, known as “the Prefecture of Ten Thousand Mountains”.

National Distribution (2020 Census)

Provincial Distribution

• Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (新疆维吾尔自治区): 198,000, 96.8% of national population, core area
• Heilongjiang Province (黑龙江省): ~1,500, 0.7% (Wujiazi Tun, Fuyu, migrated in 18th century)
• Other provinces/cities: ~4,900, scattered in Beijing (北京), Inner Mongolia (内蒙古), Guangdong (广东), etc.

County-Level Core Settlements

Township & Village Core Settlements

1. Kizilto Township (克孜勒陶乡, Akto County)
   Kyrgyz population: 12,000 (98%)
   Villages: Aijek Village (艾杰克村), China Traditional Village
   Feature: century-old village preserving nomadic dwellings
2. Jialangqi Village (佳朗奇村, Akqi County)
   Kyrgyz population: 8,000 (95%)
   Designation: Chinese Minority Characteristic Village, National 3A Scenic Spot
   Feature: core Manas (玛纳斯) cultural area, intangible heritage town
3. Jigen Township (吉根乡, Wuqia County)
   Kyrgyz population: 5,000 (99%)
   Feature: westernmost township in China, “First Western Township”, border nomadic culture
4. Youyi Daur-Kyrgyz Township (友谊达斡尔族满族柯尔克孜族乡, Fuyu County)
   Kyrgyz population: 150 (2%)
   Villages: Kertesnidu Village (克尔特斯尼都村)
   Feature: only Kyrgyz village in Northeast China, historical eastern migration site

Folk Culture & Heritage

Dwellings: Yurts & Stone Houses

• Traditional Yurts (毡房): circular, wool felt, wooden frame, portable, winter-warm & summer-cool. Interior decorated with colorful embroidery wall hangings (斯尔玛克) and carpets.
• Stone Houses: Pamir-style, stacked stones, thick flat roof, small windows, indoor fireplaces, traditional household utensils preserved.

Clothing: White Felt Hats & Embroidered Attire

• Men: white felt hat (Kalpak 卡尔帕克), embroidered shirt, long robe, leather boots
• Women: headscarf (Ailechek 艾列切克), bright dresses with vests, geometric embroidery (red & black), silver & coral jewelry

Arts (World & National Intangible Heritage)

• Manas Epic (《玛纳斯》, UNESCO 2009): one of the three great hero epics, oral recitation of Manas and seven generations fighting invasions, over 200,000 lines.
• Komuz (库姆孜, National Heritage): three-string plucked instrument, mimics natural sounds, accompanies Manas recitations.
• Embroidery: wall hangings, felt carpets, clothing; motifs of mountains, water, sheep horns, clouds; bright colors symbolize luck.
• Falconry (National Heritage): Akqi County known as “China’s Hometown of Falconry”, falconers (Kusbek 库斯别克) hunt in autumn, display in winter.

Marriage Customs

• Engagement: gifts of 9 livestock or 9 valuables, symbolic of luck
• Wedding: 3–7 days, in yurts, shaman blessing, Komuz accompaniment of Manas, couples perform Biyi dance, competitions include sheep-taming, horse racing, silver-catching, full lamb feast

Traditional Festivals

1. Nowruz (诺鲁孜节, Spring Equinox, Mar 21): New Year, fire-jumping, horse racing, sheep herding, Komuz singing, dance, pray for harvest & safety
2. Eid al-Adha (古尔邦节, Islamic 12th month, 10th day): ritual slaughter, festival prayers, visiting relatives, competitions
3. Eid al-Fitr (肉孜节, Islamic 10th month, 1st day): post-Ramadan celebration, feast, songs & dances
4. Dong Ximan Festival (冬希曼节, Harvest, Sep–Oct): sheep herding, horse racing, horseback shooting, full lamb feast
5. Karakotoi Festival (喀尔戛托依节, May 1, Women’s Day): women-led singing, embroidery contest, handicraft display, men assist

Beliefs & Taboos

• Religion: Sunni Islam, daily prayers, Eid celebrations
• Residual Shamanism: nature worship (mountains, rivers, sun, moon, wolf, eagle), rituals for heaven, mountains, ancestors
• Taboos:
  • Food: no pork, dog, donkey, dead animals, blood; alcohol forbidden except mare’s milk wine
  • Etiquette: present lamb head meat to guests, avoid stepping on food, hitting animals forbidden
  • Lifestyle: no spitting in yurts, no noise, avoid cutting birch trees, polluting water, or speaking ill

Signature Cuisine

1. Hand-Pulled Meat (手抓肉): boiled lamb, salted, eaten by hand, tender & fresh
2. Mare’s Milk Wine (克么孜): fermented fresh mare’s milk, 3–5%, sweet-sour, digestive & warming
3. Kurut (奶疙瘩): dried yogurt nuggets, sour-sweet-salty, portable nomadic snack
4. Nang Oven Roast (馕坑烤肉): spiced lamb skewers, baked in clay oven, crispy outside, tender inside
5. Kekech Rice (克缺饭): mixed grains & meat, Nowruz special, symbolizing harvest & luck
6. Chouli Zi Jam (稠李子酱): wild cherry plum jam, sour-sweet, used on bread or yogurt

Cultural Tourism

Museums & Cultural Halls

• Kizilsu Kyrgyz Autonomous Prefecture Museum (克孜勒苏柯尔克孜自治州博物馆, Artux): 3,000+ artifacts, models of yurts, Manas manuscripts, Komuz, embroidery, falconry tools

• Akqi Manas Epic Museum (阿合奇县玛纳斯史诗馆, Akqi County): core Manas cultural center with live recitations, manuscripts, audiovisual archives, and immersive storytelling experiences
• Falconry Culture Museum (猎鹰文化博物馆, Akqi County): China’s only falconry-themed museum showcasing hunting tools, eagle specimens, and live demonstrations
• Fuyou Kyrgyz Folk Museum (富裕县柯尔克孜民俗馆, Fuyu County): only Kyrgyz museum in Northeast China, presenting migration history and nomadic heritage

Key Scenic Spots

• Keqiaokule Folk Culture Village (科克乔库尔民俗文化村, Akqi County): 3A scenic site, “mini Switzerland of Xinjiang,” yurts, embroidery, Manas performances, falconry shows
• Aijek Ancient Village (艾杰克古村落, Akto County): China Traditional Village, stone houses, preserved nomadic lifestyle
• Westernmost Scenic Area (西极景区, Wuqia County): China’s westernmost point, sunset view, border culture experience
• Tianshan Gate Scenic Area (天门景区, Artux): natural giant stone arch at high altitude, sacred mountain site
• Fuyu Kyrgyz Ethnic Village (富裕县柯尔克孜民族村, Fuyu County): northern Kyrgyz cultural settlement with wetlands and folk performances

Famous Villages

China Traditional Villages

• Aijek Village (艾杰克村, Akto County Kizilto Township): best-preserved stone village, living nomadic heritage
• Yeyun Village (likely same but not mentioned; skip)
• Zhaoji Village? (not in original; skip)
• Yiliangqi Village (佳朗奇村, Akqi County): Manas cultural hub, 3A scenic village
• Kertesnidu Village (克尔特斯尼都村, Fuyu County): only Kyrgyz village in Northeast China

Other Villages

• Smuha Village (斯姆哈纳村, Wuqia County Jigen Township): westernmost village in China, border nomadic life
• Subashi Village (苏巴什村, Akto County Bulunkou Township): lakeside Pamir settlement near Karakul Lake

Ancient Towns

• Artux Suyun Ancient City (苏温古城, Artux): ruins of ancient Kyrgyz and Silk Road civilizations
• Aqi Ancient City (乌赤古城, Akqi County): Tang Dynasty Silk Road post station ruins

Travel Guide

Best Seasons

• Spring: Nowruz Festival, horse racing, fire rituals
• Summer: pasture flower seas, nomadic life experience
• Autumn: harvest festivals, livestock competitions
• Winter: eagle hunting, yurt life, snow nomad culture

Classic Routes

5-Day Pamir Cultural Route

• Day1: Urumqi → Artux → Museum → stay Artux
• Day2: Tianshan Gate → Kyrgyz homestay
• Day3: Aijek Village → Karakul Lake yurts
• Day4: Westernmost Point (Wuqia)
• Day5: Akqi Manas Museum → Falconry show

3-Day Falconry Culture Tour

• Akqi → Jialangqi Village → Manas culture → eagle hunting shows

2-Day Northeast Kyrgyz Tour

• Fuyu Kyrgyz Village → wetland → heritage memorial

Must-Experience Activities

• Komuz performance (库姆孜弹唱)
• Manas epic storytelling
• Eagle hunting demonstration
• Yurt life experience
• Horse riding & livestock herding
• Felt handicraft & embroidery making

Cuisine Highlights

• Hand-pulled lamb (手抓肉)
• Naan oven roast lamb
• Mare’s milk wine (马奶酒)
• Kurut dried yogurt (奶疙瘩)
• Kekech festival rice
• Wild berry jam

Accommodation

• Akqi: yurt homestays in Keqiaokule Village
• Akto: Karakul Lake lakeside yurts, Aijek Village stays
• Wuqia: Westernmost border homestays
• Fuyu: Kyrgyz ethnic cultural park homestays