Tatar Ethnic Group

Climbing smooth poles, jumping and running racing of Tatar Ethnic Group

Climbing smooth poles, jumping and running racing of Tatar Ethnic Group

Climbing smooth poles, jumping and running racing of Tatar Ethnic Group

Climbing smooth poles, jumping and running racing of Tatar Ethnic Group

Climbing smooth poles, jumping and running racing of Tatar Ethnic Group

Climbing smooth poles, jumping and running racing of Tatar Ethnic Group

Climbing smooth poles, jumping and running racing of Tatar Ethnic Group

Climbing smooth poles, jumping and running racing of Tatar Ethnic Group

Climbing smooth poles, jumping and running racing of Tatar Ethnic Group

The Tatar ethnic group is one of China’s smallest ethnic minorities, with a total population of 3,544 recorded in the 7th National Population Census in 2020. All members of the group reside in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (新疆维吾尔自治区), making it a cross-border ethnic group with deep historical ties to Central Asia.

The Tatar people trace their origins to ancient Bulgars, Cumans, and Turkic-speaking Mongol groups, with large-scale migration to Xinjiang from the Russian Empire beginning in the 19th century. Their language belongs to the Western Turkic branch of the Altaic language family; while they have no indigenous written script, they commonly use Uyghur and Kazakh writing systems in daily life.

The entire ethnic group practices Sunni Islam, with core cultural symbols including the Saban Festival (撒班节), European-style courtyard dwellings, accordion musical culture, and exquisite layered pastries. Notably, the Tatar group has one of the highest rates of higher education attainment among all ethnic minorities in China, earning it the reputation of a "highly educated ethnic group".

2. National Distribution Details (2020 Census)

The Tatar ethnic group is exclusively distributed within the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (新疆维吾尔自治区), with no concentrated settlements in other Chinese provinces. The population is primarily scattered across northern Xinjiang, with the following core habitation areas:

Major Counties & Cities with Concentrated Tatar Habitation

Core Habitation Areas with Tatar Population ≥30%

1. Daquan Tatar Ethnic Township (大泉塔塔尔民族乡), Qitai County: 36% Tatar population, the only dedicated Tatar ethnic township in China
2. Nogay Kuti Old Town (诺盖依库提城), Yining City: 60% Tatar population, a century-old Tatar urban settlement
3. Culture Road Folk Residence Cluster (文化路民居群), Tarbagatay City: 45% Tatar population, a well-preserved cluster of century-old Tatar dwellings

3. Folk Culture

Traditional Dwellings

Tatar dwellings blend European architectural styles with Islamic cultural elements, characterized by delicate enclosed courtyards and a strong emphasis on privacy and comfort, adapted to Xinjiang’s extreme climate.

• Urban Dwellings: Single-story brick-wood structures with whitewashed walls, blue-green corrugated iron roofs, and carved wooden windows. Each residence has a private courtyard planted with fruit trees and flowers, and is equipped with a traditional steam bath room. The interior features European-style wooden furniture, hardwood floors, and an accordion as a standard household item.
• Pastoral Dwellings: Log cabins (thick wooden planks joined with mortise and tenon joints) and flat-roofed earthen houses, built on elevated ground to avoid snow accumulation. They feature wooden verandas, large glass windows for sunlight, and pine wood plank beds adapted to the frigid northern Xinjiang climate.

Typical well-preserved dwellings can be found in Nogay Kuti Old Town (诺盖依库提城) in Yining City and the century-old residences on Culture Road (文化路) in Tarbagatay City.

Ethnic Costumes

Tatar costumes are bright and colorful, with exquisite embroidery that integrates European and Islamic aesthetic characteristics, emphasizing both practicality and ceremonial beauty.

• Men’s Attire: An embroidered skullcap (kalapak), stand-collar white shirt, colorful waistcoat, loose-fitting trousers, and leather boots. For festivals, men wear a gold velvet robe with an embroidered waist belt and carry a small decorative knife, presenting a bold and elegant look.
• Women’s Attire: A colorful long-sleeved dress (kuilek) with lantern sleeves and a pleated skirt hem, worn with an embroidered waistcoat. Women wear a beaded skullcap or headscarf, a silver and coral necklace, and matching earrings and bracelets. Embroidery is the core craft of Tatar costumes, with patterns of flowers, scrolls, and geometric shapes in vivid colors.

Intangible Cultural Heritage

1. Saban Festival (Plow Head Festival, 撒班节 / 犁头节): Listed as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage (2011), it is the most important traditional festival of the Tatar people, held after the completion of spring plowing to celebrate farming and pray for a bumper harvest.
2. Tatar Song and Dance Art: A Provincial Intangible Cultural Heritage, including the lively Shayimak dance (characterized by jumping and spinning movements), accordion performances (a fusion of national instruments and European accordion styles), and narrative folk songs such as Awul, passed down orally through generations.
3. Tatar Pastry Making Craft: A Provincial Intangible Cultural Heritage, featuring iconic pastries such as Gubaydiye (古拜底埃), Bailixi (白里西), and Pirok (皮罗克), known for their multi-layered flaky crusts, nut and dried fruit fillings, and sweet and crispy texture.
4. Tatar Embroidery Craft: A Provincial Intangible Cultural Heritage, used for costumes, headscarves, pillowcases, and tapestries, with delicate stitching and vivid patterns of flowers, scrolls, and geometric shapes, serving as a key symbol of Tatar ethnic culture.

Marriage Customs

Tatar marriage customs feature free love, religious rituals, and European-style ceremonial elements, with a focus on elegance and family unity.

• Courtship and Engagement: Young people meet through Saban Festival, dance parties, and accordion performances. Men present embroidered headscarves and accordions as tokens of affection, while women give embroidered waist belts and homemade pastries in return. For the proposal, the man’s parents visit the woman’s family with Gubaydiye pastries, honey, and candies; if the proposal is accepted, a banquet is held with toasts and accordion music.
• Wedding Ceremony: The bride wears an ornate embroidered dress and a beaded veil, while the groom wears an embroidered robe and skullcap. A religious ceremony is held at the mosque, where the imam recites scriptures and blesses the couple. The wedding procession is accompanied by accordion music and Shayimak dance performances, with a wedding banquet featuring pastries, hand-grabbed meat, and milk tea, followed by all-night singing and dancing.

Funeral Customs

Tatar funeral customs strictly follow Islamic Sharia law, emphasizing simplicity, purity, and prompt burial.

• Burial Preparation: The deceased is given a ritual bath (ghusl), dressed in a white shroud, and wrapped in white cloth, placed in a plain wooden coffin with no decorative elements or burial objects.
• Funeral Ceremony: A funeral prayer is held at the mosque, with the imam reciting scriptures. The coffin is carried to the cemetery by relatives, with the grave oriented north-south, the head facing west toward Mecca. After burial, a simple wooden tombstone is erected, with no elaborate decorations.
• Memorial Rituals: Memorials are held on the 7th day, 40th day, and 1st anniversary of the deceased, with prayers, recitation of the Quran, and distribution of pastries and milk tea to relatives and the poor.

4. Traditional Festivals

1. Saban Festival (Plow Head Festival, 撒班节 / 犁头节)

• Time: Late July each year (no fixed date, held after the completion of spring plowing)
• Core Significance: To give thanks for farming, celebrate the end of spring sowing, and pray for a bumper harvest and national unity.
• Activities: Opening ceremony with song and dance performances (accordion playing and Shayimak dance); traditional sports including wrestling, pole climbing, egg-and-spoon races, and horse racing; pastry tasting events featuring Gubaydiye and other traditional treats; a bonfire party with all-night singing and dancing; and a community feast to share food and promote unity.

2. Eid al-Adha (Kurban Festival, 古尔邦节 / 宰牲节)

• Time: 10th day of the 12th month of the Islamic calendar (August-September in the Gregorian calendar)
• Core Significance: To commemorate the sacrifice of the Prophet Ibrahim, fulfill the pilgrimage obligation, promote family reunion, and practice charity and almsgiving.
• Activities: Congregational prayers at the mosque with the imam delivering a sermon; the sacrifice of sheep or cattle, with the meat divided into three parts for personal consumption, gifts to relatives, and donation to the poor; wearing new clothes, visiting relatives and friends, and exchanging pastries; and song and dance celebrations with accordion performances.

3. Eid al-Fitr (Roza Festival, 肉孜节 / 开斋节)

• Time: 1st day of the 10th month of the Islamic calendar (May-June in the Gregorian calendar)
• Core Significance: To celebrate the end of the month-long Ramadan fast, give thanks to Allah, purify the soul, and promote family reunion.
• Activities: Morning congregational prayers and dawn prayers at the mosque; wearing new clothes, eating traditional pastries, and drinking milk tea; visiting relatives and friends and exchanging holiday greetings; and song and dance performances with accordion playing.

4. Mawlid al-Nabi (圣纪节)

• Time: 12th day of the 3rd month of the Islamic calendar (January-February in the Gregorian calendar)
• Core Significance: To commemorate the birth of the Prophet Muhammad, promote religious education, practice charity, and strengthen national unity.
• Activities: Scripture recitation and religious lectures at the mosque; almsgiving to the poor and distribution of pastries and milk tea; and national song and dance performances with accordion playing.

5. Religious Beliefs and Taboos

Religious Beliefs

The entire Tatar ethnic group practices Sunni Islam, strictly following the Five Pillars of Islam: Shahada (declaration of faith), Salat (five daily prayers), Sawm (fasting during Ramadan), Zakat (almsgiving), and Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca). The mosque is the core religious site, with the imam presiding over all religious ceremonies. The group has no primitive totem or nature worship, with Islamic culture deeply influencing all aspects of daily life.

Core Taboos

1. Life Taboos: It is forbidden to step on the threshold of a mosque, desecrate the Quran, or insult the imam; no loud talking, laughing, or smoking is allowed in religious sites; it is forbidden to pass food, tableware, or shake hands with the left hand; wasting food, pastries, or milk tea is prohibited; and cutting down trees around mosques or polluting water sources is strictly forbidden.
2. Dietary Taboos: Strictly forbidden to eat pork, dog meat, horse meat, carrion, or blood; alcohol and alcoholic beverages are prohibited; overeating and wasting food are forbidden; and pastries and milk tea are considered sacred foods that must not be wasted.
3. Dress Taboos: It is forbidden to wear revealing, tight-fitting, or bright red clothing when entering a mosque; men with long hair and women without headscarves are prohibited from entering religious sites; and clothing embroidered with idols or animal patterns is forbidden.
4. Festival Taboos: Quarreling, crying, or saying unlucky words is prohibited during Eid al-Adha, Eid al-Fitr, and the Saban Festival; killing animals (except for the Eid al-Adha sacrifice) is forbidden during religious festivals; and destroying sports equipment or wasting food during the Saban Festival is prohibited.
5. Etiquette Taboos: It is forbidden to fail to greet or show respect to elders; calling elders by their first names is prohibited; stepping over fire pits or thresholds is forbidden; and touching accordions, embroidered costumes, or religious artifacts without permission is strictly prohibited.

6. Featured Cuisine

Tatar cuisine combines European baking techniques with Islamic Central Asian flavors, focusing on exquisite pastries, rich dairy products, and hearty meat dishes, with high sugar and fat content adapted to the cold climate of northern Xinjiang.

Signature Meat Dishes

1. Hand-Grabbed Meat (手抓肉): Lamb or beef boiled in clear water with only salt, served tender and juicy with the original meat flavor, an essential dish for Eid al-Adha and the Saban Festival.
2. Roasted Lamb Skewers (烤羊肉串): Cubed lamb roasted over charcoal, tender and juicy with a rich meaty aroma, a popular street food and festival staple.
3. Naren (那仁): A classic staple dish of lamb and hand-pulled noodles stewed together, with a rich and fragrant broth and chewy noodles, served as a daily staple and for entertaining guests.

Iconic Pastries (Intangible Cultural Heritage)

1. Gubaydiye (古拜底埃): The signature Tatar pastry, a large round multi-layered cake with a flaky crust and a filling of walnuts, raisins, and other nuts and dried fruits. It has a crispy outer layer and a sweet, fragrant filling, and is an essential festival and hospitality treat.
2. Bailixi (白里西): A half-moon shaped pastry with a flaky crust and a savory meat filling or sweet apple/pumpkin filling, with a crispy outer layer and a juicy, flavorful filling, served as a daily snack and breakfast staple.
3. Pirok (皮罗克): Mini fried pastries with a flaky crust and a savory meat or cheese filling, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, a popular snack and afternoon tea treat.
4. Bahali (巴哈里): A multi-layered honey cake with thin cake layers and a honey or cream filling, sweet and soft, served as a festival dessert and for entertaining guests.

Classic Beverages

1. Milk Tea (奶茶): A daily essential drink made by boiling milk with black tea and salt or sugar, rich and creamy, quenching thirst and relieving fatigue, served with every meal and for all guests.
2. Kumis (马奶子): A traditional pastoral beverage made by fermenting mare’s milk, with a slightly sour and sweet taste, rich in nutrients and easy to digest, a daily drink in pastoral areas.
3. Honey Water (蜂蜜水): A sweet and nourishing drink made with local mountain flower honey and warm water, served for festival hospitality and daily health care.

Side Dishes

1. Potato Salad (土豆沙拉): A European-style cold dish made with potatoes, carrots, eggs, and mayonnaise, fresh and refreshing, served as a festival side dish and daily appetizer.
2. Pickled Vegetables (腌菜): Pickled cucumbers, tomatoes, and onions with a sour and spicy taste, refreshing and appetizing, an essential accompaniment to milk tea and hand-grabbed meat.

7. Cultural Tourist Attractions

Ethnic Museums

1. Tatar Family Museum in Tarbagatay City (塔城市塔塔尔族家庭博物馆)

   • Location: Culture Road, Tarbagatay City, in a century-old Tatar residence built in 1915.
   • Features: The only dedicated Tatar family museum in China, curated by Zaitunna, a national-level inheritor of the Saban Festival. It houses over 500 historical artifacts, including traditional costumes, embroidery, accordions, tableware, and religious items. It offers live demonstrations of pastry making, embroidery, and accordion playing, and preserves the original layout of a century-old European-style Tatar residence.

2. Folklore Museum of Daquan Tatar Township in Qitai County (奇台县大泉塔塔尔乡民俗博物馆)

   • Location: Daquanhu Village, Daquan Tatar Ethnic Township, Qitai County.
   • Features: Showcases the history, migration, folk customs, and intangible cultural heritage of the Tatar people. The collection includes traditional costumes, embroidery, accordions, farming tools, and pastry molds. It has a dedicated exhibition hall for the Saban Festival, with text and video displays of festival activities, and a restored pastoral log cabin residence.

3. Tatar Folklore Museum in Nogay Kuti Old Town, Yining City (伊宁市诺盖依库提城塔塔尔民俗馆)

   • Location: Nogay Kuti Old Town, west of Yining City.
   • Features: The core cultural center of the century-old Tatar old town, showcasing urban Tatar dwellings, European-style courtyards, and Islamic architecture. The collection includes old photos of the old town, century-old furniture, embroidered costumes, and religious items. It has a dedicated accordion culture exhibition hall, displaying national musical instruments and performance art, and a restored traditional courtyard garden with fruit trees and flowers.

Core Tourist Scenic Areas

1. Tatar Tribe Scenic Area in Qitai County (奇台县塔塔尔部落景区)

   • Location: Daquanhu Village, Daquan Tatar Ethnic Township, Qitai County, 220 kilometers from Urumqi.
   • Features: The only dedicated Tatar folk culture experience area in China, covering an area of 37,000 square meters. It has a layout of "one core, one axis, three zones" (folk core area, cultural axis, experience zone, resort zone, camping zone). The scenic area features a cluster of traditional Tatar dwellings (log cabins and European-style courtyards), and offers folk experiences including pastry making, embroidery, accordion playing, and Saban Festival activities. It is surrounded by grassland scenery and snow-capped mountains, ideal for ecological sightseeing and leisure vacations. It is a National AAA-level Tourist Attraction.

2. Nogay Kuti Old Town (诺盖依库提城), Yining City

   • Location: West of Yining City, on the banks of the Ili River.
   • Features: A century-old Tatar old town with buildings dating back to the 19th century. It features European-style brick-wood structures, whitewashed walls, carved windows, and blue-green iron roofs, with delicate courtyards planted with fruit trees and flowers. The old town includes a Tatar folklore museum, a mosque, and an accordion workshop, as well as a folk custom street with pastry shops, embroidery stores, and accordion shops. It offers stunning sunset views over the Ili River, blending history and natural scenery.

3. Culture Road Folk Custom Block (文化路民俗街区), Tarbagatay City

   • Location: Intersection of Culture Road and Jiefang Road, Tarbagatay City.
   • Features: A cluster of century-old Tatar residences built between 1910 and 1930, blending European style with Islamic elements. The block includes a family museum, pastry workshops, embroidery studios, and regular accordion performances, with a strong street art atmosphere. It is a multi-ethnic cultural area, with coexisting Russian and Uyghur cultural elements, showcasing the unique border town customs of northern Xinjiang.

Featured Villages

1. Daquanhu Village (大泉湖村), Daquan Tatar Ethnic Township, Qitai County

   • The core village of the only Tatar ethnic township in China, with grassland wooden houses, European-style courtyards, and pastoral scenery. It is the main venue for the Saban Festival, with well-preserved folk customs. It was named a Chinese Ethnic Minority Characteristic Village in 2019.

2. Heigou Village (黑沟村), Daquan Tatar Ethnic Township, Qitai County

   • A pastoral village with log cabins, snow-capped mountains, and grassland scenery, preserving the traditional nomadic life of the Tatar people. It has a rich accordion music culture and was named a Chinese Ethnic Minority Characteristic Village in 2021.

3. Nogay Kuti Village (诺盖依库提城村), Yining City

   • A century-old urban Tatar settlement with well-preserved European-style dwellings and courtyards. It is the core of Tatar urban culture in northern Xinjiang and was named a Chinese Ethnic Minority Characteristic Village in 2020.

Ancient Towns & Historical Blocks

1. Nogay Kuti Old Town (诺盖依库提城), Yining City

   • A century-old Tatar historical and cultural block, settled by Tatar migrants in the 19th century. It features European architecture, Islamic culture, and multi-ethnic integration, with a folklore museum, mosque, accordion workshop, and pastry shops. It is the core of Tatar urban culture in China.

2. Daquan Tatar Ethnic Township (大泉塔塔尔民族乡), Qitai County

   • The only dedicated Tatar ethnic township in China, and the core habitation area of the Tatar people. It features the Tatar Tribe Scenic Area, a folklore museum, grassland wooden houses, and snow-capped mountain scenery. It is the main venue for the Saban Festival and the core area for Tatar folk culture experience.

3. Culture Road Folk Custom Town (文化路民俗小镇), Tarbagatay City

   • A cluster of century-old Tatar residences with European-style architecture. It features a family museum, pastry workshops, embroidery studios, and regular accordion performances. It is a multi-ethnic cultural area with coexisting Russian and Uyghur elements, showcasing the unique border town customs of northern Xinjiang.

    

8. Cultural Travel Guide

Best Travel Seasons

• Summer (July-August, Best Season): The Saban Festival is held in late July, offering an immersive experience of the national intangible cultural heritage festival, with song and dance, wrestling, horse racing, pastry tasting, and bonfire parties. The temperature ranges from 20-28°C, with lush green grasslands and clear views of snow-capped mountains, making it ideal for photography and outdoor activities.
• Spring (May-June): Eid al-Fitr is held in May-June, with religious ceremonies, folk songs and dances, and traditional pastry delicacies. The grasslands are in full bloom with wildflowers, and the temperature ranges from 15-25°C, perfect for village visits and folk culture experiences.
• Autumn (September-October): Eid al-Adha is held in August-September, with family reunions, charity almsgiving, and song and dance celebrations. The weather is clear and crisp, with golden grasslands and magnificent snow-capped mountains, ideal for photography and hiking.
• Winter (November-April): Mawlid al-Nabi is held in January-February, with scripture recitation, charity activities, and folk songs and dances. The temperature ranges from -10-5°C, with snow-covered landscapes and warm fireplaces in wooden houses, perfect for experiencing winter folk customs, accordion playing, and hot milk tea.

Classic Travel Routes

5-Day In-Depth Tatar Culture Tour (Qitai + Yining + Tarbagatay)

Day 1: Urumqi → Qitai County → Daquan Tatar Ethnic Township (大泉塔塔尔民族乡) → Visit the Folklore Museum (民俗博物馆) → Explore Daquanhu Village (大泉湖村) → Experience Gubaydiye pastry making and embroidery → Attend Saban Festival rehearsal → Stay at a Tatar Tribe B&B.

Day 2: Qitai County → Tatar Tribe Scenic Area (塔塔尔部落景区) → Experience accordion playing, Shayimak dance learning, and horse riding on the grassland → Taste hand-grabbed meat, Gubaydiye, and milk tea → Attend a bonfire party → Stay at the scenic area B&B.

Day 3: Qitai County → Yining City → Nogay Kuti Old Town (诺盖依库提城) → Visit the Tatar Folklore Museum (塔塔尔民俗馆) and the century-old mosque → Explore the century-old dwellings → Experience the courtyard garden and accordion workshop → Stay in Yining City.

Day 4: Yining City → Tarbagatay City → Culture Road Folk Custom Block (文化路民俗街区) → Visit the Tatar Family Museum (塔塔尔族家庭博物馆) → Experience pastry making, embroidery, and accordion playing → Explore the century-old residences → Stay at a Tarbagatay City B&B.

Day 5: Tarbagatay City → Urumqi → Return trip.

3-Day Grassland & Ancient Village Tour (Daquan Township, Qitai County)

Day 1: Urumqi → Qitai County → Daquanhu Village (大泉湖村) → Hike on the grassland and take photos of the snow-capped mountains → Explore the Tatar dwellings → Experience fire pit warming and milk tea making → Stay at a village B&B.

Day 2: Tatar Tribe Scenic Area (塔塔尔部落景区) → Folk culture experiences (pastry making, embroidery, accordion playing) → Horse riding and archery on the grassland → Experience Saban Festival activities → Attend a bonfire party → Stay at the scenic area B&B.

Day 3: Heigou Village (黑沟村) → Visit the log cabin dwellings and experience the nomadic life → Take photos of the grassland and snow-capped mountain scenery → Return trip.

Must-Experience Activities

1. Folk Culture Experiences: Stay in a European-style courtyard or log cabin, warm yourself by the fire pit, learn to play the accordion and dance the Shayimak, make Gubaydiye pastries and embroidery, brew milk tea, and tend to the courtyard garden.
2. Festival Participation: Experience the Saban Festival (song and dance, wrestling, horse racing, bonfire, community feast), Eid al-Fitr (religious ceremonies, pastries, song and dance), Eid al-Adha (sacrifice, family reunion, almsgiving), and Mawlid al-Nabi (scripture recitation, song and dance, almsgiving).
3. Village Exploration: Visit Daquanhu Village, Heigou Village, Nogay Kuti Old Town, and Culture Road Folk Custom Block to immerse yourself in the Tatar people’s European-style grassland life.
4. Natural Sightseeing: Explore the Qitai grasslands, snow-capped mountains, glaciers, and forests; enjoy the Ili River scenery and sunset in Yining; and visit the border grasslands and snow-capped mountains in Tarbagatay City.
5. Food Tasting: Try Gubaydiye, Bailixi, Pirok, hand-grabbed meat, Naren, milk tea, and kumis.

Food Check List

• Signature Pastries: Gubaydiye (古拜底埃), Bailixi (白里西), Pirok (皮罗克), Bahali (巴哈里)
• Classic Meat Dishes: Hand-Grabbed Meat (手抓肉), Roasted Lamb Skewers (烤羊肉串), Naren (那仁)
• Featured Beverages: Milk Tea (奶茶), Kumis (马奶子), Honey Water (蜂蜜水)
• Side Dishes: Potato Salad (土豆沙拉), Pickled Vegetables (腌菜)

Accommodation Options

1. Village B&Bs: Daquanhu Village B&B, Heigou Village B&B, Nogay Kuti Old Town B&B, and Culture Road B&B. These offer traditional European-style courtyards or log cabins, fire pit heating, and homemade breakfasts (milk tea, pastries, hand-grabbed meat).
2. Scenic Area & City Hotels: Tatar Tribe Scenic Area B&B, Qitai County Hotel, Yining City Hotel, and Tarbagatay City Hotel. These have complete facilities and convenient transportation.
3. Grassland Camping: Tatar Tribe Grassland Campsite and Daquanhu Village Back Mountain Campsite, offering close contact with nature and stunning starry night views.

Travel Taboos (Must Read)

1. When entering a mosque, do not wear revealing or bright red clothing, and avoid loud talking, laughing, or smoking, to respect the sacred status of the religious site.
2. When visiting private residences and family museums, do not touch accordions, embroidery, or religious items without permission, and ask for consent before taking photos.
3. Strictly follow the Islamic dietary taboos: do not eat pork, dog meat, horse meat, carrion, or blood, and do not drink alcohol.
4. During festivals, do not quarrel, cry, or say unlucky words, and avoid destroying equipment or wasting food during the Saban Festival.
5. Do not take photos of Tatar women, religious ceremonies, or the inside of fire pits without prior consent.
6. When traveling in the grasslands, do not destroy the grassland vegetation, pollute water sources, or cut down trees, to respect the nomadic people’s ecological protection concepts.