Tu Ethnic Group

Anzhao and wedding dance of Tu Ethnic Group

Wheel swing of Tu Ethnic Group

Anzhao and wedding dance of Tu Ethnic Group

Three cups of wine of Tu Ethnic Group

Anzhao and wedding dance of Tu Ethnic Group

Nadun Festival of Tu Ethnic Group

Anzhao and wedding dance of Tu Ethnic Group

Felt hat and "niuda" of Tu Ethnic Group

Anzhao and wedding dance of Tu Ethnic Group

Anzhao and wedding dance of Tu Ethnic Group

Anzhao and wedding dance of Tu Ethnic Group

Family songs and folk songs of Tu Ethnic Group

Family songs and folk songs of Tu Ethnic Group

The widely applied embroidery technology of Tu Ethnic Group

Anzhao and wedding dance of Tu Ethnic Group

The Tu ethnic group (土族) is a distinctive minority of northwest China, primarily residing in Qinghai Province (青海省). With a population of around 282,000 (2020), the Tu people are descendants of the Tuyuhun (吐谷浑) and maintain cultural connections with Mongolian and Tibetan heritage. Recognized for their rainbow clothing (彩虹服饰), Pan embroidery (盘绣), Anzhao Dance (安昭舞), Wheel Autumn Festival (轮子秋), and Nadun Festival (纳顿节), the Tu culture represents a living fusion of highland agriculture and nomadic traditions, making it an essential experience for cultural travelers.

Ethnic Overview

Historical Background

The Tu people are mainly descendants of the Tuyuhun Kingdom (吐谷浑), with later integration of Mongolian, Tibetan, and Han populations. Locally, subgroups have different self-designations:

• Huzhu (互助) and Datong (大通): call themselves “Monguer” (白蒙古)
• Minhe (民和): call themselves “Tukun” (土昆, from Tuyuhun)

After 1949, the official designation became Tu (土族), meaning “native-born.” Historically, Tu communities practiced mixed farming and pastoralism and followed Tibetan Buddhism, while retaining traces of shamanistic practices.

Language and Writing

• Language: Mongolic branch of the Altaic family, with dialects in Huzhu, Minhe, and Datong. Most people are bilingual in Mandarin, some also speak Tibetan.
• Writing: The Tu have no native script; they use Chinese characters for daily writing and Tibetan script for religious texts. Cultural heritage is preserved through oral epics, folk songs, and Pan embroidery patterns.

Cultural Characteristics

The Tu are known for being hospitable, artistic, and devout. They value:

• Elder respect and formal etiquette
• Rainbow symbolism in festivals and clothing
• Vivid celebrations and folk arts, especially Pan embroidery and Anzhao Dance

Tu Ethnic Distribution

Core Counties and Towns

The Tu are primarily concentrated in Qinghai Province (青海省), with smaller populations in Gansu Province (甘肃省). About 85% live in Qinghai, mainly along the Huangshui River (湟水) and Datong River basins.

Qinghai

• Huzhu Tu Autonomous County (互助土族自治县): the only Tu autonomous county, known as the “hometown of Tu”
• Minhe Hui and Tu Autonomous County (民和回族土族自治县, Haidong 海东市)
• Datong Hui and Tu Autonomous County (大通回族土族自治县, Xining 西宁市)

Gansu

• Tianzhu Tibetan Autonomous County (天祝藏族自治县, Wuwei 武威市)
• Jishishan Bonan, Dongxiang and Salar Autonomous County (积石山保安族东乡族撒拉族自治县, Linxia 临夏州)

Notable Tu Villages and Ethnic Towns

• Huzhu Xiaozhuang Village (互助·小庄村): Over 98% Tu population, traditional courtyard houses, Pan embroidery workshops, and cultural performances.
• Huzhu Banyan Village (互助·班彦村): Resettlement model village, folk crafts, Pan embroidery, and homemade Qingke barley wine (青稞酒).
• Huzhu Wama Village (互助·哇麻村): Ancient village with rivers, forests, water mills, and traditional Tu courtyards.
• Minhe 32jia Village (民和·三二家村): Huanghe riverside ancient village, complete Tuyuhun cultural heritage.
• Datong Tuguanpu Village (大通·土关铺村): Traditional earthen courtyards, Anzhao dance heritage, Qingke wine workshops.

Traditional Culture and Customs

Clothing

Men: White collarless jackets, black or blue long trousers, Tibetan-style cloaks or black vests, felt hats, leather boots.
Women: Rainbow long robes (彩虹衫) with red, yellow, green, blue, and purple trims, colorful inner shirts, elaborate headpieces (tuoda 扭达), silver jewelry, and embroidered high boots.

Architecture

Tu homes are earthen courtyard houses (夯土庄廓院) with:

• Thick rammed earth walls (50–80 cm)
• Flat roofs, south-facing gates
• Courtyards with grain storage, flower gardens
• Incorporation of Tibetan Buddhist shrines and traditional heating stoves

Representative villages: Xiaozhuang, Banyan, Wama

Daily Etiquette

• Hospitality: Serve three cups of Qingke wine, offer khata scarves, pour tea with two hands
• Respect for elders: Stand when elders enter, greet properly, observe seating order
• Taboos: Avoid dog, horse, donkey meat; do not step on thresholds or sacred spaces; request permission before photographing rituals

Marriage and Courtship

• Courtship: Singing contests (Hua’er 对唱), gifting Pan embroidery items, marriage within certain surnames prohibited
• Wedding ceremonies: Proposal, betrothal, gift exchange, bride departure, Anzhao dance, crying rituals, blessings by monks, traditional feast with hand-grabbed lamb and barley dishes

Funeral Customs

• Rapid burial (within 3 days), wrapped in white cloth, no coffin, graves face west, strict mourning for 49 days
• Rituals include Buddhist prayers, burning incense, offering khata scarves, no music or entertainment

Religious Beliefs

• Core: Tibetan Buddhism, Gelug school, daily chanting, spinning prayer wheels, incense burning
• Folk beliefs: Shamanistic rituals, worship of mountain, water, and sun gods, ancestor reverence
• Key temples: Youning Temple (佑宁寺, Huzhu), Tiantang Temple (天堂寺, Tianzhu)

Major Festivals

• Nadun Festival (纳顿节): July–September, two-month harvest celebration with dances, horse racing, wrestling, and folk songs
• Hua’er Festival (花儿会): June, singing contests, social interaction, courtship
• Buddha-Shining Festival (晒佛节): January 15 (lunar), display of giant Buddha images, rituals, Tibetan opera
• Anzhao Festival (安昭节): Spring Festival and Nadun, group dancing, singing
• Wheel Autumn (轮子秋): Competitive dance with large wooden wheels, performed during Nadun

Cuisine

• Staple Foods: Qingke flour or tsampa (糌粑), fried noodles (sanzi/帕呼日), fried flatbread (youbing/油饼), buckwheat noodles (niangpi/酿皮), fermented barley drink (tianpei/甜醅)
• Signature Dishes: Hand-grabbed lamb, Tu-style stewed rice, blood sausages, meat sausages
• Beverages: Qingke barley wine, Tibetan-style milk tea, butter tea

Cultural Arts and Handcrafts

• Music & Dance:
  • Anzhao Dance (state-level intangible heritage)
  • Wheel Autumn acrobatics (轮子秋)
  • Hua’er folk singing
  • Traditional instruments: flute, suona, sanxian, sihu, hand drums
• Handicrafts:
  • Pan embroidery (盘绣), intricate rainbow patterns, wearable and decorative
  • Qingke wine brewing, traditional methods in Huzhu Xiaozhuang
  • Earthen courtyard construction, rammed earth techniques
• Literature & Oral Traditions: Epic tales like King Gesar (格萨尔王传), local long poems, folk stories like Rainbow Girl (彩虹姑娘)

Top Cultural Tourism Attractions

Huzhu Tu Autonomous County

• Huzhu Tu Homeland Park (互助土族故土园): Five core attractions, Pan embroidery, Anzhao dance, wheel performances, Qingke wine tasting
• Xiaozhuang Village (小庄村): Traditional courtyard, Pan embroidery workshops, immersive folk experiences
• Banyan Village (班彦村): Folk square, Pan embroidery, Qingke wine workshop, rainbow costume photo ops
• Youning Temple (佑宁寺): Qinghai’s largest Tu Buddhist temple, seasonal festivals

Minhe Hui and Tu Autonomous County

• 32jia Village (三二家村): Ancient riverside village, Tuyuhun cultural heritage, folk wedding demonstrations
• Guanting Ancient Town (官亭古镇): Historical Huanghe river port, folk performances, scenic river cruises

Datong Hui and Tu Autonomous County

• Laoye Mountain (老爷山): Sacred mountain, forested trails, Hua’er singing festivals
• Tuguanpu Village (土关铺村): Earthen courtyards, Anzhao dance, Qingke wine workshops

Gansu Tianzhu Tibetan Autonomous County

• Tiantang Temple (天堂寺): Historic Gelug monastery, Tibetan-Buddhist architecture, cultural performances
• Songshan Tu Village (松山镇土族村): Traditional courtyards, barley fields, Anzhao dance, local cuisine

Travel Tips and Recommendations

Best Time to Visit

• Summer (June–August): Cool weather, barley harvest, festivals
• Festival Highlights: February (Hua’er contests), June (Hua’er festival), July–September (Nadun festival), January (Buddha-Shining Festival)
• Autumn (September–October): Mild weather, harvest celebrations, fresh Qingke wine

Suggested 5-Day Cultural Itinerary

• Day 1: Xining → Huzhu Tu Homeland Park → Rainbow Tribe → Wheel performance → Xiaozhuang Village → Overnight in Huzhu
• Day 2: Huzhu → Youning Temple → Buddha-Shining or scripture viewing → Banyan Village → Pan embroidery → Overnight Huzhu
• Day 3: Huzhu → Datong → Laoye Mountain → Hua’er Festival → Tuguanpu Village → Traditional meal → Overnight Datong
• Day 4: Datong → Minhe → 32jia Village → Huanghe River → Folk wedding show → Overnight Minhe
• Day 5: Minhe → Guanting Ancient Town → Huanghe cruise → Return to Xining

Transportation

• Arrival: Fly to Xining Caojiabao Airport → high-speed train or bus to Huzhu, Minhe, Datong
• Local Travel: Walking, electric scooters in towns; private car or shared transport between villages

Accommodation

• Ethnic Homestays: Xiaozhuang, Banyan Village, Huzhu Xiaozhuang Qingke wine-themed stays
• Hotels: Business hotels in Huzhu with modern facilities

Traveler Tips

• Respect local customs: ask before photographing, avoid taboos
• Dress appropriately for altitude and cultural sensitivity
• Taste local food like hand-grabbed lamb and Pan embroidery snacks
• Buy authentic Pan embroidery, Qingke wine, and silver jewelry at certified workshops