Until Kubla Khan conquered the kingdom of Nanchao , and many of its people fled to the south, this was the homeland of the Tai people. Today large numbers of ethnic Tais - known as Dai, Bai and other names - still inhabit many of the mountainous regions and plains, though two-thirds of Yunnan 's 41 million population are now Han Chinese.

However, Yunnan is one of the most ethnically diverse provinces in Asia . The Bai and Dai are among the few registered ethnic minority groups to have populations over the one million mark. Yi, Naxi and Hani ethnic groups have also surpassed this mark. The Miao, Lisu, Hui, Lahu , Wa , Yao , Jingpo and Tibetan minorities all have populations exceeding 100,000, while the Bulang, Buyi, Pumi, A'chang, Nu, Jino, De'ang and Mongolian groups each exceed 10,000. The Shui, Manchu and Dulong have more than 4,000 members each Over the past 20 years, the government has recognised the importance of having a multi-ethnic nation, known as duominzu guojia. Writing systems are being developed for all minority languages in China , and elementary school students in some minority areas have been offered a choice of either Chinese or their minority language as the medium of instruction.

Although the country's official language is Mandarin, the Han speak a dialect of it, and almost all of the minority nationalities have their own languages.

Ethnic diversity in Yunnan has led to a varied and complex order of religious beliefs, which co-exist happily. The four distinct religions are Buddhism, Taoism, Islam and Christianity, however one group may believe in several religions simultaneously, whilst other groups may share one common belief. Taoism, introduced in the 7th century, is principally a Han belief, while Islam came to Yunnan around 1253 with the establishment of the Yuan Dynasty and the arrival of outside officials to replace local authorities. An English missionary introduced Christianity in 1877.

The wide range of ethnic groups and mix of religious beliefs has left Yunnan with so many festivals it would be impossible to list them all here. Many festivals are based on the Chinese lunar calendar and so have variable dates that relate to the new and full moon. The following festivals are celebrated throughout the province.

Chinese New Year - Like Christmas in the west, this is a time for joyous family reunions, and exchanging gifts. Elaborate meals are prepared, and there is an air of continuous celebration which runs through until the Lantern festival. Falling on the first day of the Lunar New Year, sometime between January and February, this is the longest and most important festival in China . With the exception of movie theatres and restaurants, most businesses close down for an entire week. Evil spirits are said to wander freely at this time, and used to be kept at bay by thousands of exploding firecrackers. However, due to injury and fires, this fun has now been curtailed with the introduction of explosive tape recordings.

Lantern Festival - Celebrated on the 15th day of the Lunar New Year, this dates back to ancient China , when people searched for heavenly spirits by lantern light. This has developed into a full festival with acrobatic displays, lion and dragon dances, folk art performances, temple processions, and houses are gaily decorated with lanterns and coloured streamers.

Pure Brightness Day - In the third lunar month, the Ching Ming Festival is held to honour ancestors, make offerings, and clean their graves. Kite-flying, Chinese football, dog races, and other amusements add to the day's festive feel.

Dragon Boat Festival - On the fifth day of the fifth lunar month a great celebration, featuring dragon boat races, takes place. Teams of dragon boats, similar to long canoes, train for weeks for the colourful and exciting contests. The day - originally in commemoration of the great Chinese poet, Qu Yuan, who lived over 2,000 years ago - is also marked with feasts and music.

Mid-Autumn Festival - Celebrating the harvest moon, on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, this festival is marked by family reunions, moon gazing, and eating traditional moon cakes - a round pastry stuffed with red bean paste, egg yolk, or fruit.

Ghost Day - It is believed that, on the first day of the seventh lunar month, ghosts are allowed out to re-enter the world of the living for one more day of fun. To ensure the spectral visitors enjoy themselves lavish offerings are made, paper money burned, and colourful operas performed. The climax is the Chong Yang Festival on the 15th of the month, when Taoist and Buddhist priests conduct chanting ceremonies for the ghosts and sacrificial feasts are laid out in temples.

Dragon & Lion Dances - Though they were originally used to stop the spread of epidemics, and to pray for rain, colourful and noisy dragon and lion dances now form a part of many festivals and celebrations. Traditional Chinese festivals are an occasion to ward off evil spirits and enjoy sumptuous feasts with reunited family members.