The Li call themselves the Xiao or Ben Di people. They trace their origins to the Luo Yue branch of the ancient Bai Yue people. The Li language belongs to the Tai-Kadai language family. It’s written using an alphabet developed in the 1950s.

The Miao subdivide themselves into a number of different groups such as Long Skirt Miao, Short Skirt Miao, Red Miao and Black Miao. They are descendants of the clans and tribes indigenous to the Yellow River basin and the south and middle reaches of the Yangtze River.

The origins of the Yao are disputed, but most believe that they are related to the Jingman and Wulingman peoples from Changsha, called the Muyao and Mango tribes respectively in ancient times.

AP - China's secretive communist government said Tuesday it has approved rules boosting official transparency but added that state secrets have to be safeguarded and social stability preserved.