Part of the series “We Are Dragon People.” All design, photography, and production by Colette Fu.

Pop up book. Photos printed with Epson Ultrachrome Pigment Ink on Epson Enhanced Matte paper, mounted onto Cougar 60lb smooth cover. Cloth covers.

With the help of a Fulbright fellowship, Fu began photographing for this project in 2008. 25 of the 55 minority tribes of China reside in Yunnan Province and comprise only 8% of the nation’s population, with the Han representing the majority. Fu’s mother is a member of the black Yi tribe; her grandfather was Lung Yun, Governor of Yunnan from 1927-1945 and Commander-in-Chief of the 1st Army Group.

In Xishuangbanna, where the largest number of Dai live, they refer to their area as “bazi,” meaning tranquil and beautiful. This land is near river basins in a lush subtropical land where the soil is very fertile. Their food is similar to Thai food in that it combines sour, spicy, salty, and sweet flavors.

This work was funded in part by the Fulbright Scholarship, the Independence Foundation, the Puffin Foundation, and the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts.