Description: Tai nationality (傣族) originates from the western part of Yungui Plateau and now mainly distributes in Dai Autonomous Prefecture of Xishuangbanna. It takes up an population of more than 1,260,000 on the basis of the census in 2006.
Language: Tai language
Religion: Tai nationality believes in Theravada Buddhism.
Clothing Character: Dai men usually wear double-breasted collarless shirt and long pants. Wrap the head with white or blue cloth. Women’s clothes are various according to the different geography. However, hairdo, tight skirt and short skirt are their common feature. The tight skirt is as long as to the feet. The skirt is tight and short.
Food Culture: Tai people lives on rice and sticky rice. Bamboo rice is the local dish of high representative. Rice is put into fresh bamboo with water, then broil on the fire. The delicate fragrance of bamboo is ducked into the rice.
Dried sour vegetable is favored by every Tai people. Boil vegetables after they are dried in the sun, then add papaw juice to sour the vegetables, finally keep them after dried in the sun again. Sour fish and grilled fish with citronella are the local dishes.
Pu’er tea is the specialty of Xishuangbanna. It was sold to everywhere in China in the Tang Dynasty and exported to Southeast Asia and South Asia in Qing Dynasty.
Festivals: Water-Sprinkling Festival (泼水节) is the most distinctive festivals for Tai nationality, which is held in April. On that day, girls wash the Buddha with water floating flowers firstly, then sprinkle water mutually with basin or barrel. They sing as they sprinkle water to express nice wish.
Traditional Dances: Peacock dance (孔雀舞) is the most delighted to hear and see by masses. Beautiful Tai village is the home of peacock. In the past, peacock often was seen to dance in the morning and dusk. Peacock is the symbol of happiness, good fortune, beautiful and goodness for Tai people. On festivals, they gather together to watch the play about peacock according to the folk story, tales of legendia and Buddhist parables.
Architecture Style: Be subject to the climate, altitude, terrain and building material, the residential building of Tai nationality mainly live in rod style architecture. It is made of wood and bamboo to keep cool and dry. It is divided into two layers. The upper part is for people and the lower one is to raise fowl.
Add On: Hmong Nationality
Yi Nationality
Tibetan Nationality
Buyi Nationality
Dong Nationaity
Bai Nationality
Hani Nationality
Sophie

