The 8.71 million people from the Yi ethnic group mainly live in the provinces of Sichuan, Yunnan and Guizhou, as well as, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.Most Yi people are scattered in mountainous areas at high altitudes, while only a small number live on flat land or in valleys.nmN彝族人网（彝人网）- 彝族文化网络博物馆
Liangshan Yi autonomous prefecture in Sichuan province is the largest community of Yi people in China and it was also the only route for the "Ancient Tea Horse Road".
nmN彝族人网（彝人网）- 彝族文化网络博物馆
Butuo county is the hinterland but also the least developed area in Liangshan, with an altitude of 2,385 meters.Yi people in Butuo are simple, honest, and unspoiled. The natural scenery is beautiful and enchanting.In order to capture the real life of Yi people, three photographers - Wu Xiaopeng, He Qinming, and Liu Jianming - traveled to Butuo more than 10 times in the last five years.They went into Yi villages and spent time with families to capture the lives of Yi people in black and white photos.Their work reflects the traditional homes, customs, and lifestyles of Yi people, as well as the natural landscape in Butuo.The photos are natural, vivid, and touching, with great humanistic and artistic value.nmN彝族人网（彝人网）- 彝族文化网络博物馆
![Motorbike and horse-drawn vehicles seem to be the major means of transport in the mountainous area where Yi people live. Photo by Liu Jianming. [Photo provided by photoint.net]](//www.kagenwater.com/en/d/file/p/2020/04/cd12800c3c738925d8afb64c476e6e51.jpg "Motorbike and horse-drawn vehicles seem to be the major means of transport in the mountainous area where Yi people live. Photo by Liu Jianming. [Photo provided by photoint.net]")
Motorbike and horse-drawn vehicles seem to be the major means of transport in the mountainous area where Yi people live. Photo by Liu Jianming. [Photo provided by photoint.net]
A pig is weighed before a trade between Yi people. Photo by He Qinming. [Photo provided by photoint.net]
Portrait of an old man. Photo by He Qinming. [Photo provided by photoint.net]
A boy of Yi ethnic group wears a headset. Pop music is also popular among young people here in Liangshan Yi autonomous prefecture, Sichuan province. Photo by Wu Xiaopeng. [Photo provided by photoint.net]
It's business as usual for this shop despite the heavy snow. Photo by He Qinming. [Photo provided by photoint.net]
Portrait of a man of Yi ethnic group. Photo by Liu Jianming. [Photo provided by photoint.net]
Women from the Yi ethnic group wear traditional costumes and headwear. Photo by He Qinming. [Photo provided by photoint.net]
Portrait of an old man of Yi ethnic group smoking. Photo by Liu Jianming. [Photo provided by photoint.net]
Young Yi people love motorbikes. Photo by Liu Jianming. [Photo provided by photoint.net]
Portrait of a woman of Yi ethnic group wearing traditional headwear. Photo by Wu Xiaopeng. [Photo provided by photoint.net]
Portrait of an old woman of Yi ethnic group. Photo by He Qinming. [Photo provided by photoint.net]
A family poses in front of their home. Photo by He Qinming. [Photo provided by photoint.net]
Yi people work in the field. Photo by He Qinming. [Photo provided by photoint.net]
Snow covers Butuo county in Liangshan Yi autonomous prefecture, Sichuan province. Photo by He Qinming. [Photo provided by photoint.net]
A busy hair salon in Liangshan Yi autonomous prefecture, Sichuan province. Photo by Wu Xiaopeng. [Photo provided by photoint.net]
![Motorbike and horse-drawn vehicles seem to be the major means of transport in the mountainous area where Yi people live. Photo by Liu Jianming. [Photo provided by photoint.net]](http://www.kagenwater.com/en/d/file/p/2020/04/cd12800c3c738925d8afb64c476e6e51.jpg "Motorbike and horse-drawn vehicles seem to be the major means of transport in the mountainous area where Yi people live. Photo by Liu Jianming. [Photo provided by photoint.net]")
![A pig is weighed before a trade between Yi people. Photo by He Qinming. [Photo provided by photoint.net]](http://www.kagenwater.com/en/d/file/p/2020/04/1908a6e4aba9bba40d8600b09de5ff4f.jpg "A pig is weighed before a trade between Yi people. Photo by He Qinming. [Photo provided by photoint.net]")
![Portrait of an old man. Photo by He Qinming. [Photo provided by photoint.net]](http://www.kagenwater.com/en/d/file/p/2020/04/bffdc74009a70f422d99ee660d82a5c5.jpg "Portrait of an old man. Photo by He Qinming. [Photo provided by photoint.net]")
![A boy of Yi ethnic group wears a headset. Pop music is also popular among young people here in Liangshan Yi autonomous prefecture, Sichuan province. Photo by Wu Xiaopeng. [Photo provided by photoint.net]](http://www.kagenwater.com/en/d/file/p/2020/04/73ef231fb1eb51432b9ee9b76727a8b0.jpg "A boy of Yi ethnic group wears a headset. Pop music is also popular among young people here in Liangshan Yi autonomous prefecture, Sichuan province. Photo by Wu Xiaopeng. [Photo provided by photoint.net]")
![Portrait of a man of Yi ethnic group. Photo by Liu Jianming. [Photo provided by photoint.net]](http://www.kagenwater.com/en/d/file/p/2020/04/36d07cf755da9cddc4efddfb52ccbc58.jpg "Portrait of a man of Yi ethnic group. Photo by Liu Jianming. [Photo provided by photoint.net]")
![Women from the Yi ethnic group wear traditional costumes and headwear. Photo by He Qinming. [Photo provided by photoint.net]](http://www.kagenwater.com/en/d/file/p/2020/04/d3a276a8b7f08aab4a836398e5e9d528.jpg "Women from the Yi ethnic group wear traditional costumes and headwear. Photo by He Qinming. [Photo provided by photoint.net]")
![Portrait of an old man of Yi ethnic group smoking. Photo by Liu Jianming. [Photo provided by photoint.net]](http://www.kagenwater.com/en/d/file/p/2020/04/abe75c2d4bbdf6d5caec385f1e6cb273.jpg "Portrait of an old man of Yi ethnic group smoking. Photo by Liu Jianming. [Photo provided by photoint.net]")
![Young Yi people love motorbikes. Photo by Liu Jianming. [Photo provided by photoint.net]](http://www.kagenwater.com/en/d/file/p/2020/04/bdb855ec78967bb598f2eb0c8296082b.jpg "Young Yi people love motorbikes. Photo by Liu Jianming. [Photo provided by photoint.net]")
![Portrait of a woman of Yi ethnic group wearing traditional headwear. Photo by Wu Xiaopeng. [Photo provided by photoint.net]](http://www.kagenwater.com/en/d/file/p/2020/04/52a7bcd96fe44ef362728be469fcb59c.jpg "Portrait of a woman of Yi ethnic group wearing traditional headwear. Photo by Wu Xiaopeng. [Photo provided by photoint.net]")
![Portrait of an old woman of Yi ethnic group. Photo by He Qinming. [Photo provided by photoint.net]](http://www.kagenwater.com/en/d/file/p/2020/04/2134d41b5acdbb8a191d8fa3be8ada0d.jpg "Portrait of an old woman of Yi ethnic group. Photo by He Qinming. [Photo provided by photoint.net]")
![A family poses in front of their home. Photo by He Qinming. [Photo provided by photoint.net]](http://www.kagenwater.com/en/d/file/p/2020/04/1c68e2b3ec6570de050614e35f2b644c.jpg "A family poses in front of their home. Photo by He Qinming. [Photo provided by photoint.net]")
![Yi people work in the field. Photo by He Qinming. [Photo provided by photoint.net]](http://www.kagenwater.com/en/d/file/p/2020/04/a2bcf06e9f33a28902897e03167a2111.jpg "Yi people work in the field. Photo by He Qinming. [Photo provided by photoint.net]")
![Snow covers Butuo county in Liangshan Yi autonomous prefecture, Sichuan province. Photo by He Qinming. [Photo provided by photoint.net]](http://www.kagenwater.com/en/d/file/p/2020/04/3c5a242b22ed21d99058ffe50c1221b3.jpg "Snow covers Butuo county in Liangshan Yi autonomous prefecture, Sichuan province. Photo by He Qinming. [Photo provided by photoint.net]")
![A busy hair salon in Liangshan Yi autonomous prefecture, Sichuan province. Photo by Wu Xiaopeng. [Photo provided by photoint.net]](http://www.kagenwater.com/en/d/file/p/2020/04/3862e8f66eb1ec3c61e5e461551f4b69.jpg "A busy hair salon in Liangshan Yi autonomous prefecture, Sichuan province. Photo by Wu Xiaopeng. [Photo provided by photoint.net]")