Miao nationality is the oldest ethnic group in Fenghuang County. With a total population of  250.410, Miao people is an indigenous people of the county, and the distribution forms a large concentration and a small dispersion. Mr Xiong Xiling , Miao ethnic people, was one of  the famous historical figures in Fenghuang County.
►Xiong Xiling

The ancient Miao people lived in the area of Yellow River basin.  Chi You was their ancestor. He once led his people to fight with the Yanhuang tribe, and moved to live in today's  Hunan and Guizhou Provinces after failure. 

The Miao area is dominated by agriculture and supplemented by hunting. The main religions of the Miao people are primitive worship forms such as nature worship, totem worship, and ancestor worship. Miao society is superstitious about ghosts and gods, and prevails in Wushu.

Miao nationality has its own language, but no words. The arts and crafts of the Miao people, such as flower picking, embroidery, brocade, batik, paper-cutting, and handicraft making, are magnificent and famous, and they are well-known both at home and abroad. Among them, the Miao batik process has a history of thousands of years. There are more than 130 types of Miao costumes, which are comparable to the costumes of any nation in the world. The Miao is a nation that can sing and dance, and is especially famous for love songs and wine songs.
►Miao Minority Silver Ornaments
►Songs of Miao Ethnic Minority

Walking around the ancient city of Phoenix, you can see some people wearing Miao costumes. Some of them sit by the street to sell various souvenirs, some walk around the alley with flower baskets to sell garlands to tourists, and some wash clothes by the Tuojiang River ...
►Miao women selling flowers in Fenghuang
►Women washing clothes by Tuojiang River

Tujia nationality is the second largest ethnic group in Fenghuang County. There are 75.000 Tujia people who live with the Han nationality. Tujia nationality is an  ancient ethnic group. Tujia people are distributed in the border areas of Hunan, Hubei, Sichuan, Chongqing and Guizhou provinces.

Mr Shen Congwen and Mr Huang Yongyu are Tujia people who are also the famous figures in Fenghuang County.
►Huang Yongyu 
►Shen Congwen

In the ancient city of Phoenix, you can see some locals holding their ethnic costumes at Shawan, Rock Jumping and other spots along theTuojiang River, they greet you warmly and recommend you to wear their ethnic costumes to take pictures. Among of these persons, they area Tujia people.
►Wear Tujia or Miao costumes in Feanghuang
►Festivals in Fenghuang