It is a minor ethnic groups in China  with a population of 437,997. Gelao ethnic people mainly live in Wuchuan Gelao and Miao Autonomous County and Daozhen Gelao Autonomous County in Guizhou province, with a small portion residing in Guiyang city, Liu Panshui, Zhunyi, Tongren, Bijie, Anshun and QianXina(southwest Guizhou Region),  and an even smaller part scattering around Yunnan and Guangxi provinces.

The Gelao people gather to reside in the north of Guizhou which is the slope zone for Yungui tableland transferring into Szechwan basin. The topography and physiognomy is complex and various, the annual rainfall are higher than the average rainfall of China, which results in plenty water conservancy and propagation. All this makes it fits to the development of agriculture and multi-industry.

Gelao people take priority of agriculture, plain area for paddy and other grain plants for dry land in the mountain area.

History

Gelao has a long history. 'Baipu' during the period from Shanzhou to Westhan, 'Pu' and 'Liao' during the period from Easthan to Northsouth dynasty had a close relation to the ancestor of Gelao. It has been named as 'Geliao', 'Liao' and 'Gelao' since Tang dynasty, and was named 'Gelao' after the establishment of the People's Republic of China.