The Last Cave Dweller

Rich in ethnic tradition and geographical resources, Guizhou in southwest China is familiarly known as an ethnic museum.

The Miao people��s village of Zhongdong -- which literally means "middle cave" -- is built in a huge, aircraft hanger-sized natural cave, carved inside a mountain over thousands of years by wind, water and seismic shifts.

In other parts of China, people live in houses tunneled out of hillsides, but Zhongdong is, the local government believes, the last place in the country where people live year-round in a naturally occurring cave.

The villagers are all ethnic Miao people, supposedly related to Southeast Asia's Hmong, and one of several minority groups who live in Guizhou.

Hezhe People

An ancient and hard-working ethnic group, the Hezhe ethnic minority is a small member in the 56 ethnic groups of the Peoples Republic of China. They mainly live on the border between China and Russia.

The Hezhe people are the only ones who live on fishing and driving a sledge with dogs in northern China. The fishing industry is the main source of livelihood for most Hezhes. Old and young, male and female, they are all good at fishing. They have gained superb skills and knowledge in fishing through time-tested experience.

Hunting is another source of income for the Hezhes. Nowadays, they are also engaged in agriculture and aquatic-breeding.