A Qiang girl setting in front of the door, photo taken by Chen Xinyu in 2009. [Photo/ China Photographers Association]

Qiang ethnic group

Inhabiting Sichuan province, the Qiang children and women prefer to drink wine with honey, men tend to have a great capacity for liquor. Qiang handicrafts are outstanding among minority groups. Their shoes, sewn and embroidered by local women, look like delicate boats and are comfortable.They are also adept at building. The Diaolou and rope bridges have high artistic value. The Diaolou is a kind of building as high as 10-30 meters with the materials of stone and clay, functioning to store food and firewood and to defend enemy's aggression.