The Manchu are one of China’s largest ethnic minority groups, with a population of more than 10 million. Today, they are primarily concentrated in northeastern China, particularly in Liaoning, Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces, as well as Beijing and Inner Mongolia.

The Manchu trace their origins to the Jurchen peoples of northeastern Asia, whose history stretches back centuries. In 1644, the Manchu entered Beijing and established the Qing dynasty, which would rule China for more than 250 years until 1911.

Traditionally, the Manchu spoke a language belonging to the Manchu-Tungusic branch and maintained a way of life centred on hunting, fishing and, later, agriculture and animal husbandry. Distinct cultural practices, including the wearing of the queue hairstyle, became closely associated with the Qing era.

Over time, interaction and intermarriage with the Han population led many Manchu communities to adopt Chinese customs and language. Despite these changes, the Manchu remain an important part of China’s cultural and historical landscape.