They number approximately 438,200 and are mainly located in the western part of the Guizhou Province. Some live in Guangxi, Yunnan, and Sichuan. The main religion practiced is Taoism with a small but significant Buddhist minority.
Language
The Gelao language belongs to the . Today, only a small minority of the Gelaos still speak this language. Since the various Gelao dialects differ greatly from each other, has been used as a ''lingua franca'' and is now the main language spoken by Gelaos. The , and Buyei languages are also used.
The Gelao language does not have an alphabet. Chinese characters are used instead.
Culture
The traditional suits of the men consist of jacket done up to a side and long pants. The women utilize short jackets and narrow skirts divided into three parts: the head office is elaborate in red wool while the other two are of fabric bordered in black and white colors. Men and women utilize long scarves.
In their traditional music, the Gelao use a two-stringed fiddle with a body made from a cow horn, called the ''jiaohu'' .
See also
*Languages of China
* Kadai peoples
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