Abstract

This article focuses on how modern Chinese tourism promotes ethnic Miao people as a model “happy minority,” whose identity is inseparable from the ability to entertain urban Chinese through “authentic” cultural performances of song and dance. In doing so, we explore the social construction of “Miao” identity, including its meaning in Chinese history. A major ethical concern for us is how tourism supports campaigns to maintain a national narrative of ethnic harmony by homogenizing diverse cultural identities of ethnic minorities. As a counter-narrative, we highlight voices of Miao people (particularly the Hmong subgroup) to show persistent challenges they face in modern society. Meeting the demands of ethnic tourism pressures minority groups to accept their government categorization as “Miao.” As we show through the experiences of Hmong people, sustaining a distinct ethnic identity is complicated by the reality that accepting the “Miao” label is necessary to access government resources and rights.