Encyclopaedia of the Peoples of China is a global project undertaken by Yilin Press and the UK publisher Greene Media. This beautifully illustrated book presents a panorama of life styles, customs, traditions and cultures of the 56 ethnic groups of China, interwoven with the history of how they came to be a great nation. The book combines the wisdom and efforts of many experts of England and China, including Prof. ZHANG Haiyang of Minzu University in China and Prof. Paul Richardson of Oxford Brookes University in the UK. This is a project sponsored by the Chinese Government, with the mission of comprehensively introducing some of the most fundamental elements of Chinese history and culture to readers both in and outside China. It is also hoped that the book will help more western readers better understand China. For this purpose, the structure and layout of the book are tailored for western readership. It strives to present the rich and colorful nature of Chinese culture in a smooth and easy to understand fashion. The ultimate goal is to contribute to world peace and mutual understanding among the nations in this age of globalization.