The Derung people walk on a suspension bridge to cross the Dulong River, photo taken by Song Linwu in 1985. [Photo/ China Photographers Association]

Derung ethnic group

Located in a canyon with a depth of 3,800 meters and surrounded by the Tibetan Plateau in the north, the Gaoligong Mountain in the east, and the Dandanglika Mountain in the west, the inhabitated area of the Derung people was isolated.

Although the Derung ethic group is one of the smallest groups among the 56 ethnic groups of China, their hometown abounds in numerous rare herbs and Chinese caterpillar fungus.