The Qiang minority mainly gathers in counties of Sichuan like Maoxian, Wenchuan, Lixian of the Aba (Ngawa) Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture as well as in Beichuan Qiang Autonomous County in Mianyang City. Today's Qiang ethnic minority is the branch that keeps the Qiang ethnic name and best preserves its traditional culture of all ancient Qiang branches.

Both Qiang men and women wear a flax long gown, which is usually white and similar to a Manchu-style dress. Over the long gown is a sheepskin vest, with the fur facing outside in sunny days and inside in rainy days. The Qiang women commonly wear an embroidered black headscarf and men tie a black kerchief round the head.

The typical outfit for Qiang men is a blue-cloth long gown, a sheepskin vest over it and a cyan kerchief round the head. For Qiang women, their dresses are bright-colored and the usual attire is a blue or green lace long gown, with a line of small plum flower-shaped silver ornaments adorning the collar. An embroidered apron with ribbons is tied around the waist and a black headscarf on the head.

Both Qiang men and women have a special trinket with them, women carrying a silver sewing box and men a silver cigarette case.