Situated mostly in Yunnan and Guizhou provinces, the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau is the fourth largest plateau in China, with a total area of around 500,000 square kilometers and an average elevation of 2,000— 4,000 meters. High in the west and low in the east, the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau boasts numerous rivers, which helped form a multitude of deep and steep canyons. The fertile soil in many parts of the canyon is very conducive to the growth of various crops.

The unique natural environment of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau has created biological and cultural diversity. It is not only a region abundant in forest and mineral resources, but also an important area where ancient humans originated. The Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau is home to the largest number of ethnic minorities in China, and all those ethnic groups have retained their own rich and colorful cultural traditions.