Rice terraces which reach up a string of

Rice terraces which reach up a string of 500m peaks around the Dong minority village of Ping'an in China's southwest Gangxi province, 17 September 2003. Some 36.8% of South-West China is made up of minorities and the region contains almost 50% or 45 million of China's entire 'minority nationality' population. They are made up from Chinese Tibetan, Thai and Burmese peoples and are distinct by their colourful dress and multitude of festivals held throughout the year which are used mainly as a way of courtship between men and women. AFP PHOTO/Peter PARKS (Photo credit should read PETER PARKS/AFP via Getty Images)