A Glimpse of Tanka Culture in Lingshui, China's Hainan

　May 15, 2025

This photo taken on May 13, 2025 shows a daily life scene of a Tanka family living on a boat at Hainan Tanka Museum in Lingshui, south China's Hainan Province.

Hainan Tanka Museum, a comprehensive museum of Tanka culture, showcases the maritime history of Tanka people.

Tanka people, also known as Danjia people, traditionally lived on sampans and made a living by fishing in coastal waters in southern China. In Hainan, they have formed unique water-related cultures in language, customs and beliefs, among others.

Lingshui Li Autonomous County of Hainan Province is one of the Tanka communities onshore, and the local Tanka people not only bear the characteristics of those elsewhere but also display local features. [Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu]

   

This photo taken on May 13, 2025 shows the shipbuilding tools of Tanka people displayed at Hainan Tanka Museum in Lingshui, south China's Hainan Province. [Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu]

 

An aerial drone photo taken on May 13, 2025 shows the Hainan Tanka Museum in Lingshui, south China's Hainan Province. [Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu]

 

People visit the Hainan Tanka Museum in Lingshui, south China's Hainan Province, May 13, 2025. [Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu]

 

A visitor looks at wedding attire of the Tanka people at Hainan Tanka Museum in Lingshui, south China's Hainan Province, May 13, 2025. [Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu]

 

Visitors watch an animation showing the Tanka people going to the sea to collect pearls at Hainan Tanka Museum in Lingshui, south China's Hainan Province, May 13, 2025. [Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu]

 

A child experiences a fishing game to learn about the production methods of the Tanka people at Hainan Tanka Museum in Lingshui, south China's Hainan Province, May 13, 2025. [Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu]

 

An aerial drone photo taken on May 13, 2025 shows a view of the Tanka sampans in Lingshui, south China's Hainan Province. [Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu]

 

An aerial drone photo taken on May 13, 2025 shows a view of the Tanka sampans in Lingshui, south China's Hainan Province. [Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu]

 

This photo taken on May 13, 2025 shows models of the Tanka people's cuisine displayed at Hainan Tanka Museum in Lingshui, south China's Hainan Province. [Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu]

 

A visitor views production tools of the Tanka people at Hainan Tanka Museum in Lingshui, south China's Hainan Province, May 13, 2025. [Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu]

 

This photo taken on May 13, 2025 shows the scene of the Tanka people holding a wedding on water at Hainan Tanka Museum in Lingshui, south China's Hainan Province. [Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu]

 

 

(Source: Xinhua)

Editor: Wang Shasha

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