The Tujia people live in the borders of Hunan, Hubei and Guizhou Provinces, and Chongqing Municipality. The Tujia have a long history, dating back 2,000 years, when their ancestors first immigrated to the western parts of Hunan and Hubei provinces.

The Tujia are renowned for their singing and song composing abilities and for their tradition of the Baishou Dance, a 500 year old collective dance which uses 70 ritual gestures to represent war, farming, hunting, courtship and other aspects of traditional life. They are also famous for their richly-patterned cloth, known as Xilankapu. Traditionally, Tujia women wear short coat with loose sleeves and flowery lace, they wear long skirts, wrap their coiled hair in cloth, and decorated themselves with necklaces, earrings, bracelets and ankle bracelets. Men wear short jackets with many buttons.

The houses of the Tujia, known as Diaojiaolou are very functional and similar to those of the Miao. On the lower floor, there is livestock; while the girls' bedrooms are kept upstairs. This design focuses on the use of small rooms but is also well ventilated, damp-proof and clean.