The State Ethnic Affairs Commission (SAC) of China plans to revise a series of books on the country's ethnic groups with the aim of displaying and promoting the development of the various nationalities.

Pan Chaolin, a researcher with the Ethnic Institute of Guizhou Province in Southwest China, said that the series Chinese Ethnic Groups is one of 401 books on ethnic affairs.

The first edition of Chinese Ethnic Groups was published in 1981. The new edition will provide more comprehensive information about the history, culture, customs and living styles the ethnic minorities, Pan said.

China, a multi-national nation, has 56 ethnic nationalities. Apart from Han, there are 55 other ethnic groups, including the Zhuang, Hui, Uygur, Yi, Miao, Manchu, Tibetan, Mongolian, Tujia, Bouyei, Oroqen, Tatar, Lhoba, Gaoshan and Hezhe.

(Xinhua News Agency February 21, 2006)