The Naisu of China

The Naisu of China, numbering approximately 82,500 people, are No Longer Unreached. They are a Yi people of northern Yunnan whose ancestors were part of the wider Yi migrations across southwest China, maintaining a distinct Naisu identity, language, and Red Yi cultural traditions in isolated mountain communities. They mostly adhere to Chinese Folk Religion and Wuding-Luquan Yi is their primary language.

Photo by Google. (2026). Image generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash: Naisu

Fast Facts:

Affinity Group: Tibetan Peoples
Country: China
People Cluster: Other Tibeto-Burmese
Primary Language(s): Wuding-Luquan Yi (ywq)
Primary Religion(s): Chinese Folk Religion
Population: 82,500
Strategic Progress Index (SPI): No Longer Unreached
Global Status of Evangelical Christianity (GSEC): 2% or Greater but Less than 5% Evangelical
People Group ID: PG007322
View on Joshua Project

Pray for the Naisu of China

Join others around the world in praying for the lost to be saved, the gospel to advance, the global Church to grow, and for laborers to be sent out and sustained in the harvest.

Dig Deeper (Religion):

Primary Religion: Chinese Folk Religion
Religious Affiliation: Ethnoreligion

92%
%
Chinese Folk Religion Adherents

Dig Deeper (Language):

Primary Language: Wuding-Luquan Yi
Language Family: Sino-Tibetan

100%
%
Yi, Wuding-Luquan Speakers

Media Resources in Wuding-Luquan Yi:

Films:
TitleLink
JESUSView Film
MagdalenaView Film

2 films

Bible Resources in Wuding-Luquan Yi:

No Bible resources are listed for this language.

Or check out the Wuding-Luquan Yi bible at Bible.com

Linked from YouVersion

SPI: No longer Unreached

The Naisu are No Longer Unreached, which means there are more than 2% evangelical Christian populations and there are churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice. There is still more to be done among them.

Next steps for the Naisu:
Empower local believers to begin praying for their own people
Continue gospel seed sowing and church planting
Encourage local leaders to being leading church planting strategy and looking for Unreached and Unengaged groups nearby

Pray specifically for the Naisu of China

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
readRom 6:23

Pray that those who haven't heard yet will hear and believe that the wages of their sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.
readPsalm 25:5

Pray that the gospel will advance and that God will lead people in His truth, bringing many to salvation.

Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.
readLuke 18:17

Pray that as people trust in Christ, they will have simple, childlike confidence that He will provide for their needs.

Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.
read3 John 1:2

Ask God to grant protection and good health — both physical and spiritual — to those He sends cross-culturally to share the gospel.

Naisu Across Countries (ROP3 - 114238) reported in the following countries:

Strategic Progress Index
All

1 people group

To download a comprehensive people group list in spreadsheet form, visit our Research Data page.

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