Abstract: A somatological survey on 953 adults of Baiku Yao population, including 605 males and 348 females, living in Yaoshan Yao nationality Country of Libo County, Guizhou and Lihu, Baxu Yao nationality Country of Nandan County, Guangxi was carried out in October 1999 and May 2000. Their ages ranged from 22 to 55 years old. Their parents, grandparents and maternal grandparents were Baiku Yao nationality. Twenty eight items of observations and 63 measurements were made.
The results of the survey are summarized briefly as follows:
1. The physical characteristics of the Baiku Yao
The Baiku Yao obviously belongsto the South Asian type of Mongoloid race. Most of the individuals belong to brachycephaly, hyperleptoproscopy, mesorrhiny. The stature of the Baiku Yao is of short type, the mean stature of males is 1556. 17 mm, and that of females is 1486.09mm.
2. The relationship of the Baiku Yao and other nationalities
On the basis of the dendrogram of the Baiku Yao and 16 groups of other minorities living in southern China, the physical character of the Baiku Yao is most closely related to the Maonan in Guizhou, Dong in Hunan, Miao in Yunnan, and is similar to those of the Miao, Yi, Dong and Yao in Guangxi. It is remotely related to the Miao, Shui in Guizhou, Tujia, Yao in Hunan and other nationalities.

Key words: Somatoscopy; Anthropometry; Physical anthropology; Baiku Yao population; Yao nationality