A number of practical principles will help you engage with indigenous culture in a way that is respectful and rewarding.

Seek out community-run enterprises, guesthouses, and cultural experiences rather than Han-Chinese-run “indigenous theme parks”. The difference in authenticity and in where your money goes is significant. Tribal villages that are community-operated will generally have guidelines about what visitors may photograph, which ceremonies are open to outsiders, and how to behave — follow them without question.

Do not photograph people, ceremonies, or sacred objects without explicit permission. The concept of cultural appropriation in commercial contexts is taken seriously by many indigenous communities, and the history of their culture being photographed, recorded, and commodified without consent or benefit is a live grievance.

If you are invited to a community event and are offered food, it is respectful to accept. Refusing food that is offered as an act of hospitality causes genuine offence. If you have dietary restrictions, explain them as gently as possible.