Okay, here is a summary of the provided Wikipedia article on ethnic groups in China, presented in English as requested:
China is a vast country with a diverse population, but it is overwhelmingly dominated by the Han Chinese ethnic group. According to the 2010 census, Han Chinese constituted approximately 91.5% of the population, numbering around 1.2 billion people. Alongside the Han majority, the Chinese government officially recognizes 55 other ethnic minority groups. These minority groups collectively make up about 8% of the population (roughly 105 million people) and are primarily located in the country's vast border regions, including the northwest, north, northeast, south, and southwest, although some reside in central interior areas as well.
The largest officially recognized minority groups include the Zhuang (nearly 20 million), Hui (over 11 million), Uyghurs (11 million), Miao (11 million), Manchus (over 10 million), Yi (nearly 10 million), Tujia (nearly 10 million), and Tibetans (7 million). Other significant groups include the Mongols, Buyei, Dong, Yao, and Bai, among others. This official list of 56 ethnic groups (55 minorities plus the Han) was finalized gradually after the establishment of the People's Republic of China, starting with 39 groups recognized in 1954 and reaching the current number in 1979 with the addition of the Jino people.
Being an officially recognized ethnic minority in China comes with certain benefits and rights under the state's policies. These include measures like affirmative action in education and employment, historical exemptions from the one-child policy, designated representation in political bodies, and government support aimed at preserving their unique cultures and languages. Furthermore, ethnic minority autonomous areas receive additional state funding. The languages of these recognized groups can be used in official government contexts within their respective regions.
Beyond the 56 officially recognized groups, there are also numerous unlisted or unrecognized ethnic groups within China. The 2000 census recorded over 730,000 people belonging to "undistinguished ethnic groups," with the vast majority residing in Guizhou province. Examples of these groups include the Äynu (often classified as Uyghurs), Tuvans (often classified as Mongols), Sherpas (classified as Tibetans), Tanka boat people, and the Macanese. These groups do not receive the same official status or benefits as the 56 recognized ethnicities. It's also noted that the ethnic classification system of mainland China is not applied in the Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macau, which have their own unique demographic compositions, including significant populations of non-Chinese Asian and European descent.