Abstract: A preliminary research on the physical charateristics of Yugu nationality was made in 1984. The 8 observational items and 51 measurements of adult 210 males and 199 females of Yugu nationality in Gansu province were investigated. The conclusions are as follows:
The mean stature of males is 1672. 72 mm, and that of females is 1562. 76 mm. The span of arm is larger than the stature in both sexes.
The cephalic index is of mesocephaly and brachycephaly in both sexes. The facial form is leptoprosopy and hyperleptorosopy in both sexes. The nasal root height is larger than that of other nationalities.
In addition, 79. 6% of both sexes have eyefold on the upper eyelid. The proportion of Mongolian fold among males is 39. 8% and among females is 40. 2%. The nationality has not only some common characteristics of East Asian type of Mongoloid but also its own special ones.
In comparison of some measurements with other nationalities in China, Yugu nationality is closer to Han nationality in North China, Dawuer, Qiang and Sibo nationality, and further from Li and Miao nationality.

Key words: Somatoscopy; Anthropometry; Yugu nationality