Indigenous rice varieties were collected and investigated from 622 representative households of 20 Bulang nationality communities distributing cross 4 counties in Yunnan province , through participatory rural appraisal (PRA) and questionnaires. Distribution characteristics of the Indigenous rice varieties were analysed at both community and household levels.As a results, there were a total of 53 indigenous rice varieties collected, including 14 colored rice varieties and 14 non-glutinous ones both accounting for 26.4%.There were 318 households growing indigenous rice varieties, accounting for 51.1% of the total 622 households investigated. The area planted with the indigenous rice varieties coverd 30.02% of the total area of rice growing.The mean richness of indigenous rice varieties at community level was 5.64 while the biggest 9. And that at household level was 1.29 while the biggest 4 .As for the evenness of indigenous rice varieties, the average values of evenness at community level and household level were 0.548 and 0.172, respectively. There was significant difference in the numbers of indigenous rice varieties collected between among the 4 counties investigated, i.e 27 varieties in Menghai county , Xishuangbanna prefecture (,accounting for 50.9%)＞17 ones in Shuangjiang county, Lincang prefecture , ( 32.1%)＞9 ones in Mojiang county, Puer prefecture,(17.0%)＞none in Shidian county,Baoshan prefecture. There was also difference in the numbers of indigenous rice varieties collected between among the 6 townships investigated, i.e 22 varieties in Xiding township, Menghai county, Xishuangbanna prefecture , 9 ones in Bangbing township,Shuangjiang county ,Lincang prefecture, 8 ones in both Dawen township, Shuangjiang county, Lincang prefecture and Jingxing township ,Mojiang county, Puer prefecture,5 ones in Bulangshan township , Menghai county, Xishuangbanna prefecture and only one in Xinfu township ,Mojiang county ,Puer prefecture. It was presumed that the factors resulted in the difference of distribution characteristic from one place to another in the regions investigated, might be the complex agro-ecological environment ,rich nationality culture and diversiform diet customs