The frequencies of Y-chromosome haplotypes consisting of 12 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplotypes consisting of 9 SNPs were investigated using PCR-RFLP in 97 Yaos from Guizhou to study the patrilineal and matrilineal genetic structure and the origin of Yao Ethnic Group from Guizhou. Results showed that all 97 samples were classified into 4 Y-DNA haplotypes (H7, H8, H9 and H11). The major haplotype H7 of Hmong-Mien Population was highly prevalent (92.4%) in Yaos from Guizhou. Eight mtDNA haplotypes were identified through mtDNA analysis and all the haplotypes could be classified into 5 haplogroups (B4, B5, D4, D5 and N*) that were defined previously. The frequency of a 9-bp deletion in the human mtDNA Co II/tRNALys intergenic region was 58.2% in the 97 samples. These data suggest that the patrilineal genetic structure of Yao ethnic group from Guizhou was simple and Yaos from Guizhou had the typical genetic character of the Hmong-Mien Population and some admixture with other populations. The matrilineal genetic structure of Yaos from Guizhou was relatively complex and the 9-bp deletion was a characteristic genetic marker of the matrilineal genetic structure of Yaos from Guizhou.