The Story of Ningxia
From Ancient Empires to Modern Harmony
The Origins of the Hui Muslims in Ningxia
On October 25th, 1958, the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region was officially established, making Ningxia the only autonomous region designated for the Hui ethnic group. With a large Muslim population and a culture distinct from other provinces, Ningxia stands as the heartland of Hui heritage. As of 2022, more than 2 million Hui people lived in Ningxia, accounting for about 36% of the total population.
You may wonder how this unique Muslim community came to call Ningxia home. To answer that, we must travel back through the centuries. Let’s start from the beginning: when did they start living here?
Who are they?
During the reign of the Tang Dynasty, waves of Arab and Persian merchants got into China through the Silk Road.
Some of these merchants decided to stay, marrying locals and putting down roots in this distant land, becoming the ancestors of today’s Hui Muslims in Northwest China.
Back then, the Han Chinese called them “Hui Hui”, a name originally used for people from the Western Regions, though they had not yet formed a distinct ethnic identity of their own.
Fast forward a few centuries to the early 13th century, as the Yuan Dynasty expanded westward, many more Muslims from Central and West Asia migrated to China’s northwest region. Over time, they intermarried with local Han Chinese and other ethnic groups. Some Jews and Christians who shared similar customs and dietary practices also became part of these close-knit communities.
Through centuries of cultural blending and the shared faith of Islam, these diverse groups gradually formed into what became known as the Hui ethnic group, people who called themselves “Hui Hui”, united by their faith, family ties, and a heritage that bridges East and West.
The Influence of the Yuan Dynasty
Modern scholars believe that although some Muslims had been living in China since the Tang dynasty, the true formation of Hui identity should have begun in the Yuan dynasty.
According to historical records, the Yuan rulers recruited large numbers of people from Central and West Asia (both Muslims and non-Muslims) into their army. These recruits were resettled across provinces such as Gansu, Ningxia, Shandong, Henan, and Hebei. They were trained to fight during wartime, and to farm, trade and practise crafts in times of peace. By doing so, the Yuan dynasty brought in not only soldiers but also artisans, merchants, scholars, and other talents, many of whom followed Islam.
As these Muslim communities moved and settled in new regions, they built mosques that soon became the heart of their neighbourhoods, around which social and cultural life flourished. Over time, these Muslim settlers became deeply woven into the local society, contributing far beyond farming and handicrafts. Many also actively participated in politics. Therefore, under the Yuan dynasty’s rule, the “Hui Hui” population grew rapidly, leaving a lasting mark on the empire’s military, economic and cultural development. It was during this dynamic era that the foundations of the Hui ethnic identity truly took shape, blending Central Asian heritage with Chinese culture and Islamic faith.
The Influence of the Ming Dynasty
After the fall of the Yuan dynasty, the majority of the dispersed “Hui Hui” communities began moving northwest during the turbulent war years, especially to Ningxia and Gansu. These regions were among the first places Muslims settled after arriving in China, and over time, they grew into strong centres of Islamic life. Therefore, by the time the Ming Dynasty was established, Ningxia had become home to one of the largest Hui populations in the country.
Unlike the Yuan rulers, the emperor of the Ming dynasty ended the preferential policies once given to “Hui Hui” and discouraged marriages within their own ethnic group. However, the emperor still allowed them the freedom of religion, enabling the “Hui Hui” to continue building mosques, practising their faith and passing down their traditions. During this time, the “Hui Hui” not only preserved their cultural traditions but also gradually blended with other ethnic groups, including Mongols, Uyghurs, Han Chinese, and others. Through this long process of interaction, the Hui people preserved their Islamic faith while becoming more deeply connected with Chinese culture and society.
From Hui Hui to Hui Chinese: A Journey of Integration and Identity
After more than 200 years of integration and transformation, the “Hui Hui”, once regarded as foreigners, became an inseparable part of China’s rich cultural tapestry. By the end of the Ming dynasty, they had evolved into what is now recognised as the Hui ethnic group, or “Hui Chinese”, maintaining their Islamic faith while deeply connected to Chinese language, customs, and traditions.
Today, Ningxia is known as the heart of Hui culture, and has the highest proportion of Muslims in China, about one-third of its population. From the days of the Silk Road to today, Ningxia’s story is one of faith, resilience, and harmony. Walking through Ningxia today is like tracing the footsteps of generations who turned deserts into homes and differences into harmony. Here, cultures met, intertwined, and grew into something uniquely Chinese yet proudly Islamic, where mosques stand beside modern buildings, and old traditions live on in everyday life.
