Following are the Muslim peoples unique to China:

•Bonan...........................11,000
•Dongxiang*..................494,000
•Mongol, Alxa..................22,000

Muslims of Central Asian
descent in China
•Hui**.......................10,905,000
•Kazakh......................1,454,000
•Kirgiz...........................183,000
•Salar***......................116,000
•Tajik.............................44,000
•Tatar..............................6,000
•Uighur.......................8,000,000
•Uzbek............................17,800
Source IMB Global Research

Here’s more on a sampling of the Muslim peoples in China:

• Dongxiang*
The Dongxiang live in northwest China scattered throughout a remote mountain range. Because of their location, they are isolated from much of the Chinese culture. Many thousands still live in caves. Most Dongxiang are farmers—growing potatoes, wheat, barley, millet and maize. The Dongxiang hold the distinction of being the only Mongolian Muslims in all of China. Many of their customs reflect the greater Islamic culture rather than Chinese. They do not separate culture from religion.

Other Muslims in China often do not consider the Dongxiang to be devout Muslims because of their involvement in drugs, prostitution and weapons. Most will go to the mosque on Fridays, but only the most devout followers are known to pray five times a day.

The Dongxiang have no Bible in their language and no word for “Christian.”

• Hui**
By some estimates the largest Muslim group in China, the Hui live in cities as well as villages. They have a reputation for being good businessmen and very hospitable. The Hui in outer appearance tend to blend into their local culture and can easily be confused with China’s largest people group, the Han. Their appearance and dress are often the same as the Han.

The men often wear white caps, one of the unique features of Hui dress. Many more women are wearing head coverings common to much of Islam.

To differentiate from the Han Buddhist temples, the Hui place the words, “pure and true temple,” above the door to their mosques.

The Hui are very open to discuss religious matters. They love to exchange ideas and learn about other religions, but they do not often talk beyond a superficial level. This is mainly because they feel that the Scriptures have been corrupted and, therefore, are not credible.

• Salar***
The Salar are an agricultural people and are famous for their apples. They live in an isolated valley in Qinghai province. They are a warm, hospitable people who maintain close family relationships.

Most of the Salar do not know what the Quran says, but they will quickly tell you that they believe every word of it. They tend to have more of an agnostic worldview rather than a completely spiritual one.

It is rumored that there are three Christians among the Salar, but this has not been documented as fact. Salar is an unwritten language. At this point, there are no means by which to share the gospel in the Salar language.

Courtesy: TConline