How did Muslim migration increase Islamic influence in Ningxia?

Islamic influence in Ningxia grew significantly as Turkish-speaking Muslims migrated from oasis settlements in the west as Mongol power declined. These settlers and their descendants maintained a distinct identity separate from the broader Chinese society, which helped solidify the region's Islamic character over time.1

This influence deepened throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. By the mid-19th century, the region became a focal point of a major Muslim revolt, and tensions between the Han and the Hui persisted for decades. Following the 1911 revolution, the area fell under the control of Muslim warlords, becoming a key political base for the Ma clan. This historical development eventually led to the establishment of the Hui Autonomous Region of Ningxia in 1958, reflecting the long-standing presence and cultural significance of the Hui people, who today constitute more than one-third of the region's population.12