As of the 2010 national census, the Dongxiang ethnic group in China numbered approximately 621,500 individuals. The majority of the population is concentrated in the Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture of Gansu Province, specifically within the foothill areas west of the Tao River, east of the Daxia River, and south of the Yellow River. Of the total Dongxiang population, 438,000 reside in Linxia Prefecture, with the Dongxiang Autonomous County serving as the primary settlement area, accounting for approximately 215,000 individuals. The remainder are distributed across Hezheng County, Linxia County, and the Jishishan Bonan-Dongxiang-Salar Autonomous County. In addition, smaller Dongxiang communities are scattered across other regions of Gansu Province, including Lanzhou, the Dingxi area, and the Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. Following the founding of the People’s Republic of China, some members of the Dongxiang ethnic group migrated from Gansu to the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. As of today, it is estimated that 50,000 to 60,000 Dongxiang people reside in Xinjiang.
Dongxiang Autonomous County is administered under Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture in Gansu Province.
Dongxiang County, where the Dongxiang people predominantly reside, is located in the transitional zone between the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the Loess Plateau. The area is characterized by shallow highland hills, with an average elevation of around 2,000 meters. One-third of the region consists of river valleys and terraces, another third comprises arid loess hills, and the remaining third is marked by cold, damp highlands. The region has a temperate continental climate, featuring mild winters and cool summers. With four distinct seasons and a generally pleasant climate, the area is well-suited for human habitation and agricultural activity.
Scenic view of the Yellow River Gorge
The Dongxiang people living on this land primarily rely on agriculture. Major crops include potatoes, wheat, highland barley, barley, millet, corn, and broad beans, among which potatoes are the most renowned. The locally grown potatoes are low in moisture, rich in texture, sandy yet sweet, and have a high starch content. They can be used to produce a variety of foods such as pastries, liquor, vinegar, and vermicelli, and are highly favored by people of all ethnic groups. Cash crops in the region include hemp, flaxseed, and rapeseed. Along the Tao River and Daxia River valleys, a wide variety of fruits and melons are cultivated. Among them, the peach-apricots of Tangwangchuan are particularly famous. These fruits are distinct from both peaches and apricots, featuring large size, vibrant color, thin skin, and thick flesh. They carry the delicate fragrance of Hami melons and are known for their sweet and refreshing taste. The mountainous areas are also rich in wild medicinal herbs, including gentian, winter aconite, wolf’s bane (aconitum), licorice root, saposhnikovia, bupleurum, and ephedra, among many others.
Dongxiang Hand-Grabbed Mutton
The Dongxiang language belongs to the Mongolic branch of the Altaic language family. Internally, it is relatively uniform and can be broadly divided into three dialects: Suonan, Wangjiajie, and Sijiaji. The differences among these dialects are minimal, mainly involving certain phonetic and lexical variations. Although preliminary work has been done on the vocabulary and grammar of Dongxiang, no comprehensive bilingual translation system has yet been established—either between Dongxiang and Chinese or between Dongxiang and English. This has limited the language’s potential for intergenerational transmission and cross-cultural communication. This website pioneers an online Dongxiang language translation service, filling a longstanding gap in systematic bilingual translation tools. It provides a new platform for language learning, cultural research, and intercultural exchange.
