Hui
The Hui (pronounced hway) are Chinese Muslims that trace their roots to the Islamic Persian and Arab traders who first began to settle in China during the Tang Dynasty (7th – 9th Centuries). The Hui have intermarried with Han Chinese for more than a millennium, and in turn spread throughout China. Still, the Hui remain a devout people, with a reputation as skilled laborers and upright businessmen. Generally residing in cities, the Hui are well known as blacksmiths, butchers, and restaurateurs who boast excellent central Asian influenced cuisine. Notable Hui communities are found in virtually every city and town throughout Sichuan and Yunnan. Hui men wear white skullcaps, and many women wear the traditional veil or covering.
