Written by: Shi Xiaoqi Posted on: January 18, 2016 |
Chinese Uyghurs are commonly referred to as the 'Hui' people
The Hui are one of the 56 ethnic nationalities of China and one of the 13 native ethnic peoples of Xinjiang. By the end of 2010, the total population of Hui people in Xinjiang was about 735,000. They mainly live in the area of the Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture, as well as in other cities and counties of Xinjiang, such as Urumqi, Yining, Huocheng, Yanji Hui Autonomous County, Turpan, Shanshan and Tuokexun.
The history of the Hui people can be traced back to the ancient Uighur people, Dashi people, and other peoples of the Tang and Song Dynasties in the Northwest of China. Because they lived with the Han and other ethnic peoples for such a long period of time, the dresses of the Hui are of almost the same style as that of the other peoples where they live. In the Hui communities, middle-aged and aged men wear white hats, white cotton shirts with sleeveless jackets, and black trousers, while the women wear white or blue shawls. The older women usually wear black cotton-padded jackets and trousers with stringed bottoms.
The Hui people believe in Islam and are strict in their observance of Islamic traditions and conventions. Pork, for instance, is forbidden for the Hui. All their significant festivals are those observed in Islam, in which Fast-Breaking or Eid-ul-Fitr and the Corban Festival are the most important ones.
Fried cake, fried rolling noodles (sanzi), mutton, bean jelly, starch-square and mutton soup, cooked chopped entrails of sheep or cows are the traditional foods of the Hui people in Xinjiang. It is a unique way that the Hui people serve the food for a formal dinner. They lay it out in a pattern described as the following: “nine dishes are put on table in three lines”.
The Hui people speak and write using the Chinese language, but they intersperse their speech with some words or phrases of Arabic and Persian origins. The Hui people live scattered all across China with certain areas being host to a number of communities.
The Hui people are hard workers who are quick to adapt themselves to any new surroundings. In rural areas, they are engaged in farming and breeding domestic animals. The subsistence of the Hui living in towns is derived from making food, handicrafts, leather or fur products, as well as trade.
As the new year begins, let us also start anew. I’m delighted to extend, on behalf of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and in my own name, new year’s greeting and sincere wishes to YOULIN magazine’s staff and readers.
Only in hard times can courage and perseverance be manifested. Only with courage can we live to the fullest. 2020 was an extraordinary year. Confronted by the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Pakistan supported each other and took on the challenge in solidarity. The ironclad China-Pakistan friendship grew stronger as time went by. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects advanced steadily in difficult times, become a standard-bearer project of the Belt and Road Initiative in balancing pandemic prevention and project achievement. The handling capacity of the Gwadar Port has continued to rise and Afghanistan transit trade through the port has officially been launched. The Karakoram Highway Phase II upgrade project is fully open to traffic. The Lahore Orange Line project has been put into operation. The construction of Matiari-Lahore HVDC project was fully completed. A batch of green and clean energy projects, such as the Kohala and Azad Pattan hydropower plants have been substantially promoted. Development agreement for the Rashakai SEZ has been signed. The China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future has become closer and closer.
Reviewing the past and looking to the future, we are confident to write a brilliant new chapter. The year 2021 is the 100th birthday of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. The 100-year journey of CPC surges forward with great momentum and China-Pakistan relationship has flourished in the past 70 years. Standing at a new historic point, China is willing to work together with Pakistan to further implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, connect the CPEC cooperation with the vision of the “Naya Pakistan”, promote the long-term development of the China-Pakistan All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with love, dedication and commitment. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan said, “We are going through fire. The sunshine has yet to come.” Yes, Pakistan’s best days are ahead, China will stand with Pakistan firmly all the way.
YOULIN magazine is dedicated to promoting cultural exchanges between China and Pakistan and is a window for Pakistani friends to learn about China, especially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is hoped that with the joint efforts of China and Pakistan, YOULIN can listen more to the voices of readers in China and Pakistan, better play its role as a bridge to promote more effectively people-to-people bond.
Last but not least, I would like to wish all the staff and readers of YOULIN a warm and prosper year in 2021.
Nong Rong
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
The People’s Republic of China to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
January 2021
Video message by Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed on Black Day of Indian Occupation of Kashmir
Video message by Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed on Black Day of Indian Occupation of Kashmir, 27 October 1947, when Indian military troops forcibly occupied Kashmir illegally, claiming a fraudulent ‘Instrument of Accession’ which never existed as documented by eminent British historian Alastair Lamb! Kashmir & Palestine are examples of illegal occupation & continued Resistance to Repression! There are so many commonalities in Kashmir & Palestine: both under brutal military occupation of foreign powers, both are facing an indigenous, popular, spontaneous & widespread Resistance & Uprising, both are in violation of UN Resolutions which haven’t been implemented, both are witnessing an attempted change in the demographic balance, both are facing the use of rape as a weapon of war, both are testimony to double-standards & hypocrisy of Western powers on human rights & fundamental rights, and both conflicts have an element of racism and Islamophobia, while enduring peace, security and stability will remain elusive in both regions, South Asia & Middle East, until these issues are resolved in accordance with popular aspirations.
