Hui nationality is one of the minor nationalities in China. At present, the population is more than 8.6 million. The Hui nationality is one of the nationalities with comparatively more population, and is also the nationality that is distributed vastest apart from the Han nationality. They are distributed in most of the counties and cities throughout the country, but mainly live in compact communities in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Gansu, Qinghai, Xinjiang, Henan, Hebei, Shandong, Yunnan and other provinces and regions.

The Hui nationality is the abbreviation name of the Huis. As a national community, the Hui nationality started in the Tang and Song dynasties, developed and formed in the period of the Yuan and Ming dynasties. The "aboriginal guests" in Tang and Song dynasties and the "Huis" in the Yuan dynasties are the main parts of their national source. Islam played an important role of tie in their form and development process. 

The Hui nationality believes in Islam, which has important influence to their historical, cultural and daily life. 

Chinese is the common language of the Hui nationality. In the daily contact and religious activities, some Arabic and Persian vocabularies are still remained. In the national regions at the border area, the people of the Huis still often use the language of the local minor nationalities. 

The Hui nationality is mainly engaged in agriculture, and concurrently livestock husbandry and handicraft industry. They are also proficient in operating commercial trade and dietary industry. 

Since the Yuan and Ming dynasties, the people of Huis had gained notable achievements in the aspects of culture, science and technologies, and made great contribution to the development of the motherland's economy and culture. Zhamaluding, Sadula, Gao Kegong, Ding Henian, Zheng He, Li Zhi and Hai Rui are all outstanding figures of the Hui nationalities.