Línxià

Introducing Línxià

Línxià was once an important terminus on the Silk Road. Since then it’s become a major centre for Hui Muslims, as reflected by the large number of skullcaps, wispy beards and onion-domed mosques in town. Línxià maintains a market crossroads atmosphere, and shops sell a variety of products from carved gourds, daggers, saddlery, carpets and oversized brown spectacles to Muslim and Buddhist religious paraphernalia.

Surrounding Línxià are pockets of the Dongxiang people, who speak an Altaic language and are believed to be descendants of 13th-century immigrants from Central Asia, moved forcibly to China after Kublai Khan’s Middle East conquest.

Last updated: Jun 3, 2009