[Internet Repost]

Tracing the Genetic and Linguistic Origins of Hainan's Sanya Hui Muslims: The Unique Tones of the Utsul Language and the Paternal History of Maritime Silk Road Migrations

Abstract:

A deep dive into the mystery of the origins of the Hui Muslim community in Sanya, Hainan, from the perspectives of molecular anthropology and linguistics. This explores the evolutionary history of the Utsul language—which possesses distinct Austronesian characteristics—while combining genetic haplogroup data to reconstruct the history of integration among ancient Arab, Persian, and Champa Muslims.

When people talk about China's Muslim communities, they usually think first of the Northwest—Shaanxi, Gansu, Ningxia, Qinghai—and Xinjiang. Yet down at the southernmost tip of Hainan Island in Sanya, tucked away in the coastal villages of Huihui Village (Huihui Muslim Village) and Huixin Village (Huixin Muslim Village), lives a unique group of people who have practiced Islam for generations. They never bow to Buddha, never step foot inside ancestral shrines, and strictly avoid pork. The most prominent landmarks in their villages are mosques (masjids), and their daily diet, weddings, funerals, and festivals all strictly adhere to Islamic sharia law. Even more fascinating is their language: it's neither standard Hainanese nor the Hlai language spoken by the island's indigenous Hlai people. Outsiders cannot understand a single word. Academics call it the Utsul language (Huihui language). While officially classified under the Hui ethnic group during ethnic identification, these people are completely distinct from mainland Hui Muslims in both their historical origins and the language they speak.

Most ancestors of mainland Hui Muslims traveled via the overland Silk Road, closely tied to Muslim merchants and accompanying soldiers from Central Asia, Arabia, and Persia. So, from which body of water did the paternal lineage of Hainan's community actually come? Was it the famous Arabian Peninsula, the Persian Gulf, or some mysterious ancient kingdom on the eastern coast of the Indochina Peninsula that has long since vanished? Linguistics, historical records, and ancient DNA each offer clues. Piecing them together reveals a surprising truth: the answer is far more twists-and-turns than any simple guess. It proves that while religion and culture can indeed cross oceans to spread, chromosomes don't necessarily follow along for the ride.

To figure out the exact origins of the Utsul people, we must first understand the kingdom of Champa. In ancient Chinese historical texts, Champa was successively known as Linyi, Huanwang, and Champa. Established around 192 CE—the late Eastern Han Dynasty—it was an ancient maritime kingdom built by Austronesian-speaking peoples in what is now the central to southern coastal region of Vietnam. The Cham people were exceptionally skilled at navigation and trade, and their territory happened to control the maritime bottleneck connecting China to India and Arabia. Chinese merchant ships heading south and Arab merchant ships heading east frequently docked in Champa's ports to take on supplies. The famous Song Dynasty scholar Zhou Qufei listed Champa in his book Lingwai Daida as a major metropolis among the southwestern nations. It was a maritime kingdom that lived by the sea and thrived by the sea.

Champa was initially deeply influenced by Indian culture, with Hinduism long serving as its primary religion. Coastal brick-built towers in the Cham style still stand today. By the late 9th century, residential quarters composed of Arab and Persian Muslim merchants had already emerged in southern Champa. Islam quietly spread there alongside maritime trade, and by the 10th century, the number of believers had steadily grown. Right up until the 17th century, Champa's royal family chose to convert to Islam. In other words, before Champa's official demise, this vast land had been dyed with thick Islamic colors layer upon layer, built atop a deep foundation of Hinduism.

However, Champa's northern neighbor, Vietnam, continuously expanded southward after declaring independence—an event known in history as the Nam Tien (Southward March). The two countries engaged in a tug-of-war lasting centuries. In 982 CE, Champa's capital was briefly breached by enemy forces, and even then, some Cham refugees chose to cross the sea and flee northward. The heaviest blow came in 1471, when the Vietnamese Later Le Dynasty led a massive army to capture Champa's strategic stronghold of Vijaya, leaving Champa existing in name only. Afterward, the Nguyen Dynasty kept up its southern pressure. Facing the desperate peril of a destroyed nation and shattered homes, the Cham people boarded boats and fled into the open sea. One group traveled south along the Indochina Peninsula, while another caught tailwinds and headed north, eventually arriving at Yazhou at the southern tip of Hainan Island—today's Sanya area. An ancient maritime kingdom that had stood for over a thousand years was ultimately squeezed step-by-step into the boundless ocean by its neighbor.

According to oral folklore, a Champa prince once led about 1,000 clansmen across the sea to Hainan, where they were properly settled by the Ming Dynasty government. In fact, official Chinese historical records of Cham people entering Hainan date back even further, appearing as early as the Song Dynasty. Aside from Champa refugees, Arab and foreign merchants (fanke) who arrived via the Maritime Silk Road during the Tang and Song dynasties and settled in Hainan's ports represent another source of Hainan's Muslim community. Tang Dynasty Muslim cemeteries discovered in the coastal areas of Lingshui and Sanya serve as physical proof of these early maritime visitors. The exiled refugees from fallen Champa, combined with the foreign merchants who had docked and settled here even earlier, blended through several waves of convergence to finally form today's unique Utsul people—themselves a wondrous confluence of multiple maritime migration streams.

The most indisputable proof of identity carried by the Utsul people is their language. The Utsul language belongs to the Chamic branch of the Malayo-Polynesian subgroup of the Austronesian language family, sharing a common origin with the Cham language spoken by surviving Cham people in Vietnam today, and bearing a particularly close resemblance to its northern branch. The Austronesian language family spans from Madagascar in the west to distant Easter Island in the east, and as far south as New Zealand, making it one of the most widely distributed language families in the world. Yet the Utsul language is the only Austronesian tongue actually spoken on the Chinese mainland today, and the Utsul people are the sole branch of the Hui nationality across all of China to possess their own independent language—Hui Muslims in other regions having long since adopted Chinese for general communication. Based solely on this unique language, they occupy a lonely and extremely distinctive position on the ethnic distribution map of the Chinese mainland.

Even more intriguing is that within the vast Austronesian language family, the Utsul language is a rare outlier. Because typical Austronesian languages are mostly multisyllabic without tonal distinctions—relying solely on various affixes to express grammatical details—the Utsul language instead evolved into a predominantly monosyllabic form complete with its own fully developed tonal system. Linguistically, it grew increasingly similar to the surrounding Chinese and Hlai languages widely spoken in the region. Linguists view it as a classic research sample for tone genesis in language contact studies. This happened because the descendants of the Cham people lived generation after generation as neighbors to Chinese- and Kra-Dai-speaking populations on Hainan Island, and their native tongue was reshaped step-by-step through extremely lengthy mutual contact. Although the surface framework of the language changed into a new shape, its core vocabulary still corresponds with related sister languages. Like an isolated island drifting alone on the ocean, it stubbornly preserves the final lingering hometown sounds left behind by the Champa refugees. Based solely on this language set and their profound faith, academics concluded long ago that the Utsul people are the surviving descendants of the Champa.

According to conventional imagination, the paternal lineage of these Muslims should perhaps trace directly back to the distant Arabian Peninsula, or at the very least be local Cham people from Champa. However, a 2013 study published by Li Dongna, Wang Chuanchao, and others from Fudan University overturned this assumption. They tested 102 Utsul individuals—including 72 males and 30 females—analyzing both paternal Y-chromosomes and maternal mitochondrial DNA. The final conclusion was unexpectedly astonishing: although language and faith securely pointed the clues back to the former kingdom of Champa, the chromosome data told a completely different story, and both the paternal and maternal test results agreed with eerie consistency.



First, regarding the paternal side: the most frequent Y-chromosome haplogroup among Utsul males turned out to be O1a, specifically designated as M119, which accounted for roughly 58.1% in earlier smaller-sample statistics. The problem, however, is that the primary paternal lineage carried by today's Vietnamese Cham males is O2a1 (specifically M95), whereas this branch accounts for a mere 4.17% among the Utsul. The paternal structures of the two groups fundamentally do not match. If they were truly direct refugees of Champa faithfully passing down their paternal lines, the high-frequency lineage appearing among the Utsul should naturally have been M95, absolutely not M119. This single set of extremely misaligned data alone is enough to arouse great skepticism toward the narrative of direct Champa descent.

Researchers subsequently used Y-chromosome short tandem repeats (STRs) to construct complex network diagrams. The results revealed that almost all O1a lineages carried by the Utsul fell directly into the specific branches native to Hainan's indigenous inhabitants—the Hlai and other Kra-Dai-speaking populations—rather than clustering with Vietnamese Cham or Indochinese populations. Within this network, the indigenous Hainan O1a spontaneously formed several clusters almost exclusive to the locality, and the Utsul samples were nearly all deeply embedded within these clusters. This clearly demonstrates that the primary paternal lineage of the Utsul did not arrive from afar with the Champa refugees, but was instead acquired from the local populations of Hainan after successfully landing on the island. The only relative their Y-chromosomes recognize is the native people of Hainan Island, not the Cham people across the vast sea.

The maternal pattern is an exact carbon copy of the paternal side. The maternal haplogroups of the Utsul are predominantly D4 and F2a, accounting for roughly 16.67% and 15.69% respectively, alongside downstream sub-lineages such as F1b, F1a1, B5a, M8a, D5, and B4a. Analyzing these individual sub-lineages at the network level reveals that these maternal lines either cluster with Hainan's indigenous inhabitants or with southern Chinese populations. Not a single Utsul sample could be found clustering directly with the Cham people. These two mutually independent, rock-solid pieces of evidence—paternal and maternal—jointly point to a final conclusion: genetically speaking, the Utsul people are much closer to Hainan's native Hlai people and the broader southern Chinese population than to the Cham of Vietnam. If the localization of the paternal line could still be barely explained by customs like matrilocal marriage (taking a husband into the wife's family), then the fact that even the maternal line shows an overall shift toward the local population can only fully prove that the biological core of these people truly grew anew and took root right here on the island.

This study also made the pleasant discovery that among the Utsul people, there are moderate frequencies of haplogroup C (designated M130) and haplogroup F (designated M89). These quite ancient Southeast Asian lineages very likely originate from genetic drift occurring in small populations during the foundation period. In addition, there is about 4.17% of O3a2c1a (designated M117), a typical Sino-Tibetan characteristic lineage, which most likely stems from genetic inflow from neighboring Han Chinese populations in more recent times. Meanwhile, the Arab J lineage or Central Asian R lineage that people originally expected to occupy a place failed to form any considerable proportion. In other words, within the gene pool, one can neither find large-scale Arab bloodlines nor large-scale Champa paternal lines; all that can be definitively found is a superposition of local Hainan, southern Chinese, and small amounts of Sino-Tibetan components.

Based on this, researchers directly titled their paper "Genetic Replacement of Local Hainan Lineages in the Utsul." They agreed that the ultimate formation of the Utsul community must have undergone a process of large-scale assimilation and absorption of Hainan's native populations. Although the Cham language and Islamic faith brought by the Champa exiles were stubbornly preserved, their biological core was thoroughly and step-by-step replaced by local Hainan lineages after successfully landing on the island. This differs significantly from the classic historical pattern where paternal lines are foreign and maternal lines are local; the Utsul exhibit a high degree of localization on both paternal and maternal fronts. What was genuinely and completely carried forward from the old Champa homeland was primarily that language and that faith, rather than deep chromosomes. One might say this was a group of people who successfully kept their hometown speech and the scriptures they brought, yet swapped their original bloodline for the bloodline of the very island upon which their feet stood.

Some people might wonder: since the Cham had converted to Islam long ago, surely their own paternal lines must contain quite a few Arab components? A study on Cham paternal lineages published in 2012 in the journal PLoS ONE by He Jiandong, Peng Minsheng, and others—in cooperation with Vietnamese scholars and led by Zhang Yaping's team at the Kunming Institute of Zoology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences—similarly offered a very sobering medical answer. This study clearly showed that the primary paternal genetic components of the Cham population trace their origins to Southeast Asia. Part of it can be traced to the Malay Archipelago, and part to the Indochinese Peninsula. A deep mixture of populations from these two regions shaped today's Cham people, and their core consists precisely of the various branches of O2a1 designated as M95, closely linked to the numerous farming and seafaring populations widely distributed across Southeast Asia.

The foreign components truly worthy of attention actually originate from South Asia rather than Arabia. Roughly 18.6% of Cham paternal lines can be directly traced to South Asia. Yet almost no corresponding South Asian maternal lineages can be found among them. Researchers made a logical deduction regarding this: during historical periods when Hinduism flourished immensely, large numbers of Indian merchants and sailors successfully arrived in Champa along the thriving Maritime Silk Road. Most of them were single men who subsequently formed unions with local women, thereby leaving significant imprints solely within the paternal gene pool while remaining completely untraceable in the maternal gene pool. This is the most typical sex-biased admixture phenomenon: men who traveled to cross-sea businesses started families in foreign ports, successfully leaving behind characteristic Y-chromosomes without bringing in batch-scale Indian wives. Consequently, this massive influx of foreign blood could only be inscribed along the single-track paternal line.

To put it another way, even back in their Champa homeland, the Cham displayed a typical Southeast Asian genetic foundation, merely superimposing a small number of Indian merchant paternal lines. Bloodlines from the Arabian Peninsula were inherently very limited. Islam largely arrived there following frequent trade and religious propagation, which did not necessarily entail large-scale Arab population migration inward. Understanding this logic makes it feel not at all surprising when looking back at why no scale-forming Arab paternal lineages can be found among Hainan's Utsul. The cross-ocean spread of religion and large-scale migration of bloodlines have always been two entirely different matters. A weighty Quran could completely spread across oceans following merchant vessels, but the descendants of the scripture's propagators might not necessarily keep pace with the scripture's distant forward journey.

When the Champa exiles landed back then, their numbers amounted to merely a few thousand. Placed among the indigenous Hlai residents of Hainan Island and the constantly migrating Han Chinese population, they were merely a tiny, tiny fraction. Furthermore, exile and cruel sea voyages often drastically depleted massive numbers of male populations, and after settling down, they had to intermarry with surrounding populations just to gain a foothold and survive. After a mere few generations of reproduction, those foreign Cham paternal and maternal lines were thoroughly diluted into the immensely vast local population pool. Meanwhile, locally dominant lineages like O1a turned the tables to become the primary lineage of the Utsul community. This is precisely the most common genetic outcome when a tiny group deeply embeds itself into a massive population. For people forced to cross the sea after their nation fell, being fortunate enough to save their lives and successfully safeguard their inherited faith was already a supreme blessing; they simply had no surplus population available to maintain a completely independent bloodline.

What truly bound these people tightly together for a millennium without being completely assimilated by the surrounding environment are two things that do not rely on bloodlines for transmission: one is that unique Utsul language, which allows the Champa descendants to consistently maintain a shared hometown voice internally—even though it grew distinctive tones under the influence of external dominant languages—and the other is that Islamic faith. The laws established by the religion penetrated deeply into marriage, property inheritance, daily diet, and post-mortem funeral rites, drawing an extremely clear boundary of identity that successfully distinguished them from the surrounding Han and Hlai populations who worshipped Buddha and ancestors. This shared faith and ancient language fostered a high degree of internal group identity and a strong tendency toward endogamy, enabling the Utsul to persist as an independent community down to the present day—even though the majority of their chromosomes now belong locally to Hainan. The words spoken in the mouths of the villagers remain the tongue of the old Champa homeland, and the Lord worshipped in their hearts remains the One God worshipped in the later periods of Champa. It was these two invisible things that firmly knit them into a tight-knit community.

Things like language can be learned, and concepts like faith can be inherited. Neither fundamentally relies on physical bloodlines. Meanwhile, physical biological integration must simply bow to the ruthless laws of population numbers and intermarriage ratios. Thus emerged a historical scenario that seems full of contradictions yet is entirely logical: culturally they are still Cham, while genetically they are infinitely close to the Hlai. Once this is understood, there is no need to feel any confusion over the Utsul's complex identity. They are neither fake Champa descendants nor simply Hlai people who changed their faith, but rather a resilient group of people who thoroughly rooted their bloodlines into a new land while stubbornly guarding their origins in culture.

Returning to the question posed at the very beginning of the article—from which body of water did the Utsul paternal line primarily come? It comes primarily not from the distant and unfamiliar Arabian Sea, nor mainly from the coastal waters near Champa, but rather from Hainan Island's own vast South China Sea bays and ancient Hlai settlements, originating from those Kra-Dai indigenous ancestors who had lived on this beautiful island for tens of thousands of years. After Champa suffered the misfortune of national destruction, some Cham people were forced to flee northward across the sea. They brought precious Cham language and the Quran, but could not bring a resilient paternal main stem capable of surviving to the present day. They put down new roots on Hainan Island, extensively intermarried and integrated with locals, and ultimately surrendered their physical bodies entirely to this brand-new land, while deeply leaving that hometown speech and faith behind within their community. Today, next to the towering mosques of Huihui Village, this Austronesian language—which counts as truly unique across the Chinese mainland—still echoes from time to time. It constantly reminds people behind them that what the ancient Maritime Silk Road left behind was never merely those exquisite porcelains and rich spices, but also a group of suffering descendants bearing the pain of a fallen nation, along with a story of language and faith crossing vast oceans while bloodlines grew anew in a strange land. The survival of a civilization sometimes relies not on the so-called purity of bloodlines, but precisely on that bit of precious resilience that relentlessly guards its own language and faith amidst continuous integration. view all

[Internet Repost]

Talking About Muslims at the Ends of the Earth: Strolling Along the Sanya Coastline and Reflecting on the Human Touch and Islamic Culture of Huihui and Huixin Muslims

Abstract:



Through a poetic lens, this article chronicles the life philosophy and spiritual world of our Muslim compatriots living at the edge of the world. Set against the backdrop of tropical coconut groves and sandy beaches, it showcases the island Muslims' pious adherence to religious traditions, mutual aid, honesty, integrity, and their profound reflections on Maritime Silk Road history.

"Facing the Sea, Spring Flowers Blooming"



Starting tomorrow, I will be a grateful person,

Worshiping Allah, loving others, and spreading virtue...



Starting tomorrow, I will care for the poor and orphans.

I wish I had a house,



Facing the mosque, listening to the melodic recitation of the Quran.

Starting tomorrow, I will greet everyone with peace,



Telling them about my faith,

What the truth of that faith has taught me,



I will tell everyone.

Giving every river and every mountain a warm name: Abdullah—the servant of Allah.



Stranger, I pray for you as well,

May you have a beautiful soul,



May you be guided to walk upon the straight path,

May you attain happiness in both worlds,



I only wish to face the mosque, where the adhan calls me to prayer: 'Come to success~ Come to success~'

These are the words I adapted from Mr. Haizi's poem as I was leaving Sanya. Because although I live in a city with a large Muslim population, there isn't a mosque near my home; in Sanya, however, it's completely the opposite. Being rather ignorant, I used to think Hainan's Muslims were merely historical passersby in textbooks. It wasn't until a few years ago, when I connected with a Hui Muslim brother from Sanya on Weibo, that I saw through his photos and blog posts that a group of devout Muslims is still active right here at China's southernmost tip. It felt both distant and intimate, and subconsciously, I made a niyyah (personal intention) to go see it for myself. Earlier this year, Allah answered that prayer, and our whole family was blessed to make the journey there.



The residential areas of the Sanya Hui Muslims are the two villages of Huihui Village (Huihui Muslim Village) and Huixin Village (Huixin Muslim Village), located just outside the downtown area. As many imams and scholars mentioned during our stay in Sanya: if it weren't for these two villages of our Muslim brothers, so many Muslims from mainland China would never come to Sanya. Even if they came for a vacation, they wouldn't stay in this neighborhood; even if they stayed, they wouldn't stay for months at a time, let alone return year after year.

Let me think about the reasons. First, it solves the dietary issues everyone has to face; second, the presence of six mosques gives the religious life of out-of-town Muslims a settled anchor; and third, that sense of emotional comfort you get when you are surrounded entirely by fellow Muslims.



Even though these two villages might have airplane noise, crowing roosters, and quacking ducks, when you can wake up every day to the sound of the adhan, and hear the mosque broadcasting the Quran and salawat (praises upon the Prophet) daily, the former becomes completely negligible. Yes, the melodious adhan, Quranic verses, and praises echoing from the loudspeakers are enough to make Muslims in too many places across the mainland envious. No one will complain that the Fajr prayer disturbs their sweet sleep, and no one will feel that the call to prayer is an annoying noise, because everyone here is a Muslim. You won't feel like wearing a thawb or hijab while walking down the street draws extra looks, and sisters who lack the courage to wear a headscarf back home can wear it here without attracting a single sideways glance, because everyone here is a Muslim. You don't have to worry about which vendor is selling fake Halal food, nor do you need to be afraid that a restaurant with a 'Halal' sign not only sells alcohol but also puts cooking wine and meat of unknown origin into the dishes, because everyone here is a devout Muslim.

Perhaps when you first arrive in Sanya, you might feel unaccustomed to these special brothers and sisters who differ from the stereotypical physical features of 'Hui people' in your mind, who even have their own language, and whose men, women, and children chew betel nut in ways you can't quite understand. I know some people even cast doubt on the level of religious practice of these Sanya Hui Muslims because of this. That's because we've developed too many bad habits on the mainland, where our standard for judging whether someone is a good Muslim stops at how long their beard is, how long their robe is, how long the taqiyah (prayer cap) on their head is, and how long the tasbih (prayer beads) in their hand is. Granted, it's a good thing for someone to have these Islamic sartorial features, but judging a book by its cover is a problem. When you find that the proportion of people going to the mosque for the five daily prayers here is higher than in the Hui community where you live, when you find that women here wear headscarves whether they are going to work, school, or even when they are still infants in arms, when you find that local merchants never shortchange you and will never cheat you, and when you walk down the street and pass by a very elderly but spirited local grandmother—while you walk right past her blankly, that elderly woman takes the initiative to greet you with a less-than-standard Arabic 'As-salamu alaykum'—my mainland compatriots, have you ever reflected for even a moment, or felt a sense of shame?



During my stay in Sanya, I happened to witness and participate from start to finish in the Mawlid (Prophet's Birthday celebration) hosted by the Sanya Ancient Mosque, with all the other mosques co-hosting. The relations among the mosques here are exceptionally good—so good that it feels as if they are simply six branch locations of the very same mosque. The Mawlid event is held every year, rotating hosts among the mosques annually to avoid wasting resources and putting a financial burden on the people. By combining everyone's efforts once a year, the event becomes grand and massive through sheer concentration. I also learned that the Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha congregational prayers alternate locations: one year they are held in Huihui, and the next year they must be held in Huixin. Everyone strives for fairness advocated by Islam in all matters and details, and it is precisely because they unremittingly put this into practice that inter-mosque and inter-village conflicts do not arise. The Mawlid here is not just a single day's event; it spans over ten days of various activities leading up to the official Mawlid banquet—such as the easily anticipated speech contests, Quran recitation competitions, and Islamic knowledge quizzes, alongside various sports tournaments that people might not immediately associate with it, including basketball, volleyball, table tennis, and more. Moreover, the competition venues are right in the courtyards behind the main prayer halls, and the matches are fiercely competitive, showcasing the robust physical fitness that local Muslims have developed from swimming in the sea since childhood.

What is truly worth noting is that I saw the imams of several mosques among the spectators and team players! This is unimaginable in some regions of the Northwest, where imams must maintain a very 'stiff and solemn' image. For an imam to participate in such sports activities without being declared un-Islamic would be a miracle—let alone watching or playing a game. I saw the young and promising Imam Li of the Sanya Ancient Mosque fighting hard on the basketball court in his jersey. As soon as the adhan sounded, he rushed back to the mosque to make wudu (ablution), slipped a long robe over his jersey, and devoutly and solemnly led everyone in prayer. These Muslim brothers sweating and laughing heartily on the sports court while praying to Allah with heartfelt devotion in the main hall showed me what normal Muslims truly look like. Muslims are not grim, tight-lipped ascetics rushing forward with lowered heads; a Muslim should be a sunny image full of distinct personality, happiness, and vitality. If your faith cannot even bring you joy, then there is undoubtedly some deviation in your faith.

In the courtyards of the mosques here, people chat and chew betel nut, others lie down on both sides outside the main hall to catch a cool breeze, and children chase and play. Everyone treats the mosque as a place they love, unlike mosques in many other places where people only go during prayer time and bolt the second prayer is over, or places filled with foot odor and backbiting gossip. Here, everyone holds the mosque close to their hearts and loves it. The mosques here don't just belong to the imams and the mosque management committee; every single Muslim feels that 'this is our mosque.' Words are pale and make it sound ordinary, but the actual difference is worlds apart.

In addition, I must mention two people. One is an older brother who invited us to Sanya, helped us find a place to stay, took us to tourist spots, and went out of his way every single day. We felt very embarrassed, but he said, 'Please don't be so polite. We are extremely happy that you could come; we share the relationship of the Muhajirun and the Ansar.' This sentence deeply moved us and made us feel ashamed of our own shortcomings. Although we are far from deserving it, he truly possesses the generous heart and selfless spirit of an Ansar. He is not a man of many words, but he teaches us a lesson through his actions every single day. The another person is one of the first local Hui Muslims who traveled to the Northwest to study Islamic knowledge; he even speaks our local dialect and slang. He said his religious foundation was learned from our region, but every time he visits there, he also sees many things that break his heart. He has seen many young men who just arrived in the city from rural areas go astray, wearing white caps specifically while pickpocketing and stealing. When he saw this, his blood would boil, and after praying to Allah for help, he would step forward to stop the theft, offer the Islamic greeting of peace, and say, 'If you really must steal, take my phone, it's fine; but if you steal from non-Muslims, people will say all Hui people are thieves.' Naturally, those young men wouldn't take his phone, and then he would insist on treating them to a meal, advising them over food to abide by the law, work hard, and build a livelihood through honesty.

A similar incident happened to him on a long-distance bus in the Northwest. Although he successfully stopped a theft that time as well, he was mocked because he doesn't look like a stereotypical Hui Muslim, and the thieves thought he couldn't understand the local dialect. Shamelessly discussing it amongst themselves while acting as pickpockets, they muttered, 'I wonder if this guy is even a real Hui Muslim; he said As-salamu alaykum, but he doesn't look like one at all.' Sigh, as if *they* looked the part?! And there were so many total strangers among the locals who left unforgettable impressions on us. For example, when we first arrived and didn't know how to pick out local fruits, vegetables, or seafood, shoppers standing next to you would take the initiative to help you pick them out and even help you bargain with the vendors. Or once, when we bought a bunch of coconuts to drink at home and realized we didn't have straws, we sent a child downstairs to the supermarket, but they didn't have any. The child saw a nearby drink stall and asked if they sold straws. The stall owner said, 'I don't sell them, but just take however many you need,' and so on. It reminds me of a saying by Hasan al-Basri: 'True humility is when you step outside and feel that every single Muslim you meet is better than you.' In Sanya, in Huihui Village, when I stepped outside, it wasn't a matter of me being humble—truly, every single person *was* better than me!

May Allah help, protect, and bless our Muslim brothers and sisters living far away by the South China Sea. view all

[Internet Repost]

Deep Dive into Sanya's Muslim Community: Exploring the Tropical Village Vibe of Huixin and Huihui



Abstract:



An on-the-ground visit to the famous Huixin Village and Huihui Village in Sanya's Tianya District. Venture deep into tropical, coconut-lined streets and alleyways to document the daily life, halal architectural styles, traditional attire, and down-to-earth street vibes of China's southernmost Muslim villages.



[Live Scene Showcase] view all

[Internet Repost]

Sanya Tianya District Huihui Halal Food Tour: The Ultimate All-Day 5-Meal Guide from Morning Beef Noodles to Late-Night Grilled Lamb Ribs



Summary:



Follow a local guide deep into the alleys of Huihui Village (Huihui Muslim Village) in Sanya's Tianya District for an immersive halal food hunting adventure. Check out authentic local sour fish soup, halal beef rice noodles, rich tropical coconut milk desserts, and night market charcoal-grilled meats, and experience the ultimate island halal foodie feast.



2026



National Day



Babe~



Hearing you're craving the Hui Muslim food in Tianya again?



Uncle Ha's little e-bike is firing up again~



"Huihui Community Food Guide Part 3"



5 spots to take you eating from morning till night!



Coming to Sanya for National Day? Don't just rush to the beach.



Tianya's local neighborhood vibes are seriously addictive too~~~



(Video quick-watch version ↑ Photo & text breakdown version ↓)



"Conch Soup Fish Noodles"



Mornings in Huihui Village (Huihui Muslim Village) are woken up by this bowl of noodles.



01



A day in Huihui Village (Huihui Muslim Village) starts with a steaming hot bowl of conch soup fish noodles. Sister Lizhen has been making this bowl of noodles for 40 years. Wild conch is used to simmer the broth, capturing the pure, natural freshness of the ocean with a deep, clean sweetness. Hand-beaten ladyfish cakes are stir-fried with a secret sauce, paired with soft, chewy handmade rice noodles. Eating a bowl of this in the early morning wakes your stomach right up~



"Lizhen Baoluo Noodles"



Opening Hours: 07:30-17:00



Address: Intersection of Huihui 1st Village 4th Road and Huihui Road, Tianya District, Sanya City



"Hui Muslim Fresh Fish Soup"



Locals love coming here for banquets and celebrations.



02



For lunch, head over to Hualide Restaurant to try this pot of Hui Muslim sour fish soup. Sour starfruit and tomatoes give it a bright, clean tang that isn't overwhelming. The fresh fish is freshly killed and boiled right on the spot, melting the protein into the broth and mellowing out the acidity. Take a sip of the soup, then a bite of the fish—it's deliciously sour, fresh, and majorly appetizing~



"Hualide Restaurant"



Opening Hours: 10:00-21:00



Address: Opposite Huihui Primary School, Tianya District, Sanya City



"Pot Soy Sauce Snacks"



Secret all-purpose dipping sauce, you can dip literally anything in it!



03



Around 3:00 or 4:00 PM, we squeezed with Uncle Ha into this tiny spot that out-of-towners would never, ever find on their own~ Their secret all-purpose dipping sauce makes literally anything taste amazing! Made with a blend of garlic oil, sour tamarind juice, yellow lantern chili, and other spices, it hits you with a savory punch and a sweet finish. If you're a hardcore foodie like Uncle Ha, drop in a spoonful of Hainan shrimp paste for the ultimate authentic touch! Uncle Ha says the only way to eat this right is squatting on the ground—dip your rice noodles (guotiao), green mangoes, tender sour beans, tomatoes, cucumbers, and century eggs into it... it just keeps you craving more~



「Baozi Hot Convenience Store」



Hours: 08:00 - 18:00



Address: 4th Road, Huihui Village 1st Group, Tianya District, Sanya



“ Secret Fried Lamb Chops ”



As soon as the streetlights flick on, dinner is officially in Tiger Dad's hands!



04



These sizzling signature secret fried lamb chops are super crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. You've gotta eat them with onions—the crisp sweetness of the onion hitting that rich lamb flavor is officially certified delicious by Uncle Ha! Their crispy skin chicken hot pot is pretty solid too. After eating, take a stroll around Hecheng Square or just kick back and listen to some music before diving right into late-night supper~



「Qingzhen Huba Sifangcai (Tiger Dad's Halal Private Kitchen)」



Hours: 15:00 - 23:00



Address: Hot Box Bazaar, Hecheng Square, Fenghuang Road, Tianya District, Sanya



“ Beef Bone Soup Mala Tang ”



The coziest way to wrap up a night in Huihui Village~



05



If you want to experience the vibrant, bustling night market energy of Huihui, Hecheng Square is the absolute place to be. You've got live music, barbecue, and coffee all in one spot, so leave your late-night cravings to Xiangni Mala Tang (Miss You Mala Tang)! This is our first time seeing a mala tang broth brewed with so many massive beef bones—it smells unreal. The beef bone mala tang paired with their spicy dipping sauce is super fresh and punchy; if you love heavy, bold flavors, their spicy broth option hits the spot just as well~



「Xiangni Mala Tang」



Hours: 19:00 - 01:00 (Next Day)

Address: Hot Box Bazaar, Hecheng Square, Fenghuang Road, Tianya District, Sanya

Hey bestie~ Coming to Sanya this National Day?

Don't sleep on the amazing food in Huihui Village!

Come feel a totally different side of Sanya's vibrant local street life in Tianya.

Yaya is waiting for you in Huihui—better bring an empty stomach with 1TB of storage space! view all

[Internet Repost]

Sanya's Six Historic Mosques: A Guide to White Domes and Tropical Island Islamic Architecture Framed by Coconut Palms

Abstract:

A panoramic deep-dive into the six surviving mosques nestled within Huihui Village (Huihui Muslim Village) and Huixin Village (Huixin Muslim Village) in Sanya's Tianya District. Complete with photo-rich details on tropical white-domed architectural clusters and serene prayer halls like Sanya Ancient Mosque, South Mosque, and North Mosque, this serves as an insider's field guide for Muslim road-trippers and independent travelers.



Stepping into this part of Sanya seriously feels like teleporting to the Middle East!

Cruising past Huihui Village (Huihui Muslim Village) near the Sanya airport, you might genuinely feel like you've been dropped into a traditional residential neighborhood in the Middle East—think Dubai or Doha. We're talking striking white architecture and intricate Arabic geometric patterns that look totally different from the usual Lingnan aesthetic.

▲ Architectural styles lining the streets of Huixin Village (Huixin Muslim Village) in Fenghuang Town, Sanya, lean heavily into crisp white tones.



Even wilder? Sanya has a registered urban population of under a million, yet it boasts a whopping six mosques (meanwhile, Nanning has an urban population of over four million and just one). The mosque density here is way higher than most other southern Chinese cities.

▲ Mosques in Sanya.

Right there in Huihui Village (Huihui Muslim Village), you'll find three mosques sitting close together, creating a vibrant religious vibe that makes you completely forget you're chilling in a tropical island paradise.



▲ Architectural styles along the streets of Huixin Village (Huixin Muslim Village) in Fenghuang Town, Sanya.

Most Muslims in southern China today—if you find them—originally migrated from Northwest China. But Sanya's Muslims, the Utsul Muslims, are a total exception. They migrated down from Southeast Asia, and with a population of around 10,000, they make up China's southernmost ethnic minority group.

▲ South Mosque in Huixin Village (Huixin Muslim Village), Fenghuang Town, Sanya.



The ancestors of the Utsul Muslims hail from the Champa Kingdom in Southeast Asia (now southern Vietnam), making them China's only Muslim immigrant group with Southeast Asian roots.

Because of this unique history, this little beach city packs in six mosques in a very tight radius. While Utsul Muslims are officially categorized as Hui people due to their religious faith, their appearance and language are totally different from Northwest Hui Muslims. The Utsul people feature distinct Southeast Asian and Arab physical traits, and they speak an Austronesian language belonging to the Chamic language family, closely related to Southeast Asian Cham languages.

Why did the Utsul people migrate from Southeast Asia to Sanya?



✅ [Origins of the Utsul People]

Sanya's Utsul Muslims are descendants of the ancient Cham people of Southeast Asia. The Cham originated in the Kingdom of Linyi (present-day central Vietnam). Linyi was originally part of China's sphere, but during the chaos at the end of the Eastern Han dynasty, they broke away to establish their own state, which later grew into the Champa Kingdom.

▲ The Champa Kingdom.



The Cham people were originally influenced by India and practiced Brahmanism. Later, as Arab merchants traded along the coast, Islam was introduced to Champa, and local Muslim communities gradually formed.

Vietnam bordered Champa, but back then, Vietnam was still under Chinese rule. As the Tang Dynasty weakened, Vietnam shook off Chinese control and established the Dinh Dynasty in 968 AD, becoming Champa's brand-new neighbor.

Once independent, Vietnam launched military campaigns against Champa. To escape the ravages of war, batches of Muslim Cham people migrated across the sea to Hainan Island during the Song and Yuan dynasties, settling down in scattered pockets across the island.



▲ Geographic location of Hainan Island.

The Cham populations in northern Hainan, being closer to the mainland, eventually intermarried and assimilated with the Han and Li ethnic groups. But Sanya, sitting right at the island's southernmost tip, was geographically isolated, and large numbers of Han Chinese didn't settle there at the time. As a result, the local Cham escaped assimilation. They planted roots in Sanya, established tight-knit Muslim communities, evolved into the Utsul people, and developed their own Utsul dialect.

▲ Distribution of the Cham people.



✅ [The Fall of the Champa Kingdom]

Wars between Champa and Vietnam dragged on for centuries, with Vietnam gradually gaining the upper hand.

In 1471, Vietnamese forces captured the royal capital of Champa, reducing Champa to a vassal state of Vietnam.



By 1802, Vietnam abolished the native chieftains and brought the region under direct imperial administration (*gaitu guiliu*), officially spelling the end of the Champa Kingdom.

Following the fall of their nation, the surviving Cham people were mostly scattered across modern-day Vietnam and Cambodia. Due to aggressive assimilation policies in both countries, the Cham population plummeted dramatically; today, the combined Cham population in both nations is under 500,000.

▲ Current Cham population distribution.



✅【Current Status of the Utsul People in Sanya】

In 1939, when the Japanese invaded Hainan and built an airport in Phoenix, Sanya, the local Utsul people were forced to relocate to the Yanglan area, forming the clustered settlement known as Huihui Village (Huihui Muslim Village).

After Japan's defeat, some Utsul people returned to their original site to establish Huixin Village (Huixin Muslim Village).



Since then, Sanya has been home to two major villages: Huihui and Huixin.

▲ Hainan Ethnic Minority Languages

After the founding of New China, based on religious beliefs, the Huihui people—who have deep roots on Hainan Island for nearly a thousand years—were officially classified as Hui Muslims rather than Cham people.

In recent years, as Sanya has transformed into a major tourist destination, the Huihui people have seized tourism opportunities to develop their cultural village. Visitors can head over to Phoenix Town, where the Huihui people are concentrated and where you'll find 6 mosques, to experience the culture of this Muslim community originally from Southeast Asia.

▲ A Sanya Hui Muslim Bride (Photo courtesy of Sanya Tianya District Hui Culture Communication Service Center)

These Muslim Cham people crossed the ocean seeking refuge and ultimately put down roots on Hainan Island, boasting a history of 600 to 700 years. Shaped by a unique geographical and cultural environment, the Huihui people add a vibrant, distinctive cultural stamp to Hainan's ethnic heritage.

Today, there are about 10,000 Huihui people in Sanya, mainly clustered in Huihui Village (Huihui Muslim Village) and Huixin Village (Huixin Muslim Village), where they still preserve their ancient beliefs and traditions to this day.

▲ Architecture in Huixin Village (Huixin Muslim Village)

✅ Location: Phoenix Town, Tianya District, Sanya

Huihui Village (Huihui Muslim Village) (around Fenghuang Road and the East Mosque)

Huixin Village (Huixin Muslim Village) (around Huixin Road and the South Mosque)

—(End of Article)— view all

[Internet Repost]

Exploring Sanya Ancient Mosque: Hainan's Oldest Surviving Mosque Architecture and Faith Heritage



Abstract:



A field visit to Sanya Ancient Mosque located in Huihui Village (Huihui Muslim Village), Tianya District, Sanya. We trace the centuries-long history of the mosque's multiple restorations, showcase its spacious courtyard and solemn prayer hall blending Islamic styles with tropical Lingnan architectural features, and experience the deep-rooted piety of the island's Hui Muslims.



Sanya Ancient Mosque is one of the six active mosques in Sanya. It is located in Huihui Village (Huihui Muslim Community), Tianya District, Sanya City, Hainan Province, specifically in the 1st Alley of Huihui 4th Village. It is about 6 kilometers from downtown Sanya, roughly 3 kilometers from Huixin Village (Huixin Muslim Village), and right next to Sanya Phoenix International Airport. According to records in the Ming Dynasty's Wanli-era "Gazetteer of Qiongzhou Prefecture" and the early Qing Dynasty's "Complete Classics and Records of Ancient and Modern Times: Department of Official Territories" Vol., ancestors of the Hui Muslims arrived around the Song and Yuan dynasties from Champa (around present-day Bình Định Province in Vietnam), "carrying their families and sailing by boat, scattering and settling along the coast." They gathered by lineage to form "Fancun" (Foreigners' Village), which is today's Huixin Village area. Historically, there were four mosques here: the Ancient Mosque (Eastern Mosque), Southern Mosque, Western Mosque, and Northern Mosque. In 1940, due to the Japanese military constructing an airport, the residents of Huixin Village were forcibly relocated 6 kilometers southwest to Yanglan. All the mosques were completely destroyed. The relocation site eventually evolved into Huihui Village, a name chosen to signify "reviving the glory of the Hui ethnic group" and "the prosperity of the Hui people."



During the Tang Dynasty, Hainan Island was already a mandatory transit route for China's maritime spice and silk trade. Muslim merchants traveling from Persia and the Arabian Peninsula through the islands into Chinese ports like Guangzhou and Quanzhou chose to come ashore and settle in Sanya. By the Northern and Southern Song dynasties, Vietnamese Muslims had also migrated to Sanya. Later, during modern crackdowns on Muslims on the mainland, imperial authorities also drove certain mainland Muslims out of the mainland, and these individuals eventually settled in Sanya, Hainan.



Today, the Hui Muslims of Huihui Village in Sanya, Hainan, are the descendants of those Sanya Hui people who were relocated west to Yanglan by the Japanese. Before Liberation, the Yanglan and Lizhiguo areas were called Mingya Township, governing 15 baos (administrative units) and 3 special baos (first, second, and third), totaling 229 jias. In 1950, Yanglan Township was established, followed by the formation of Yanglan Commune in 1961. The Yanglan Commune was changed to Yanglan District in 1983, converted into Yanglan Town in 1986, and in 2001, Yanglan Town was abolished and merged into Fenghuang Town. In 2014, Fenghuang Town, Tianya Town, and Yucai Town were consolidated to establish Tianya District of Sanya City. The former Yanglan is now Yangxin Community under the jurisdiction of Tianya District, primarily a residential area consisting of Han Chinese and migrant populations.



Huihui Village now belongs to the Huihui Community of Tianya District. It boasts a unique geographic location, with the West Ring National Highway cutting right through the village. It is only 5 kilometers away from Sanya Phoenix International Airport, making transportation extremely convenient. It is bounded by the sea to the south, and connects to tourist hotspots like Tianhai Haijiao (Ends of the Earth), Nanshan Temple, and Daxiao Dongtian (Greater and Lesser Views of the Ocean) to the west. Its jurisdiction stretches east to Yanglan Village (Yangxin Community), south to Haipo Village, west to Haihong Road near Phoenix Airport, and north to Shuijiao Village. Covering an area of about 1.6 square kilometers, it has 7 resident groups and is a strictly Hui Muslim-concentrated community. By the end of 2014, the jurisdiction had 598 households with a population of 4,078 people, including 3,747 permanent residents and 331 floating residents. The predecessor of Huihui Village was Fancun (around present-day Huixin Village). In the summer of 1940, the original villagers were all forcibly relocated west to the Yanglan area by Japanese aggressors, forming a settlement that was renamed Hui Muslim Village in 1945. In 1951, Huihui Village established a mutual aid team, followed by a primary cooperative in 1953, an advanced cooperative in 1955, and the Huihui Production Brigade in 1958. Hui Muslims who moved back to their original old village (Fancun) fell under the administration of the Huihui Brigade. In 1982 (1983), it was changed to Huihui Township, and in 1988, the Huihui Residents Committee was established, which eventually became the Huihui Community Residents Committee in 2013, a name that continues to this day.



Additionally, historical and anthropological research suggests that most villagers in Huihui Village exhibit typical South Asian physical characteristics: noses that are not very high, but are relatively wide with depressed nasal bridges, and prominent, protruding cheekbones, indicating that they are largely descendants of the Champa people. Meanwhile, villagers in Huixin mostly display typical West Asian and Central Asian features—narrow faces, high nasal bridges, large eyes, long eyelashes, and other distinct Western Regions traits. In 1942, the Medical College of Taihoku Imperial University dispatched Kaneto Huna to Sanya to conduct somatological measurements on 198 adult male and female Hui residents over the age of 30 in Yanglan. The results showed that compared to southern Han Chinese, the Sanya Hui people belong to a taller, higher-nosed human group, carrying Arabian ancestry.



Hui Muslims have a traditional saying: "You can go without a home for a lifetime, but you cannot go a single day without a mosque." Therefore, living clustered around a mosque is a primary characteristic of the Hui people's settlement pattern of "large dispersal, small concentration." According to oral tradition, Sanya Ancient Mosque dates back to the early Southern Song Dynasty, making it rich in history, Hainan's very first mosque, and the earliest built mosque in Sanya. Its predecessor was the Eastern Mosque of Fancun in Sanya. Xiaoye Tianchun referred to it as the Eastern Temple in his book "History of Hainan Island," and it was originally located in Sanya Street (present-day southwest suburbs of Sanya City). However, written records state it was built in the 6th year of the Chenghua reign in the Ming Dynasty (1470) and was originally built in a Chinese style. In the 1920s, the old mosque was originally a brick-and-tile structure, but was later rebuilt into an Arabic-arched reinforced concrete structure, with an octagonal prayer hall. Around 1940, due to the Japanese invasion and airport construction, the original ancient mosque was destroyed. In the 1950s, the Huihui villagers of Yanglan raised funds to rebuild it at a new site and renamed it the "Ancient Mosque," retaining the Arabic-arched style. After 1966, it suffered damage again, and the temple hall was dismantled. In 1982, it was rebuilt once more using black tiles and brick walls, with a prayer hall consisting of only 3 connected rooms, covering an area of just over 300 square meters. Because the temple hall was cramped while believers were numerous, donations totaling 300,000 RMB were contributed by Hong Kong Muslims in 1986 to expand it into an Arabic-style building. A new prayer hall spanning 600 square meters was reconstructed, featuring a dome tower that looked quite magnificent. After remodeling in 1999, a dome was added. In 2008 and 2009, the ancient mosque was hit by floods twice, so funds were raised to rebuild it into a more modern Arabic-style building in time for the Mawlid (Prophet's Birthday) celebration in 2010. Following the expansion in 2011, the new ancient mosque covers an area of 821 square meters and can accommodate over 1,000 people for congregational prayer simultaneously.



The mosque originally housed multiple stone tablets and plaques, of which only a single "Official Prohibition Tablet" from the 18th year of the Qianlong reign in the Qing Dynasty (1753) survives today. The tablet stands 150 centimeters tall and 55 centimeters wide. It is the only precious cultural relic engraved on a Chinese stone tablet discovered and preserved by the Hui ethnic group in Sanya over the years, holding significant value for studying the economic life of Hainan Muslims in the early Qing period.



During recent architectural style renovations of the mosque, Sanya Ancient Mosque underwent another round of reconstruction. Today's ancient mosque's towers and corridors seamlessly blend Chinese and Western elements, showcasing both the aesthetic beauty of traditional Chinese architecture and contemporary classical charm, fully expressing its religious and cultural identity.



With Sanya's continuous social and economic development—especially the booming tourism industry—Muslims from countries like Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Pakistan, and Southeast Asia are drawn to visit and pray at mosques in Sanya, Hainan. Today, the Sanya Ancient Mosque continues to play an active, vital role in the religious life of our local Hui compatriots and in external religious and cultural exchanges. view all

[Internet Repost]

Unlocking the Magic of Halal Cuisine in Sanya's Tianya District: The Epic Mashup of Island-Fresh Ingredients with Silk Road and Southeast Asian Cooking Traditions



Summary:



A deep dive into why the Hui Muslim dishes in Sanya's Tianya District are blowing up right now. From strictly handpicked local fresh beef and mutton to unique cooking techniques blending Southeast Asian spices with Hainan's coconut aroma, we're breaking down the craftsmanship and flavor secrets behind this generational Halal food heritage.



‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹



Savoring the Flavors of Tianya



››››››››



If you want to talk about the most low-key, mouthwatering spot in Sanya's food scene,



it's got to be the Hui Muslim flavors



hidden right in the alleyways of Tianya District!



In the Hui Muslim enclaves of Huixin Village (Huixin Muslim Village) and Huihui Village (Huihui Muslim Village),



the old-school aromas drifting through the lanes are ridiculously good.



Starting at just 5 RMB, you'll be eating pure happiness ♀



Today, YOYO is taking you deep into Tianya to savor the taste of home and heritage~



TIAN YA



Huixin's First Salt-Baked Pigeon Shop



TIANYA



No. 6, Xinguang Lane, Huixin Community, Tianya District



Tianya's Undisputed "Salt-Baked Pigeon King" | ¥36



When it comes to absolute must-try Hui Muslim dishes in Tianya,



this salt-baked pigeon has got to be on the list~



A legit "Salt-Baked Pigeon King" pulled straight out of a mountain of coarse sea salt,



and also the ultimate budget champion at just 36 RMB a bird.



Slow-baked using traditional methods for a full hour,



the moment you tear into it, the aroma hits you like a truck.



The spices are baked straight through to the bone.



You already know that finger-licking kind of joy, right~~~



The shop is packed with customers every single day,



from locals zooming in on their electric scooters



to travelers dragging suitcases behind them,



plus a bunch of regulars ordering take-out via WeChat.



Even the locals themselves can't resist grabbing a bite of this every single day.



Taizhong Beef Bone Soup



TIANYA



Near No. 332 Phoenix Road, Tianya District



One of the ultimate signature dishes of Sanya's Hui Muslim cuisine



You seriously gotta put "beef bone soup + red rice coconut rice" at the top of your list!



Fresh, fresh, fresh, fresh, fresh, fresh, fresh, fresh, fresh, fresh, fresh, fresh, fresh!



Beef bones, tripe, and chunks of radish slow-simmered in a traditional firewood-fired iron pot!



Brews up this rich, aromatic, golden broth



Stirred together with a spoonful of red and yellow chili paste



Packed with that intense wok hei energy, super rich broth, and a mild, addictive kick of spice



Generous chunks of tender beef still clinging to the tendon have that perfect, satisfying chew



Pairing the beef bone soup with red rice coconut rice



is the absolute most authentic way the Hui Muslims in Sanya eat it!



The savory meat and sweet coconut flavors linger forever in the best way possible~~



Sanya Hui Muslim Traditional Firewood Coconut Cakes



TIANYA



No. 8 Xinguang Lane, Huixin Community (Huixin Muslim Village), Tianya District



Every time I head over to Huixin Village (Huixin Muslim Village), YOYO always makes sure to buy from them!



It's a family of Hui Muslims making all kinds of coconut goodies completely by hand right out of their old courtyard.



[Traditional Firewood Handmade Coconut Cakes | ¥10 for 3 pieces]



My absolute favorite is these firewood-baked coconut cakes passed down through a century of tradition.



Crispy, golden crust mixed with fresh coconut aroma.



It looks super simple, but it is seriously addictive.



The more you chew, the better it gets! The more you chew, the more you fall in love with it!



Total perfection for an afternoon tea snack or munching while binge-watching your favorite shows.



[Coconut Jelly | ¥5 per bowl; Coconut Bao | ¥5 each]



This clean, sweet, silky-smooth original-flavor coconut jelly



is straight-up Sanya's number one in YOYO's book.



Plus colorful coconut jelly, ocean-blue coconut jelly...



Wood-fired shredded coconut rolls, coconut meat, coconut water, coconut oil...



Super friendly prices, come here and feast to your heart's content!



Haxuanren Beef Brisket Noodles

TIANYA

Tianya District, about 100 meters from the intersection of Phoenix Road and County Road 827

When you're craving beef dishes and noodles in Sanya,

heading to the Hui Muslim spots is always the right move~~~

Especially this Haxuanren Beef Brisket Noodles

Just ¥16 a bowl! Legit, quality ingredients!

Every single noodle is coated in a deeply flavorful beef bone broth

The noodles are smooth and springy on the bite

Pairing with lean beef brisket that’s light on the fat

Unique flavor and pure comfort in a bowl!

There's always a line when you come here~

Locals and out-of-towners, guys and gals, old and young—everyone loves it

Di Yi Jia Xian Yu Tang Qingzhen Lao Fandian (First Fresh Fish Soup Halal Old Restaurant)

TIANYA

Tianya District, 10 meters north of Ruihao Seaview Apartment on Huixin Road

Yanglan Suanyu Tang (Yanglan Sour Fish Soup)

Totally lives up to its rep as one of Sanya's Top 10 Signature Dishes!

A flavor approved even by CCTV!

Wild ocean fish crashing into tropical fruits and veggies~

Tamarind, starfruit, tomatoes, shredded daikon radish

Tangy, sweet, fresh, and savory—a total appetite booster!

Authentic, one-of-a-kind Sanya Tianya flavor~

⑥️

Yizhimei Roast Chicken

TIANYA

Tianya District, intersection of Nansi 1st Lane and Huixin Lane

The absolute reigning champion of fried chicken in Huixin Village (Huixin Muslim Village)!

You usually gotta wait in a little line just to get your hands on some.

Chicken collarbones ¥10 | Sanhuang chicken ¥25 | Wenchang chicken ¥25

It's just so fragrant! It's just so crispy!

The dream chicken of your life that literally bursts with juice when you bite into it!

Meihua Barbecue Joint

TIANYA

Intersection of Yangzhongxi 1st Lane and Huihui 4th Village 1st Lane, Tianya District

When it comes to Hui Muslim food,

Hui Muslim barbecue has a massive reputation in Sanya!

Direct charcoal grilling is the only way to get that authentic flavor, and the secret is in the unique house-made sauce.

Shoutout to the grill masters at the Jie Jie Tuan (Sisters Group) BBQ!

Everything they grill smells insanely good~~~

No wonder their spot is packed with people every single night.

Who can possibly resist this kind of cozy neighborhood street food vibe~~~

Their barbecue leans toward the dry-rub style with deep, concentrated flavors,

which happens to be YOYO's personal favorite~~~

Babes who aren't into heavy seasonings or the dry-rub style

can just let the owner know when ordering~

To be continued~~~ view all

[Internet Repost]

Hainan Island Road Trip Sanya Stop: Live Report from Huixin Village (Huixin Muslim Village) Halal Seafood Night Market Stalls and Local Street Flavors

Abstract:



A firsthand travel log chronicling the Halal food hunt during our Hainan island-adjoining road trip through Sanya. We dive right into the buzzing, neon-lit Huixin Village (Huixin Muslim Village) seafood night market, capturing fresh catches made-to-order, a hearty spread of coconut rice and tropical fruit bowls, highlighting the unique vibe of island Halal nightlife.

Poem: Halal Seafood at Huixin Night Market



Coconut breezes brush past as we enter Huixin,

The night market hums with the scent of fresh ocean catches.



Trays are piled high with spicy, crispy crabs and snails,

The ultimate freshness in this world is Halal.



Discovering Huixin: A Local's Secret Seafood Paradise

Right by Sanya Bay in the Tianya District, where my RV was parked for camping, lies a super unique Hui Muslim enclave called Huixin Village (Huixin Community). Most of the villagers are descendants of Persian and Arab merchants from the Song and Yuan dynasties, plus Cham Muslims from Champa (modern-day Vietnam), boasting a history of over 800 years. They speak a unique Huihui language (belonging to the Austronesian language family), making them a rare, unassimilated linguistic and cultural island in China. Not only is this "China's southernmost Hui Muslim village," but it's also a top hot spot for experiencing Sanya's native Islamic culture and diving into Halal eats.



The Huixin Night Market sits right at the entrance of Huixin Village, next to Coconut Dream Corridor, about 800 meters away. Among Sanya's many seafood markets, Huixin Village Seafood Night Market is a rare gem. It's not as world-famous and tourist-packed as First Market; instead, it quietly hides deep within Huixin Village, serving as the locals' go-to definition of "cheap and fresh."

Stepping into Huixin Village, you'll instantly feel how different it is from Sanya's other seafood markets—the air carries a mix of spices and ocean breeze, Hui Muslim sisters wearing headscarves warmly greet passing foodies, and the whole market buzzes with a rich ethnic vibe and down-to-earth neighborhood charm.



Buying Seafood: Freshness Meets Great Value

Most of the seafood in Huixin Village comes straight from catches by Hui Muslim fishermen, so the freshness is totally undeniable. Some seafood gets swarmed by hungry foodies even while still being sorted.



Shopping Tips:

Compare prices: Even though everything is clearly priced, rates vary slightly between stalls. The deeper you go into the market, the better deals you'll usually find.



Drain the water before weighing: Always make sure the vendor pokes a small hole at the bottom of the plastic bag to drain excess water before weighing, so you don't end up paying for ocean water.

Keep your eyes on the bag: Watch closely from selection to bagging to make sure nothing gets swapped out.



Inspection standards: For mantis shrimp, pick ones with a white "王" (king) character on the neck; for crabs, pinch the second-to-last leg—the harder it is, the meatier they are; for shellfish, choose ones with tightly closed shells that don't pop open instantly when lightly touched.

Reference Prices (prices fluctuate by season):



Small Australian lobster (Xiao Qinglong): about 60 RMB each

Mantis shrimp (pipixia): 30–50 RMB per jin



Red flower crab (honghua xie): 40–60 RMB per jin

Mango snails (mangguo luo): 25–48 RMB per jin



Abalone (baoyu): 3–10 RMB each (depending on size)

Cooking Station: The Unique Charm of Halal Prep



Once you've picked your seafood, Hui Muslim sisters wearing headscarves at the cooking stalls will eagerly come over to pitch the perks of their spots. If you already have a favorite place in mind, be sure to politely turn them down, or they might tag along with their "enthusiastic hustle" for a bit.

Seafood cooking styles in Huixin Village focus mainly on Halal preparations, setting it apart from Sanya's other seafood markets. Cooking fees here usually run around 30 RMB per jin, with totally transparent pricing.



Recommended Cooking Methods:

Boiled/Steamed: The absolute best way to lock in the natural flavor of the seafood, perfect for grouper and white-leg shrimp



Spicy Stir-Fry (La Chao): A killer mashup of Sichuan punch and Halal flavor—the ultimate match made in heaven for mango sea snails (mangguo luo) and flower crabs.

Salt and Pepper (Jiaoyan): The absolute gold standard for mantis shrimp, featuring a super crispy shell and juicy, tender meat.



Typhoon Shelter (Bifengtang): A classic Hong Kong style that hits the spot for lobster and crab.

Congee (Zhu Zhou): Don't let the lobster heads and claws go to waste—they make the congee insanely sweet and fresh.



The Vibe: Delicious Food in the Mud

To be completely honest, the vibe in Huixin Village (Huixin Muslim Village) isn't winning any design awards. The market feels like it's built right on the sand, the ground gets pretty muddy, and the stalls are definitely on the rustic side. But it's precisely this unfiltered, rough-around-the-edges character that gives it such an authentic street-food soul.



Pulling up a plastic chair and stool, watching the chef toss your seafood over an open flame, listening to the oil sizzle, and taking in the fragrant explosion of garlic and chili—that kind of immersive dining experience is something high-end restaurants just can't fake.

Pro Tips:



1.

Do your homework: Get a rough idea of current seasonal seafood prices so you can bargain with confidence.



2.

Skip the rush: Holidays and weekends get packed and pricier; hitting it up on a weekday makes for a way better experience.

3.

Use the scale: There's an official fair-trade scale right inside the market, so you can double-check your weights if you're ever unsure.

4.

Lock in the prep fees: Always clear on the cooking styles and prices before handing your seafood over to avoid any awkward bill surprises later.

5.

Bring your own tissues: Open-air food stalls usually don't hand them out (or they charge for them), so bringing your own makes life easier.

Final Thoughts

Eating seafood in Huixin Village (Huixin Muslim Village) is about way more than just the taste—it's about living out that authentic Sanya local lifestyle. You won't find fancy decor or white-glove service here; instead, you get the freshest daily catch, rock-solid prices, and the warmest, most welcoming Hui Muslim aunties.

Sitting at a humble little stall, peeling salt-and-pepper mantis shrimp, sipping fresh coconut water, and watching the lights flicker on across Huixin Village (Huixin Muslim Village) as the sun goes down, it finally clicks: this is what Sanya seafood is truly all about.

Practical Info

Location: Huixin Village (Huixin Muslim Village), Tianya District, Sanya City (near the Coconut Dream Corridor)

Hours: 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM. This is when the seafood is at its freshest and the atmosphere is buzzing the most.

If you're a traveler who insists on a pristine, upscale dining environment, this spot might not be for you. But if you're down for a raw, down-to-earth, insanely good-value seafood feast, Huixin Village (Huixin Muslim Village) is 100% worth the trip. Remember, when it comes to seafood in Sanya, sometimes the most unassuming spots are the absolute hidden gems. view all

[Internet Repost]

Quick Guide to Halal Food in Sanya: A Curated Selection of Spicy Halal Seafood Open-Air Stalls and Authentic Street-Side Eats in the Hui Muslim Villages

Abstract:



A concise and practical guide to the must-try Halal culinary landmarks for first-time visitors to Sanya. Featuring live Halal seafood cooking stalls in Huixin Village (Huixin Muslim Village) and traditional street breakfast spots in Huihui Village (Huihui Muslim Village), providing a straight-to-the-point foodie checklist for independent travelers pressed for time.

From down-to-earth street food packed with local vibes to spicy, sizzling seafood—it's all right here! view all

[Internet Repost]

Journey into Hainan's Muslim Heritage: Visiting Sanya's Huihui Village Historic Mosque and the Memories of the Utsul Muslims



Abstract:



Revisiting a precious photographic and written travel journal from 2017 deep inside Sanya to visit the Utsul Muslims. Strolling through tree-shaded historic masjids, visiting Hui Muslim scholars and everyday local families, and meticulously documenting the customs, rituals, linguistic traits, and generational shifts of the island's Utsul Muslims.



This is a record of my first trip to Sanya, Hainan, in 2017 to visit the Utsul Muslims. For my second trip in 2020, check out the journal entry, 'Celebrating Eid al-Adha in Sanya.'



In 'The History of Hainan Muslims,' we discussed how Cham people from southern Vietnam migrated during the Song and Yuan dynasties to settle along the coastline of Hainan Island due to wars or typhoons. These 'foreigners' with customs similar to the 'Huihui' left several coral-stone Muslim ancient tombs along southern Hainan's coastal dunes. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the 'foreigners' living in Hainan's Qiongzhou, Danzhou, Wanzhou, and Yazhou gradually integrated with local residents, and the remaining population all relocated to Suosanyali Fancun, forming today's Sanya Utsul Muslim community.



In this article, I'll continue sharing stories about the Sanya Utsul Muslims from the late Qing dynasty onward, along with the halal culinary scenes in the Huihui Village (Huihui Muslim Village) and Huixin Village (Huixin Muslim Village) communities.



Table of Contents



1. The Utsul Muslims from the Qing Dynasty Onward



1. Heading Down to Nanyang (Southeast Asia)



2. Japanese Military Airport Construction Forces Utsul Relocation



3. From Fishing and Farming to Commerce



4. Traveling Muslims from Across Regions



2. Halal Dining in Huixin Village (Huixin Muslim Village)



3. Halal Dining in Huihui Village (Huihui Muslim Village)



4. The Mosques of the Utsul Muslims



1. The Evolution of Huihui Mosque



2. The Historic Mosque



3. The Northwestern Grand Mosque



4. The Northern Mosque



5. The Eastern Mosque



6. The Southern Mosque



7. Nankai Mosque



1. The Utsul Muslims from the Qing Dynasty Onward



1. Heading Down to Nanyang (Southeast Asia)



According to the 'Genealogy of the Pu Family in Sanya Gangtong Village,' the Utsul Muslims suffered a major catastrophe during the Xianfeng era. In 1858 (the 8th year of Xianfeng), Fancun was burned, killed, and looted by bandits. The surviving Utsul Muslims had no choice but to take shelter in the mountains and forests. The following year, the bandits were wiped out and pacified, allowing the Utsul Muslims to rebuild their homes. However, because of this catastrophe, many Utsul Muslims fled to Southeast Asian destinations like Singapore, Penang, and Vietnam:



'From the reign of Daoguang up to the eighth year of Xianfeng, on the twenty-second day of the tenth month at the卯 (Mao) hour, we tragically suffered at the hands of the Li bandits from Lingshui who colluded with settled Li people to launch an uprising. They slaughtered without stopping, burned everything to the ground, killed countless people, and left corpses strewn across the fields. From back then until this summer, we spent our days resting by the sea slopes and living in the mountain forests, suffering like snake catchers and enduring perils as if walking through fire. The skies grieved and the earth wept with nowhere to voice our grievances. By April of the ninth year, fortunately, the gentry and scholars of the eighth district of Yazhou heard of our plight and felt sorrow. They pooled subscription funds, raising one hundred strings of copper coins, which they lent to the Sanya branches to hire local militia and hunt down the Li bandits. By June, the Li bandits across all the village valleys were terrified and surrendered. Only then could everyone return home, rebuild their houses, and make settling the common people their priority. Yet with a depleted population and scattered refugees fleeing to ports like Singapore, Annam, and foreign lands—over a hundred souls dead or alive—Sanya was left deserted. With poor people and barren land, they returned to their old ways of fishing and harvesting the sea.'



2. Japanese Military Airport Construction Forces Utsul Relocation



After the bandit chaos of the Xianfeng era, the Utsul Muslims in Suosanyali Fancun continued living a peaceful life, relying on fishing for survival. Following the founding of the Republic, Yazhou was renamed Ya County, and Fancun was called Huihui Township, subordinate to the East Second District of Ya County.



At dawn on February 14, 1939, the Japanese navy landed on the waters near Sanya and captured Sanya Bay with almost zero resistance.



In the summer of 1940, the Japanese military decided to build a land-and-water combat training airfield in Suosanyali, forcing all Utsul Muslims to relocate 4 kilometers westward to live in Yanglan. All 350 houses and 4 mosques in Fancun were completely demolished, and the new settlement was named 'Huihui Village (Huihui Muslim Village).'



After the Japanese forces left in 1945, some Utsul Muslims moved back to their former settlement of Fancun, which is why Fancun came to be known as Huixin Village (Huixin Muslim Village) or the Old Village, while the old name Fancun fell out of use.



From then on, the Utsul Muslims established two main communities: Huihui Village (Huihui Muslim Village) and Huixin Village (Huixin Muslim Village).



Huihui Village (Huihui Muslim Village)



Traditional attire for Huihui women: a dark hijab, a front-crossing tunic fastened with three silver (or cloth) buttons down the front and two under the arms, and split-cuffs on the sleeves. The shirt is split down the center of the chest and back, falling to the hips, paired with dark trousers.



The most distinctive feature of Huihui women's attire is the black bib (cloth panel) worn over their shirts—a unique piece of clothing not found among the neighboring Han or Li ethnic groups.



The earliest Utsul Muslims lived in thatched cottages, just like the local Han and Li communities. To withstand typhoons, these houses were built extremely low, to the point where people couldn't even stand up straight inside. In modern times, these thatched homes were gradually replaced by black-tiled brick houses, a style that lasted until the tourism boom in Sanya during the 1990s. Today, those black-tiled brick homes are rare, having been mostly replaced by modern multi-story buildings.



On a local bus running from Huihui Village (Huihui Muslim Village) to Huixin Village (Huixin Muslim Village)



A wedding banquet for Utsul Muslims in Huixin Village (Huixin Muslim Village)



Black-tiled brick houses in Huixin Village (Huixin Muslim Village)



3. From Fishing and Farming to Business



By the 1950s and 60s, Utsul Muslims still made their living mainly through shallow-sea purse-seine fishing. They used bamboo rafts to take fishing nets out to sea and drop them. A fishing crew of 35 people would split into two groups on the shore to haul in the nets. Usually, they went out once a day, pulling in anywhere from 200 to 300 jin (100–150 kg) of fish, with a bountiful catch reaching up to 5,000 jin (2,500 kg) and a lean day yielding only a few dozen jin.



Historically, Utsul Muslims were never big fans of farming, and in the past, they used to rent their land out to the Li people to cultivate. After the establishment of the People's Communes in 1958, the government organized nearby Han and Li locals to teach agricultural techniques to the Utsul Muslims, but the results weren't great. After the 1970s, more than 2,000 mu (about 133 hectares) of the Utsul Muslims' farmland was allocated to neighboring Han and Li villages, leaving the Utsul Muslims with only about 200 mu of garden plots and residential land, primarily used for growing vegetables.



After the 1980s, as shallow-sea resources gradually dwindled and Utsul fishermen lacked the gear for deep-sea fishing, the fishing industry practically ground to a halt, surviving only as a side hustle where people occasionally scooped up small fish and shrimp.



The fish market in Huixin Village (Huixin Muslim Village)



Starting in 1979, some Utsul women, refusing to accept their economic decline, began heading out to start small businesses. By 1982, almost every Utsul household had a woman selling local specialties and tourist souvenirs in towns and scenic spots, and family life for the Utsul Muslims noticeably improved.



During the 1980s and 90s, Utsul Muslims caught the wave of venturing out into business. Alongside women running stalls at tourist attractions, many men jumped into the passenger transport business. Starting in 1982, lots of Utsul men bought two-wheeled motorcycles or three-wheelers to haul passengers between the city center and tourist spots. After the Sanya Phoenix International Airport was built in 1994, Huihui Village (Huihui Muslim Village)—sitting right next to the airport—became a major transit hub. Utsul locals started buying minivans and minibuses to run routes from the airport to the city center, with the men driving and the women acting as conductors.



4. Muslim Sojourners from All Over



After Sanya's tourism industry boomed in the 1990s, Huihui Village (Huihui Muslim Village) and Huixin Village (Huixin Muslim Village)—as Sanya's only two Muslim communities—became the go-to places to stay for Muslims traveling to Sanya from all over the country. Over time, these Muslim visitors shifted from young and middle-aged short-term vacationers to older folks seeking to escape the winter cold. Starting every October, Huihui Village (Huihui Muslim Village) and Huixin Village (Huixin Muslim Village) fill up with Uyghur, Salar, Dongxiang, and Hui Muslims of all ages coming from Xinjiang, Gansu, Qinghai, Ningxia, and beyond to beat the cold. They live here all winter long, only heading back home around April or May of the following year.



During this time, you'll see Uyghurs wearing doppa embroidered caps and silk scarves mingling with Hehuang Hui Muslims wearing white skullcaps and black hijabs on the bustling streets. Northerners walking around in shorts might make you feel like you're in Shenyang during summer, while Utsul Muslims in colorful patterned trousers and headscarves, speaking the Utsul Cham language, will make you feel like you've landed in Southeast Asia. There's Halal Hainanese cuisine, Ili cuisine, Xining cuisine, Linxia cuisine, and even Xi'an and Henan dishes—making this place feel like a utopian escape far away from winter.



After the reform and opening-up, the first people to open shops in Huihui Village (Huihui Muslim Village) and Huixin Village (Huixin Muslim Village) were Hui, Dongxiang, and Salar Muslims from Gansu and Qinghai. Uyghurs soon followed, opening Uyghur specialty restaurants in Huihui Village (Huihui Muslim Village), and later, Hui Muslims from Yunnan, Henan, and elsewhere arrived to open eateries. Because of this, you can sample Halal food from all corners of China right here.



A shop selling Uyghur embroidered clothing



A crossing-the-bridge rice noodles shop run by Shadian Hui Muslims



An eatery run by Ili Hui Muslims, where you can get smoked meat narin



A restaurant run by Henan Hui Muslims, serving braised bowl dishes (kouwan) and braised noodles (huimian)



Part 2: Halal Food in Huixin Village (Huixin Muslim Village)



Freshly picked star fruit



Dried eel made by a Huihui auntie



Jackfruit



Cassava



Li's Rice Noodles Shop's beef brisket rice noodles



At First Fresh Fish Soup (Diayi Xianyutang), we tried their signature Huihui sour fish soup, ordering an 8-liang (about 400g) Luzai fish. Adding star fruit is what gives Huihui sour fish soup its unique twist, and it comes with complimentary coconut red rice.



3. Halal Dining in Huihui Village



Huihui Village (Huihui Muslim Village) by Day



Huihui Market



Laoya zhou (Traditional Hainan duck porridge)



Haxuanren Niunan Mianba's niurou fen (Hainan beef rice noodles)



Li's Beef Bone Broth Shop's seafood rice porridge and beef bone soup



Hualide Restaurant's four-angle beans (winged beans) and shrimp paste-stir-fried pumpkin leaves, served with coconut red rice



Fenghuang Yueju Restaurant's white clams and stir-fried noodles



Huihui Village (Huihui Muslim Village) at Night



Halal seafood barbecue and coconut milk qingbu-liang (refreshing Hainan sweet dessert soup). We ordered grouper, Pacific saury, and squid tentacles. The qingbu-liang came with a loaded lineup of 12 different toppings—super extravagant!



This spot is hands down my favorite late-night halal seafood barbecue joint. I came back the next night to order tilapia, sea snails, cuttlefish, and squid tentacles. A young Li ethnic guy was sipping a coconut milk qingbu-liang, a young Northwest Hui Muslim couple ordered 14 skewers of roasted mantou (steamed buns), and a middle-aged Uyghur couple (or husband and wife) whom we’d bumped into all over the street these past few days ordered a mountain of oysters. The local chengguan (urban management officers) didn't show up tonight, and we all grubbed out and had a blast.



Over at Huiji Fresh Fish Soup, we grabbed Manila clams, oysters, coconut red rice, and fresh coconuts. Among the spots along Phoenix Road's Halal Food Street, this place has a seriously nice vibe. Out front is a cozy little courtyard shaded by two longan trees, and chilling in the 26°C (78°F) evening breeze felt absolute perfection.



At Dongsheng Seafood Processing Restaurant, we had spicy stir-fried triangle crabs. Triangle crabs are the cheapest type of crab they carry, going for 80 RMB a pound.



Fatty's Halal Fast Food's seafood fish noodles and coconut milk qingbu-liang



Fenghuang Yuewenwei Seafood Cuisine City's Wenchang chicken and Hainan wild vegetable gemingcai (wild globe thistle / wild jicai)



4. The Mosques of the Utsul People



1. The Evolution of Huihui Village Mosques



During the Ming and Qing dynasties, Suosanyali Fancun Village had four mosques known as the East, West, South, and North mosques. All featured traditional Chinese architectural styles, with the West Mosque being the largest.



In 1931, German ethnologist Hans Stübel visited Sanya twice and documented the mosques and Islamic faith of the Utsul people in his 1937 work, *Die Li-stämme der Insel Hainan, Ein Beitrag zur Volkskunde Südchinas* (*The Li Tribes of Hainan Island: A Contribution to the Ethnography of South China*):



"Sanya has four Islamic mosques. In the largest one, located in the west, we were received with wonderful hospitality by the mosque's respected mullah (an honorific for Islamic scholars) and teachers, who treated us to cakes and eggs soaked in sweet syrup."



"The Islamic mosques are not very large, but they are beautiful, immaculate, and built in the traditional Chinese architectural style just like elsewhere in China. Sanya's Muslims follow the Shafi'i school of jurisprudence and maintain ties with Muslims in Guangzhou, especially those at the Huaisheng Mosque (Light Tower Mosque)."



"According to a prominent Han Chinese merchant in Sanya's harbor, these Muslims are helpful and friendly people. They own land, most of which they rent out; aside from hunting, they also fish and own fishing boats. There are a total of 400 Muslim households in Sanya harbor, numbering around 2,000 people. Their village has been burned down twice."



"These Muslims can be divided into two distinct physical types: one group has narrow faces and long, hooked noses; the other has less prominent yet wider noses with sunken bridges and more pronounced, high cheekbones—the latter type being much more common. Older men there frequently sport striking beards, and men wearing a 'fez' can be seen everywhere. Muslims who have made the pilgrimage to Mecca wear long beards and popular fez turbans. The educated among them speak excellent Mandarin, while the rest speak a very distinct dialect. Most of their numerals are derived from Malay, though apart from that, no other Malay markers seem to be found."



In 1940, the Japanese army built an airfield in Fancun Village, and all four mosques were completely destroyed. After relocating to Yanglan Huihui Township, the Utsul people renamed the East Mosque and rebuilt it as the Gushi Mosque (Sanya Ancient Mosque), while merging the West and North mosques to rebuild the Northwest Great Mosque. These rebuilt mosques closely resembled traditional Huihui black-tiled brick houses, differentiated only by signage above their doorways.



After the Japanese forces left in 1945, some villagers returned to the old village and rebuilt the South Mosque, bringing the total number of mosques back to three.



After 1966, Red Guards from Beijing traveled south to Hainan, teaming up with Red Guards from Yaxian Middle School to demolish the Huihui mosques, burn religious texts, and confiscate the robes worn during namaz (ritual prayers). All religious activities were strictly banned. At the time, some imams led the community to secretly perform namaz on the beaches, in air-raid shelters, or inside sugarcane fields. If caught, they were dragged off to study sessions or labor reform. Pu Zongli, an elderly imam from Huihui Village, was dragged off to study sessions as a 'counterrevolutionary element who refused to mend his ways' simply for leading the congregation in secret namaz.



After 1978, the Utsul people resumed normal religious practices and began restoring their mosques. In 1978, the North Great Mosque split off from the Northwest Great Mosque. In 1979, the East Mosque split off from the Gushi Mosque (Sanya Ancient Mosque). In 1990, Huixin Village (Huixin Muslim Village) (the old village) built the new Nankai Mosque. With this, Huihui Village had a total of six mosques.



2. Gushi Mosque (Sanya Ancient Mosque)



The predecessor to the Gushi Mosque (Sanya Ancient Mosque) in Huihui Village was the East Mosque of Suosanyali Fancun Village. Reportedly founded in 1470, it originally featured traditional Chinese architecture.



Back in the 1920s, the East Mosque was rebuilt into an Arabic-style arched reinforced concrete building, featuring an octagonal prayer hall.



After 1940, it was destroyed due to the construction of an airfield by the Japanese army, then relocated and rebuilt in Huihui Village (Huihui Muslim Village) in Yanglan, where it was renamed the Ancient Mosque. It was destroyed again after 1966, and rebuilt once more in 1982 as a black-tiled brick house.



In 1986, funded by a delegation of Muslims from Hong Kong and Macau, it was expanded into an Arabic-style building. After being renovated in 1999, a dome was added.



In 2008 and 2009, the Ancient Mosque was hit by floods twice, so funds were raised to rebuild it into a more modern Arabic-style building just in time for Mawlid (the Prophet's birthday) in 2010.



3. Northwest Mosque



The Northwest Mosque in Huihui Village (Huihui Muslim Village) was formed by the merger of the North Mosque and West Mosque from the old Sanya Lifan Village. The West Mosque was reportedly first built in 1473, but was destroyed in 1940 to make way for a Japanese military airfield. It was later rebuilt in Yanglan's Huihui Village by merging with the North Mosque to form the Northwest Mosque. After being destroyed again after 1966, it was rebuilt in 1978 in the traditional Chinese palatial architectural style.



4. North Mosque



The North Mosque in Huihui Village (Huihui Muslim Village) was originally located in Sanya Lifan Village and is said to have been first built in 1487. It was destroyed in 1940 for the Japanese military airfield, then rebuilt in Yanglan's Huihui Village alongside the North Mosque to form the Northwest Mosque. It was separated from the Northwest Mosque after 1966, rebuilt in 1981 as a Chinese palatial-style building, expanded again in 1993, and is currently undergoing yet another reconstruction.



5. East Mosque



The East Mosque in Sanya Lifan Village is said to have been originally built in 1470. After 1940, it was destroyed by the Japanese military for an airfield, then relocated and rebuilt in Huihui Village (Huihui Muslim Village) in Yanglan, where it was renamed the Ancient Mosque. It was destroyed again after 1966, and eventually split off from the Ancient Mosque in 1979.



6. South Mosque



The South Mosque in Huixin Village (Huixin Muslim Village) is said to have been first built in 1487. It was destroyed in 1940 for the Japanese airfield, rebuilt in 1945 after the Japanese forces left as a black-tiled brick building, and destroyed yet again after 1966. It was rebuilt in 1978 as a black-tiled brick structure, underwent several subsequent renovations, and finally reached its current scale in 2016.



7. Nankai Mosque



The Nankai Mosque in Huixin Village (Huixin Muslim Village) was built in 1990, with its name meaning 'Open South'. view all

[Internet Repost]

A Study on Sanya's Utsul Cham Culture and Historical Origins: From Ancient Champa Migrants to the Great Family of the Chinese Nation

Abstract:



An in-depth analysis of the Champa historical roots carried by Sanya's Hui Muslims. Tracing the epic history of ancient Champa kingdom Muslims who sailed south to settle in Yazhou since the Song and Yuan dynasties, this explores how they have integrated Chinese culture over hundreds of years to become a unique cultural treasure of the island.

They are the descendants of the Southeast Asian Champa.



During the Chinese New Year of the Horse, I went to Sanya to visit friends, and after having lunch together, we stopped by a nearby mosque.

It is said that there are six mosques in Sanya (four in Huihui Village and two in Huixin Village), and this time we visited the East Mosque and the North Mosque.



(Sanya East Mosque)

The East Mosque looked small from the outside, with a shop on the ground floor. Walking inside, however, we found it quite spacious. An electronic screen on the wall displayed the set times for daily prayers. The floor of the main hall was crowded with shoes, and a few men wearing white prayer caps were performing wudu (ablution) by the pool... A Muslim girl told us that wudu is the preparation for the five daily prayers, which can be done either at home or at the mosque.



There were very few parking spots in front of the East Mosque, and since we couldn't find anywhere to park, we had to leave in a hurry.

Afterwards, the two of us headed to the North Mosque and found a small parking lot not far away.



The North Mosque is probably the largest mosque in Sanya, or even Hainan, though the original architecture was destroyed by war and typhoons long ago. The current mosque was built after 2000, and underwent major renovations and remodeling in recent years.

Along the way, we spotted villagers of all ages—women wearing hijabs, and men wearing white caps and white robes, making it feel as if we had suddenly teleported to Southeast Asia...



Inside the mosque hall, there was a casket covered with a black cloth; as it turned out, we had stumbled upon a funeral. The deceased's family and friends sat separately in two different areas, divided by gender.

Worshippers who arrived one after another, likely for prayer, gathered in the shade in front of the mosque to chat.

On the stage, a man wearing a white sarong was preaching in three languages. The first was probably the Sanya Utsul language, which the owner of the shop out front described as "the language of the local ethnic minority," noting that even he couldn't understand it.

Afterwards, the man preached again in Hainan Mandarin and English... Since we were outside the doorway, we couldn't catch the exact details.

Today's sunshine was intensely bright, burning our skin, and our phones started overheating as several airplanes flew right above the Chinese-style minarets.

After chatting with a few Muslim villagers for a bit, we left the mosque and headed back to Wanning...

#SanyaUtsul #NorthMosque #SoutheastAsianChampa view all

[Internet Repost]

Exploring a Hidden Halal Spot in Sanya's Tianya District: A High-Rated, Budget-Friendly Local Favorite Deep in the Alleys



Summary:



A firsthand discovery of a no-frills little eatery tucked away in the old alleys of Sanya's Tianya District Muslim community. Featuring signature secret pan-fried beef, refreshing pickled vegetable soup, and freshly made staples, this spot delivers genuinely comforting hometown flavors that completely blow you away and offer incredible value despite the humble storefront.



Hey everyone! Today I'm recommending a hidden gem in Sanya's Muslim quarter—Taizhong Beef Bone Soup Shop. It's super rundown and the kind of place you'd easily walk right past if you weren't looking closely. The storefront is crazy unassuming and the inside is pretty beat-up too, but man, the food is so good!



As soon as you walk in, you spot a giant pot filled to the brim with beef bones and beef. This massive pot is wood-fired, and you'll see stacks of firewood piled up in the courtyard.



The beef bone soup with rice is an absolute must-order. The soup has a super pure beef flavor without a bunch of extra seasonings—it's just a clean, clear broth. The beef bones have meat on them, though not a ton. The rice is really unique, with a subtle coconut aroma and a touch of saltiness. It's definitely a flavor profile you haven't tried before, and it's seriously delicious. The only downside is the meat portion is a bit small, so serious meat lovers can always order extra. They also serve niurou fen (Hainan beef rice noodles), but personally, I strongly recommend trying that rice dish. view all

[Internet Repost]

Exploring Omar Halal Sea View Restaurant in Sanya: First-Line Azure Coconut Ocean Views and Exquisite Halal Delicacies



Abstract:



A comprehensive, photo-rich review of "Omar," a top-tier Halal sea view restaurant in Sanya. Get an up-close look at the comfortable dining space boasting bay sunsets and coconut grove views, and dive into a photo-worthy feast of tropical fruit-infused seafood and premium beef and lamb dishes, delivering a dual feast for the eyes and the taste buds.



Omar Halal Sea View Restaurant



A Bay of Coconut Palms and Ocean Waves, Savoring Exclusive Halal Mountain and Sea Flavors



Coconut breezes sweep the shore, sunsets sink into the sea.



Nestled between the Boao Lighthouse and the coastline,



lies the Boao coastline's



one and only Halal sea view restaurant



— Omar Halal Sea View Restaurant.



SUMMER



Ocean Breezes and Daydreams



PART.01



As Boao's only authentic Halal sea view restaurant located inside a star-rated hotel,



it fills the gap for Halal dining in coastal tourism.



Sticking strictly to pure Halal dietary standards every step of the way,



with ingredients, cooking techniques, and utensils strictly compliant,



it allows every Muslim guest,



among coconut groves and blue seas,



to fully enjoy a pure, worry-free, and authentic



sea view dining experience.



—— ——



「 The Story of the Sea 」



The restaurant claims nearly one kilometer



of exclusive coconut-fringed coastline,



right next to the viral Instagram hotspot "The Story of the Sea," and



just 3 kilometers from the Boao Forum for Asia.



Gaze out the window at mountains and seas, let the evening breeze accompany the twilight glow,



and take in the stunning coastal scenery of Boao to the fullest.



Summer



SUMMER



Island Notes of Coconut Groves and Seas



PART.02



SEASIDE HOLIDAY



/ Bringing Together Classic Region-Wide Halal Specialties



Ocean Breeze · Beautiful Sea Days



Where the mountains and sea come to the table, and fresh flavors touch the soul. The restaurant



rigorously selects the catch of the day, live and kicking,



netted and cooked on the spot to lock in the ocean's raw sweetness and freshness;



bringing together classic halal specialties from all over,



crafted with master care and authentic flavors.



A feast of mountains and sea,



blending coastal delicacies with ethnic culinary heritage,



gently healing and easing your travel moments.



COCONUT



COCONUT



BEACH



BEACH



WAVES



WAVES

Listening to the Sea · Healing Moments

Right by the Bo'ao Internet-Famous Lighthouse

☎ Welcome to call: 13215720917

☎ Welcome to call: 13876169160

Douyin ID: 578067898070

SUMMER

Sunsets and Tangerine Seas

PART.03

Welcome to the restaurant

Head to the mountains and sea of Bo'ao, and taste authentic halal food.

This is the only place where you can catch ocean views, chase stunning sunsets,

and feast on the freshest seafood with total peace of mind.

END view all

[Internet Repost]

A Comprehensive Deep Dive into the Documentary Short Film 'Huixin Village': The Southeast Asian Maritime Silk Road Genome and Contemporary Evolution of China's Southernmost Hui Muslim Village



Abstract:



An in-depth analysis focusing on the documentary project about Huixin Village (Huixin Muslim Village) in Sanya. It chronicles how this unique Muslim community—China's only one originating from the ancient Cham people of Southeast Asia—has thrived across generations on a tropical island, showcasing the harmonious coexistence of traditional religious practices and modern civilization.



Huixin Village (Huixin Muslim Village) is located in Fenghuang Town, Sanya City, Hainan Province, and stands as China's southernmost Hui Muslim settlement. This community is China's sole Muslim group originating from Southeast Asia, having lived here from generation to generation for over 900 years. Together with the neighboring Huihui Village (Huihui Muslim Village), they are collectively known as the Sanya Hui Muslim villages, with a combined population approaching nearly 10,000.



Around the 10th to 11th centuries, Arab and Persian Muslim merchants arrived in Champa (modern-day central Vietnam) via the Maritime Silk Road. While trading, they also introduced Muslim culture. In 1471, the Champa Kingdom was severely battered by the Lê Dynasty, causing a large number of Cham people to flee to the Malay Archipelago. Since the Malay Archipelago region had already widely embraced Islam, the Champa refugees encountered and accepted Islam there before returning to Champa to spread the faith.



As the Champa Kingdom repeatedly suffered from Vietnamese invasions and territorial encroachment, Cham Muslims migrated in multiple waves by boat from Xiazheng, Vietnam, to Hainan Island to seek refuge, escaping the chaos of war. Historical records date the earliest arrivals as far back as the late Tang Dynasty, with large-scale migrations concentrated during the Song and Yuan Dynasties. These groups partially blended with Arab and Persian foreign guests (fan ke) who had come to China to trade during the Tang and Song Dynasties. After the Ming Dynasty, Hui Muslims from the Fujian and Guangdong regions also continuously migrated to Hainan, ultimately converging during the Qing Dynasty to form the stable Hui Muslim communities of Huixin Village (Huixin Muslim Village) and Huihui Village (Huihui Muslim Village).



Huixin Village (Huixin Muslim Village) was once under Japanese occupation; the Japanese military built an airfield and drove out the local Hui Muslims living there. Following Japan's defeat and withdrawal, some of the Hui Muslims returned to Huixin Village (Huixin Muslim Village) to rebuild their homes on the original site.



The lifestyle customs of the Hui Muslims in Huixin Village (Huixin Muslim Village) reflect a blend of Islamic doctrine and local adaptability. While they speak Chinese, they still preserve their native language, Huihui speech, for communication. Huihui speech belongs to the Malayo-Polynesian branch of the Austronesian language family and is closely related to the Cham language. It is the only Austronesian-speaking Muslim group in China. Although Huihui speech is the mother tongue of Hainan's Hui Muslims and features a phonetic system—such as 19 initial consonants, 50 to 57 final vowels, and 7 to 10 tones—it has been spoken for a long time without developing its own writing system. In daily life, they use Chinese characters for reading and writing when interacting with the outside world. While some older Hui Muslims in the village cannot understand Chinese, younger generations are using Huihui speech less and less.



The religious traditions of the Hui Muslims in Huixin Village (Huixin Muslim Village) stem from the history of the Champa Kingdom's conversion to Islam, preserving major holidays such as Eid al-Fitr (Kaizhai Jie), the Mawlid (Shengji Jie), and Eid al-Adha (Guerbang Jie). Huixin Village (Huixin Muslim Village) features two mosques. The Southern Mosque (Qingzhen Nansi) was originally built during the Southern Song Dynasty and is the oldest masjid in ancient Yazhou, boasting a history of over 900 years. Rebuilt in 2013, it serves as a historical testament to the development of Muslims in Sanya. The Nankai Mosque was built during the mid-Ming Dynasty, bombed flat during the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, demolished during the Cultural Revolution, and rebuilt in 1980. Later subjected to ethnic integration, it features distinct Islamic religious characteristics and traditional architectural styles. These two masjids serve as the venues for religious activities among the villagers of Huixin Village (Huixin Muslim Village). During Ramadan, some Muslims go to the masjid to perform their daily dua and prayers five times a day.



Huixin Village (Huixin Muslim Village) covers an area of 0.4 square kilometers (or its actual community-administered jurisdiction). Several winding, narrow alleys connect densely packed buildings, making it very easy to get lost if you walk around here. Most of the multi-story houses on either side were built in recent years, with some retaining Islamic architectural elements. Due to Hainan's tropical climate, many residential homes intentionally reserve courtyard areas for cooking, eating, and cooling off. Before a large influx of outsiders poured in, villagers in Huixin Village (Huixin Muslim Village) lived with their doors unlocked at night. Because of the favorable Hui Muslim residential environment in Huixin Village (Huixin Muslim Village), a portion of the Hui Muslims who come here to spend the winter each year hail from Gansu Province and the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.



While walking through the alleys during Ramadan, I encountered Hui Muslims going door-to-door handing out festive candies. Historically, Hui Muslims on Hainan Island did not intermarry with other ethnic groups, but modern times have seen a gradual opening up, provided that the non-Hui spouse converts to Islam and follows Hui Muslim customs. I also witnessed a Muslim funeral; photography is strictly prohibited inside the masjid and certain residential areas.



Photographed in Huixin Village (Huixin Muslim Village) during Ramadan, March 2026. view all

[Internet Repost]

A Photo Journal of Eid al-Adha in Huihui Village, Sanya: Tropical Island Mosque Prayers, Visiting Family, and Festive Feasts



Summary:



Nearly 200 documentary photos capture the grand celebration of Eid al-Adha in Sanya's Tianya District. From the solemn morning congregational prayers with thousands gathered at the mosque, to families slaughtering and sharing sacrificial meat, exchanging fried sanzi (crispy fried dough twists), and warmly hosting friends and relatives, this vibrant photo essay captures a joyful and peaceful holiday scene.



Back in July and August 2020, my wife Zainab and I took our honeymoon trip, and our very first stop was Sanya to celebrate Eid al-Adha. A few years prior, I had visited the local Muslim community here on my own, but this time around, experiencing the holiday with our good friend, young Muslim artist Muning, made it so much more fun and insightful.



July 31



We caught a late-night flight out of Beijing on July 30 and arrived in Sanya in the wee hours of July 31. Muning hooked us up with a place right next to Huixin Mosque (Huixin Muslim Mosque) in Huixin Village (Huixin Muslim Village)—a 100% genuine 'masjid-view room.' During the winter months, Muslims from all over China rent places here for long stays, but come summer, it's practically a ghost town.



Right on the wall hung some Arabic calligraphy by Teacher Muning.



After catching a quick breath, we headed downstairs to Huixin Mosque to pray Fajr.



Following the morning prayer and a short break, we headed back into the main hall a little past 7 AM for the Eid al-Adha congregational prayers (Eid prayer). The imams here are all local Hui Muslims from Huihui Village, and the khutbah (religious sermon) was delivered in the local Utsul language (Tsat language). To someone who doesn't speak Utsul, it sounds like a fascinating blend of Malay, Chinese, and Arabic.



The Utsul language (Tsat language) is currently classified under the Austronesian language family, Malayo-Polynesian branch, Chamic subgroup. It shares the most common ancestry with the Roglai language of southern Vietnam, yet it stands out as the most unique language in the Chamic subgroup due to its heavy incorporation of Sinitic (Chinese-Tibetan) elements. When the Utsul people first arrived on Hainan Island, their language was likely quite close to Proto-Chamic. However, through continuous, close interaction with neighboring Chinese-speaking populations, the Utsul language evolved—its grammar grew closer to Chinese, its Chinese vocabulary expanded massively, and it simultaneously developed monosyllabic, tonal systems that are completely absent in other Austronesian languages.



In her published book 'A Study of the Utsul Language', Professor Zheng Yiqing compares the Utsul language with the Rade language (a Chamic language spoken in the mountainous regions of southern Vietnam) and concludes that the Utsul language and Rade language separated about 1,000 years ago.



After the Eid prayer wrapped up, Muning showed me some Qing Dynasty roof purlins and inscribed wooden plaques stored away in the warehouse of Huixin Mosque.



The roof purlins of traditional brick-and-tile houses built by the Utsul people of Sanya usually feature exquisite wood carvings of Quranic verses, but as old houses get renovated and rebuilt, precious few of these are left today.



Pieces of minbars (pulpits) and Qing Dynasty tombstones piled up in various corners of Huixin Mosque.



Leaving Huixin Mosque, Muning took me to visit the home of a teacher who collects traditional Utsul houses' roof purlins inscribed with Arabic script. Every single one of these purlins once belonged to a traditional brick-and-tile home built by the Sanya Utsul people.



Muning took us out for breakfast, where we ran right into a family throwing a banquet because their kid got accepted into Tsinghua University.



Congee served with chicken.



The fermented soybean paste was exceptionally delicious.



After finishing breakfast, Muning took us to pick out our sheep. One of these sheep was intended as our (Zainab's and my) qurbani (sacrificial offering), and the other was for Muning's family. Muning had bought them locally, picking out authentic Hainan Dongshan mutton sheep.



We led the sheep over to the designated qurbani slaughter site.



Once the slaughter was complete, the mutton was divided into three portions: one for our own household, one to share with friends, and one to give away to those in need.



Washed sheep tripe and intestines.



We asked our neighbor to cook up a dish of Sanya-style dry-fried mutton for us. Normally, their family runs a roast duck stall right next to Huixin Mosque, but they were taking a break for the Eid holidays.



The imam who performed our qurbani, who hails from Turpan, Xinjiang, whipped up a signature Xinjiang-style clear-stewed mutton for us. It was out of this world, and the mutton broth was insanely good.



Muning gifted me an Arabic calligraphy art piece he hand-carved out of a coconut shell. It looks stunning.



After the meal, Muning and I headed out to deliver another portion of the meat to friends.



We stopped by Nankai Mosque in Huixin Village to pray, where the main hall is lined with straw mats rather than carpet.



In the afternoon, Muning took me to check out the old houses in Huihui Village (Huihui Muslim Village), where I got to lay eyes on old roof purlins inscribed with Arabic script for the very first time.



One of the best-preserved and most visually striking inscribed roof purlins still in its original location in Huihui Village, with its gold-leaf Arabic letters gleaming brilliantly in the sunlight.



One of the last remaining traditional old houses in Huihui Village.



That evening, Muning and her family treated me and Zaynab to a fresh fish soup right at the entrance of Huixin Village (Huixin Muslim Village). The signature fresh fish soup of the Utsul Muslims is made with carambola (star fruit), tamarind, and tomatoes, giving it a super tangy kick. You can pick whatever sea fish you want for it. You’ve also got to mix your own dipping sauce on the side—make sure not to go overboard with the Hainan yellow lantern chili peppers, because they are insanely spicy! We also had red rice cooked in coconut milk, sweet potato greens, and stir-fried squid, all of which hit the spot.



Yellow lantern chili peppers



That night, we headed over to the Guangbaina night market right next to Huixin Village (Huixin Muslim Village) to check things out. Ever since the street vendor economy took off this year, Guangbaina has been getting busier and busier. They don’t charge a stall fee here, so a lot of people just sell fruits straight from their own family orchards, meaning prices are the lowest in the area. We grabbed some sugar apples, jackfruit, and mangoes—cheap and delicious.



After wandering through the night market, we headed back to Huixin Village (Huixin Muslim Village) for a bowl of qingbuling (Hainan refreshing herbal dessert). Every single spot in Sanya makes qingbuling a little differently, so you really have to try them all to figure out which style you like best.



Still craving a little more adventure, we hopped on an electric scooter for another night ride.



Back at the place, I started flipping through some old books Muning had collected, including one featuring Eid al-Adha back in 1979.



August 1st



Woke up early to grab some niurou fen (Hainan beef rice noodles) made by the Utsul Muslims in Huixin Village (Huixin Muslim Village), then picked up some white fungus and lotus seed porridge and chicken porridge at the South Mosque gates to sip down by the beach. Afterward, we took a lazy stroll through the coconut grove along the shore.



After walking by the beach, we headed over to Huihui Village (Huihui Muslim Village) to sip on some fresh coconut water.



A lazy summer afternoon in Huixin Village (Huixin Muslim Village)—a fresh coconut and a bowl of qingbuling (Hainan refreshing herbal dessert). Could it get any more chill?



Time to kick back and take a break.



In the afternoon, we headed back to the spot in Zhongzhuangyuan where they were throwing a banquet, watching the Utsul Muslims whip up traditional coconut rice.



They start with old coconuts that have thick meat, grating all of it into fine shreds, then use cheesecloth to press out all the rich coconut oil.



For steaming the rice, they use a traditional Li ethnic pottery steamer called a taozeng. Once the rice is steamed, they thoroughly mix the coconut milk and rice together. At this stage, the coconut rice is super chewy and has a great bite.



Then, they pop the blended coconut rice back into the pottery steamer for a second round. This time around, the rice comes out way softer and stickier, and the coconut milk and rice melt completely into one another.



They used beef from the cow sacrificed the day before for Eid al-Adha. First, they stew the beef, then toss in wood ear mushrooms and dried bean curd sticks—a total classic main dish for Utsul Muslim banquets.



Our downstairs neighbors, a Utsul Muslim family, slaughtered a sheep yesterday, and today they were simmering up a pot of sheep offal soup. Sanya’s Utsul Muslims rarely eat mutton; basically, the only time they eat their own freshly slaughtered Dongshan mutton is during Eid al-Adha. When Utsul Muslims slaughter a sheep, they scrape the hair off the hide because they believe sheepskin-on mutton is where the best flavor is at.



When they stew the offal, they toss in the sheep's trotters too, letting it bubble away from early morning until afternoon while adding all kinds of spice blends. Finally, they drop in radishes, corn, and shiitake mushrooms. The flavor profile is totally different from Northern-style mutton soup—it's its own unique, addictive kind of delicious.



That evening, we grabbed a bowl of niunan mian (braised beef brisket noodles) at Haxuanren in Huihui Village (Huihui Muslim Village), and followed it up with a coconut milk ice jelly right across the street.



August 2nd



In the morning, we went back to Haxuanren Beef Brisket Noodles in Huihui Village (Huihui Muslim Village) to try their stewed beef trotters. Because it’s the summer off-season and everyone’s still recovering from Eid al-Adha, most eateries in Huihui and Huixin villages were closed. Haxuanren stayed open the whole time, so it was packed with people. After eating, we kept up our routine of strolling through the beach coconut grove.



In the afternoon, we checked out the Guangbaina night market next to Huixin Village (Huixin Muslim Village) again. Papayas, wax apples, papayas, mini pineapples—all the fruit was fresh and delicious. I even picked up some pearl bracelets as gifts for the little ones back home.



That night, Muning treated us to seafood down at the seafood market near the beach in Huixin Village (Huixin Muslim Village). We ordered crabs, scallops, abalone, clams, octopus, fried squid rings, and the local specialty sijidou (four-angled beans / winged beans). Everything tasted incredible—not a hint of fishiness, just pure, mouth-watering flavor. A special shout-out to their signature dipping sauce made with ketchup, sweet chili sauce, minced garlic, and tamarind. It paired so well with the seafood we just couldn't stop eating.



This seafood market in Huixin Village (Huixin Muslim Village) has got to be the best value for money around. It’s not just the Muslim locals; even the surrounding Han residents love coming here to eat, and business is always booming.



August 3rd



In the morning, we hit up Li's Rice Noodles in Huixin Village (Huixin Muslim Village) for some chicken rice noodles, and they were insanely flavorful! Right after the three-day Eid al-Adha celebration wrapped up, their spot was finally open for business.



And with that, we reluctantly said goodbye and left Sanya. view all