Although designated as Hui due to their Muslim religion, these people are more accurately known as Utsuls (Muslim Chams), as they are thought to have originally come from the ancient kingdom of Champa, in what is now central Vietnam.

They were permitted to settle in Hainan after being driven from Champa by the southward expansion of the Vietnamese state in the 1470s.

They have a unique language, related to Malay and Polynesian languages, but modified over the years to become tonal, possibly due to exposure to the Chinese language.

Although once more widely dispersed across the island, the Hainan Hui population is now centred around the area of Phoenix Town, close to Sanya’s airport, and numbers about 8,300 people.

The Hainan Hui are Sunni Muslims and observe the traditions of Islam, such as Ramadan and the festival of Eid (Hari Raya Puasa).