Uyghurs visit the mosque in Fengshu every Friday. In Fengshu, part of Taoyuan county, there are thousands of Uyghurs whose ancestors moved from eastern Xinjiang more than 600 years ago. Photo: Li Hao/GT

Uyghurs visit the mosque in Fengshu every Friday. Photo: Li Hao/GT

Uyghurs visit the mosque in Fengshu every Friday. Photo: Li Hao/GT

A coffin used during funeral processions is stored at the Fengshu Mosque. Photo: Li Hao/GT

Local resident Jian Linxin, 60, sweeps in front of the township's mosque. Photo: Li Hao/GT

Local resident Jian Xiangdang flips through a book outlining the history of his family compiled in 1996. Jian runs a rural inn in Fengshu. According to historical records, the surname "Jian" was bestowed by the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang upon Uyghur general, Hala Bashi from Turpan, who was sent to Hunan in the 14th century to crush revolts and guard the nation's southern borders. Jian is now a common surname in the township. Photo: Li Hao/GT

Jian Xiangdang (left) puts a traditional Uyghur hat on the head of his 83-year-old uncle, Jian Yinbao. Elder Jian has been called a “living cultural fossil” among Uyghurs living in Central China. Photo: Li Hao/GT

Jian Yinbao, 83, has been called a “living cultural fossil” among Uyghurs living in Central China. Photo: Li Hao/GT

Abudu (right) from Urumqi, Xinjiang, poses for a photo with Jian Xiangdang outside his home in Fengshu. Abudu said he gets a sense of belonging in Fengshu, and that Muslims worldwide are one big family. Photo: Li Hao/GT

Jian Linxin, 60, cleans a headstone at his ancestral plot. Photo: Li Hao/GT

Local villagers chat outside the former residence of Jian Bozan (1898-1968), a prominent Chinese Marxist historian. Photo: Li Hao/GT

A vendor pushes a food cart at a "national unity" park in Fenshu of Taoyuan county, Hunan Province. In 2012, the Taoyuan government has started a large program to build the "national unity" park with a planned investment of 480 million yuan ($77.3 million), including building a flower and folk culture garden, expanding the township's mosque, remodeling houses in a traditional Uyghur style, and renovating the residence of Jian Bozan. Photo: Li Hao/GT

A local woman works to dry beef cartilage in front of her house. The dried cartilage is purchased regularly by local merchants. It is then exported overseas to be used in calcium supplements. Photo: Li Hao/GT