Qinghai province in China has a significant Muslim population, primarily of Hui and Salar ethnicity. About 17.5% of the province's population identifies with Islam. The Hui people, China's largest Muslim minority, are found in Qinghai, along with other Muslim groups like Salar, Dongxiang, and Bao'an. Qinghai has historical ties to Muslim warlords, particularly the Ma clique, who ruled parts of the region for a period.