bonan

Bonan, also spelled Bao'an, refers to an ethnic group and their language in China. The Bonan are recognized by the Chinese government as one of the 56 official ethnic groups. They are a small community whose homeland lies primarily in Gansu Province, especially in Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture, with smaller populations in neighboring areas and in Qinghai. The Bonan population is relatively modest, and many Bonan people are bilingual, using Mandarin Chinese in daily life as well.

The Bonan language, also called Bonan, belongs to the Tibeto-Burman branch of the Sino-Tibetan language family. It comprises several regional varieties. In contemporary daily life, Mandarin is often the dominant language for many Bonan communities, with Bonan learned within families and communities to varying degrees. Linguists consider Bonan to be endangered due to language shift toward Mandarin, though there are ongoing efforts to document and preserve it through linguistic research and local education initiatives.

Culturally, the Bonan are predominantly Muslim and maintain religious practices and institutions such as mosques within their communities. Their cultural life shows influences from neighboring ethnic groups in the western part of China, including Han, Hui, Tibetan, and Mongol communities, reflected in aspects of dress, music, and communal celebrations. The Bonan maintain distinct identity through language, religious practice, and local customs, while also engaging with broader regional society.

See also: Bonan language, Bao'an people, Linxia.