Judging from their legends, language features and customs, many of which are identical to those of the Mongolians, the Bonan minority seems to have taken shape after many years of interchanges - during the Yuan and Ming (1271-1644) periods - between Islamic Mongolians who settled down as garrison troops in Qinghai's Tongren county, and the neighboring Hui, Han, Tibetan and Tu people.

The Bonan people used to live in three major villages in the Baoan region, situated along the banks of the Longwu River within the boundaries of Tongren county.

During the early years of the reign of Qing Emperor Tongzhi (1862-1874), they fled from the oppression of the feudal serf owners of the local Lamaist Longwu Monastery.

After staying for a few years in Xunhua, they moved on into Gansu Province and finally settled down at the foot of Jishi Mountain in Dahejia and Liuji, Linxia counties. They again formed themselves into three villages -- Dadun, Ganmei and Gaoli -- which they referred to as the "tripartite village of Baoan" in honor of their roots.

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