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Study shows 4,000-year battle of Eastern and Western genes in China’s heartland

Ningxia is a perfect example of how the East meets the West. Located in the northwest inland region of China, it is the intersection of…

By Samantha Johnson / June 23, 2026

Ningxia is a perfect example of how the East meets the West. Located in the northwest inland region of China, it is the intersection of the Eurasian steppe and Chinese farmlands.

Fudan University, in collaboration with the Ningxia Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology and Northwest University, has recently conducted the largest ancient genomics research project in Ningxia.

The researchers found that human genes from the East and the West have fused through wars and trade in this narrow strip of land, now known as the Ningxia Hui autonomous region.

This study, published in Nature Communications on May 21, included 89 ancient skeletal individuals excavated from 23 archaeological sites in Ningxia, yielding 69 high-quality genomic data sets spanning over 4,000 years (around 4,245 to 301 years ago).
Han Chinese genes, predominantly males, first entered Ningxia on a large scale in 127 BC, during the Han dynasty, according to the research.

Among the 22 Han dynasty skeletons uncovered in this study, the vast majority cluster genetically similarly to Yellow River basin farmers.

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