
Qinghai is a province of China located in the northwest of the country. The region was formerly known as "Kokonur", the name given to Qinghai Lake by the Oirats, and the region has a diverse population of Han Chinese, Hui, Tu, Tibetans, Mongols, and Salars. The province was once ruled by the Xibei San Ma Muslim warlords, but they were defeated by the Communist Party of China during the Chinese Civil War. The Ottoman Empire had some influence over the Muslims living in the region under the Qing dynasty. In 2010, Qinghai had a population of 5,626,722 people.