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People group profile · PG006717

The Western Daur of China

The Western Daur of China, numbering about 5,500 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a small, geographically separated subgroup of the Daur (Dagur) people who live in northwestern Xinjiang, far from the Daur heartland in Northeast China.

They are an indigenous people in the Mongolian people cluster of the East Asian Peoples. Their primary religion is Chinese Folk Religion, and they primarily speak Mandarin Chinese.

Pray for the Western DaurPrint profile

AI-generated illustration representing the Western Daur people
AI-generated illustration, not a photograph. Photo by Google. (2026). Image generated by Gemini 3 Flash: Western Daur

Fast facts

Country
China
Population
5,500
Affinity group
Asian Pacific Rim Peoples
People cluster
Mongolian
Primary language
Mandarin Chinese (cmn)
Primary religion
Chinese Folk Religion
Strategic Progress Index ?
Engaged yet Unreached
Evangelical
Less than 2%
GSEC ?
Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
Lostness priority ?
Pioneer Unreached People Group
Region
Eastern Asia, Asia
Location
Xinjiang: Ili Kazakh Prefecture, primarily near Tacheng (Tarbagatay)

Where they live

Gospel status

The Western Daur are Engaged yet Unreached, which means fewer than 2% are evangelical Christians, but there are sustained efforts to establish self-sustaining churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice. In GSEC terms, this people group is less than 2% evangelical, some evangelical resources are available, but there has been no active church planting among them within the past two years.

  • Congregations exist Yes
  • Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted

Next steps for the Western Daur

  • Continue prayer and fasting for this group
  • Continue gospel seed sowing and church planting among this group
  • Begin training up local leaders to lead and develop strategies to reach their own people

Primary religion

Chinese Folk Religion · Ethnoreligion

90% adherents

Primary language

Mandarin Chinese · Sino-Tibetan family

100% speak Mandarin Chinese

Gospel resources in Mandarin Chinese

  • Bible available, published 2018
  • JESUS Film available
  • Radio programs available
  • Gospel recordings available
  • Audio resources available
  • Bible stories not available

Films

Bibles

Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.

Pray for the Western Daur

  1. Romans 12:4–5. Pray that believers from many cultures will work together as one body so that the church is built up.
  2. Revelation 7:9. Pray for the day when people from this group stand before the throne with every nation, tribe, people and language.
  3. John 17:3. Pray that many will come to know the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom he has sent.
  4. Psalm 27:1. Pray that new believers will be strengthened in the face of persecution, with the Lord as their stronghold.

Download a prayer guide

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