His family was of Persian extraction (though he was almost certainly of mixed Persian-Chinese blood), having come to China through the Silk Road and settled in Anhui as youtiao vendors; Hu was a Chinese Muslim from the Hui ethnic group.
His lineage originated from Persia (and possibly included elements of Persian-Chinese descent), he arrived in China via the Silk Road, settled in Anhui as youtiao vendors; Hu was a Chinese Muslim belonging to the Hui ethnic group.