The Russians, with a population of 13,504, mainly live in Ili, Tacheng, Altay and Uromqi of Xinjiang Autonomous Region. The rest are scattered in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and Heilongjiang Province.

First migrating here in the 18th century, the Russian ethnics have lived in China for nearly 200 years. Immigration in the early years of the 19th century brought many more to Xinjiang. At that time, they were called the Guihua people, while their communities were called Guihua villages. After the founding of new China, they were formally called the Russian Nationality. Though small in number, the Russians share equal political rights with other peoples. Their living conditions were also improved rapidly in the past decades.

The Russian language belongs to the Slavonic group of the Indo-European family. In social activities, Russian people use Chinese, but in their families or contacting with natives, they use the Russian language.

Russian clothing is rich and colorful. Men wear uniform, breeches, boots or leather shoes. Women wear dresses. The middle- aged persons are mostly in the Han dress or in western suits, but young people prefer fashionable clothes.

The Russians are Eastern Orthodox Christians.

Most Russians live in urban area and work as technicians and skilled workers and some well-educated in cultural and educational enterprises. Russian farmer's fish grow fruit and keep bees.