10 Facts About Ma Hushan

Ma Hushan ruled over an area of Southern Xinjiang, called Tunganistan by Westerners, from 1934 to 1937.

Ma Hushan fought against the Russian Red Army and White Russian forces during the Soviet Invasion of Xinjiang and defeated them in battle.

Ma Hushan took part in the war to destroy the First East Turkestan Republic, commanding the new 36th division at the Battle of Kashgar and Battle of Khotan.

Ma Hushan himself was described by Ella Maillart as a "well-set-up long-legged man".

Ma Hushan ordered the creation of "small blue carpets", "woven in Khotan".

Ma Hushan formulated a plan for an anti-Soviet "jihad" to conquer the Kremlin, Russian Turkestan and Siberia.

Ma Hushan promised a devastated Europe and the conquering of Russia and India.

Ma Hushan brought with him thousands of ounces of gold, which was confiscated by the British.

British telegrams from India in 1937 said that Tungans like Ma Zhongying and Ma Hushan had reached an agreement with the Soviets, whom they had previously fought, that since the Japanese had begun full-scale warfare with China, that Tungans led by Ma Hushan would help Chinese forces battle Japan, and that he would return to Gansu.

Ma Hushan was captured in 1954 and executed at Lanzhou.