Muslims in China began celebrating Eid al-Adha, the four-day Festival of Sacrifice, on Tuesday. China is home to as many as 20 million Muslims mostly members of the Hui and Uygur ethnic groups.

In the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Muslims flocked to take part in prayers and ceremonies for the festival. In Inner Mongolia, low-income Muslims received special gifts including basic daily necessities from their warm-hearted neighbors.

In Beijing, Muslim experts and diplomatic envoys from Muslim countries attended a reception hosted by the Chinese Islamic Association. Muslims in China say they value the country's peace and stability and will continue to contribute to national development.