Residents of the Hui ethnic group take a rest in a mosque in the Shuncheng community, Nov 6, 2015. [Photo by Liu Xiaozhuo]

Dai Junfeng, the head of the Kunming Islamic Association, said that the mosques in Kunming have forged close links with the community. On one hand, the communities make full use of mosques to promote the satisfaction of people from Hui ethnic group and on the other hand, mosques rely on communities' services and help to develop. "The mosque has integrated into the life of the communities and is not mysterious anymore."

Jinxing ethnic community, which has a lot in common with Shuncheng Community, holds various training courses for residents of the various ethnic groups. Through the training, many of them can get job offers and increase their income.

Jinxing community is home to 28 minor ethnic groups including Hui, Miao, Yi and so on. Peng Xiaoli, 33, is from the Dai ethnic group and has been living in Jinxing community since 2012. "After I came to this community, I learned the art of tea-making in the training courses organized by the community and now I am a tea art specialist, " she said.

Peng is not the only one who has benefitted from the career training courses. According to Su Qiongfen, the secretary of the Party committee of Jingxing community, there are all together 324 residents who have participated in the training courses which help them get jobs.

Unlike communities in the city, the ones in suburban areas have more recourses to develop tourism. Doupo community is home to 1445 residents, among whom 39.5% are from the Bai ethnic group. The community has been tapping its potential to develop into a tourist attraction, depending on its traditional Bai ethnic cultural features.

Yan Xianyan, 30, a member of the community, has a decent job in the city of Kunming as a worker of digital city management. She is considering opening a rural home inn in her home town due to the fast development of tourism in her hometown, which has brought it more tourists and opportunities.

Yan said that the development of the community also brings happiness to her own family. "If I realize my dream to run a rural home inn in my hometown, I will be able to take care of my parents. That I cannot do when I am working in the city."