The Decline of Sikhs in China: A Multifaceted Historical Narrative

The history of Sikhs in China is a poignant, often overlooked chapter in the global Sikh diaspora, marked by a small but resilient community that once played a visible role in colonial-era policing and trade hubs like Shanghai and Hong Kong. At its peak in the early 20th century, the Sikh population in China—primarily concentrated in these international settlements—numbered around 2,000 to 3,000 individuals, drawn mostly from Punjab’s Jat and Khatri communities. wikipedia.org, sixthtone.com

These Sikhs arrived not as settlers or traders en masse, but as recruits for the British Empire, serving in the Shanghai Municipal Police (SMP) and Hong Kong’s forces from the late 19th century onward. Their deployment, while a source of some local resentment, was just one thread in a complex tapestry of decline. The community’s diminishment was accelerated by geopolitical conflicts, ideological upheavals under Mao Zedong’s regime, and structural barriers to renewal, reducing their numbers to near invisibility in mainland China today (estimated at fewer than 100, with most remaining Sikhs in Hong Kong). globalsikhiwiki.com

Attributing the decline of Sikhs in China solely to anti-colonial backlash oversimplifies this story; it ignores the broader forces of war, state atheism, and isolation that systematically eroded their presence.

The British Colonial Era: Arrival, Roles, and Seeds of Resentment for decline of Sikhs in China

Sikhs first arrived in China in significant numbers during the height of British imperialism in the late 19th century, leveraging their reputation as loyal and formidable soldiers from the Anglo-Sikh Wars and the Indian Rebellion of 1857. The British, seeking reliable enforcers in their extraterritorial concessions, recruited Sikhs for the SMP in Shanghai (established 1862) and the Hong Kong Police Force. manchesterhive.com

By the 1920s, Sikhs comprised up to 1,500 of the SMP’s 3,000 officers, often stationed in high-visibility roles like patrolling the Bund or suppressing strikes during the turbulent Republican era. quora.com. They were also involved in guarding key infrastructure, such as the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank, and quelling unrest, including during the 1925 May Thirtieth Movement, where Sikh police clashed with Chinese protesters demanding an end to foreign privileges. sikhnet.com

This role, while economically stable (Sikhs earned higher wages than local Chinese recruits), bred resentment. To many Chinese nationalists, Sikhs symbolized colonial oppression—turbaned “foreign devils” enforcing unequal treaties like the 1842 Treaty of Nanking. Incidents of violence, such as the 1925 shooting of protesters by Sikh officers, fueled anti-Indian sentiment, with Sikhs sometimes targeted in anti-imperial riots. 

However, this friction was not the primary driver of decline; the community was always modest in size, sustained by rotational service rather than permanent settlement. Many Sikhs viewed their postings as temporary, remitting earnings to Punjab families, which limited deep-rooted growth. sikhiwiki.org

Gurdwaras, like the one in Shanghai’s Bubbling Well Road (built 1908), served as cultural anchors, but their numbers remained few—only a handful across China by the 1940s.

Post-1949 Transformations: The Dawn of Mao's Era and Initial Exodus

The founding of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in 1949 marked a pivotal rupture. As the Communist Party consolidated power, foreign concessions were abolished, and the British withdrew, leaving Sikhs—many of whom held British colonial ties—vulnerable to suspicion as “imperialist remnants.”

Early Maoist policies emphasized self-reliance and anti-foreignism, prompting an initial wave of departures. By 1950, hundreds of Sikh families repatriated to India or migrated to the UK and Canada, fearing nationalization of their watchmen jobs or property seizures. The small scale of the community (peaking at ~2,400 Indians in Shanghai alone, including Sikhs) meant that even modest outflows had outsized impacts.

Mao’s broader restrictions on religion further isolated the remaining Sikhs. Aligned with Marxist-Leninist ideology, the PRC viewed religion as an opiate of the masses—a “temporary historical phenomenon” destined to vanish with socialist progress. pewresearch.org. 

The 1950s “Patriotic Religious Associations” required faiths to register and align with state goals, but Sikhism, lacking a formal structure in China, struggled to comply. Gurdwaras faced closures or repurposing (e.g., Shanghai’s became a warehouse), and public worship was curtailed under campaigns like the 1951 Suppression of Counterrevolutionaries, which targeted “foreign” influences. state.gov. Without new migration—borders tightened post-1949, and anti-Indian policies deterred Punjabis—the community began assimilating or dwindling organically. globalsikhiwiki.com

The Sino-Indian War of 1962: Geopolitical Tensions and Accelerated Flight

The 1962 Sino-Indian War was a catalyst, exacerbating existing frictions and triggering a mass exodus. Border skirmishes in the Himalayas, rooted in colonial-era disputes over Aksai Chin and Arunachal Pradesh, spilled into domestic paranoia. In China, Indians—perceived as potential spies or sympathizers with “revisionist” India—faced heightened scrutiny. Sikhs, with their historical ties to British India and visible religious markers (turbans, kirpans), were particularly suspect. academic.oup.com. Though the war was brief (October-November 1962), it led to widespread arrests, property confiscations, and forced repatriations of thousands of Indians, including over 500 Sikhs from Shanghai and Hong Kong.

The conflict mirrored the internment of Japanese-Americans in WWII, with Chinese authorities detaining Indian nationals under the guise of “national security.” Sikh gurdwaras were raided for “subversive materials,” and community leaders were interrogated. Post-war, bilateral relations soured, closing avenues for return or family reunification. Many Sikhs fled to India, where they joined the growing diaspora in Punjab or Delhi, but not without loss—families were separated, and assets seized without compensation. This event halved the remaining population, from ~1,000 in 1960 to under 500 by 1965, underscoring how geopolitics intersected with everyday prejudice. globalsikhiwiki.com

The Cultural Revolution (1966–1976): Total Assault on Faith and Identity

If the 1962 war was a shockwave, the Cultural Revolution was an earthquake for China’s minorities, including Sikhs. Mao’s campaign to purge “bourgeois” elements targeted the “Four Olds” (old ideas, culture, customs, habits), criminalizing religious practice as feudal superstition. pewresearch.org. bitterwinter.org. Red Guards ransacked remaining gurdwaras—Shanghai’s Bubbling Well Road site was demolished in 1967, its president arrested alongside Buddhist and Christian leaders, with no restitution. Sikhs, already few, were forced to renounce turbans and beards, hide the Guru Granth Sahib, or face public struggle sessions.

This era’s atheism was absolute: The 1970 Constitution omitted even nominal religious freedom, and the State Administration for Religious Affairs was abolished until 1979. cfr.org. For Sikhs, it meant cultural erasure—Punjabi schools closed, festivals banned, and intermarriage encouraged to dilute identity. By 1976, the mainland Sikh population had plummeted to dozens, with survivors assimilating into Han Chinese society or fleeing to Hong Kong (then a British colony). The Revolution’s chaos—millions persecuted, economy crippled—left no space for minority revival.

Lack of Renewal, Assimilation, and the Fade to Obscurity

Compounding these shocks was the absence of fresh migration. Post-1949, China’s closed borders and the 1962 war severed ties with Punjab, where economic opportunities and family pulls drew potential migrants elsewhere (e.g., UK, Canada). The community’s small base—never exceeding 3,000—meant natural attrition through aging, low birth rates, and assimilation was fatal. Younger generations, pressured by state education, often abandoned visible Sikh practices, blending into urban Chinese life.

Reforms under Deng Xiaoping (1978 onward) restored limited religious freedom, but for Sikhs, it was too late—the infrastructure (gurdwaras, priests) was gone. Today, mainland China has virtually no organized Sikh community; estimates hover near zero, with isolated individuals in Beijing or Guangzhou practicing privately. Hong Kong retains a tiny group (~2,500), but even there, numbers dwindle due to emigration.

Conclusion: Beyond Resentment—A Complex Legacy of Survival and Loss

While British-era resentment toward Sikhs as colonial enforcers sowed early discord, the decline was profoundly shaped by macro forces: the 1962 war’s ethnic suspicions, Mao’s atheistic purges, the Cultural Revolution’s iconoclasm, and a migration vacuum that prevented replenishment. This small community’s fade illustrates how global events and state ideology can extinguish even steadfast faiths. Reducing it to local dislike ignores the human cost—of families uprooted, traditions silenced—and the resilience of those who preserved Sikhism in exile. As China modernizes, this hidden history reminds us of the fragility of diaspora identities in turbulent times.

  • Sikhs in Kerala

    Sikhs in Kerala: A Unique Chapter in Sikh Migration Welcome to Global Sikhi Wiki, your comprehensive resource for exploring Sikh history, culture, and  communities. Today, we delve into the vibrant story

    fd8bd0ad319b431b2fa92a3e810c3823dfab2496d73471f2307344b4f3c95d88?s=42&d=mm&r=g
    Published by Pritam

  • Sikhs in Greenland

    Sikhs in Greenland: A Glimpse into the Frozen Diaspora Welcome to Global Sikhi Wiki, your comprehensive resource for exploring Sikh history, culture, and global communities. Today, we delve into the

    fd8bd0ad319b431b2fa92a3e810c3823dfab2496d73471f2307344b4f3c95d88?s=42&d=mm&r=g
    Published by Pritam

  • Sikhs in Delhi

    Sikhs in Delhi- Overview Delhi occupies a foundational position in Sikh history, not as a peripheral settlement but as a sacred and political site shaped during the Guru period and

    fd8bd0ad319b431b2fa92a3e810c3823dfab2496d73471f2307344b4f3c95d88?s=42&d=mm&r=g
    Published by Pritam

  • Sikhs in Shamshabad

    Sikhs in Shamshabad: How a Tribal Village in Telangana, India Turned to Sikhism Welcome to Global Sikhi Wiki, your comprehensive resource for exploring Sikh history, culture, and  communities. Today, we delve

    fd8bd0ad319b431b2fa92a3e810c3823dfab2496d73471f2307344b4f3c95d88?s=42&d=mm&r=g
    Published by Pritam

  • Canadian Sikh lawyer Oath

    Prabhjot Singh — Canadian Sikh Lawyer Who Challenged the Mandatory Oath Who Is Prabhjot Singh? Prabhjot Singh (full name Prabhjot Singh Wirring) is a Canadian lawyer of Sikh heritage. He

    fd8bd0ad319b431b2fa92a3e810c3823dfab2496d73471f2307344b4f3c95d88?s=42&d=mm&r=g
    Published by Pritam

  • Sikhs in Ukraine

    UNITED SIKHS has been a prominent humanitarian responder in Ukraine since the 2022 invasion, providing immediate relief like food, medical aid, and shelter near borders and within war-torn cities like Kyiv and

    fd8bd0ad319b431b2fa92a3e810c3823dfab2496d73471f2307344b4f3c95d88?s=42&d=mm&r=g
    Published by Pritam

  • Sikhs in Austria

    Sikhs in Austria: A Flourishing Community in the Heart of Europe Welcome to Global Sikhi Wiki, your comprehensive resource for exploring Sikh history, culture, and global communities. Today, we delve

    fd8bd0ad319b431b2fa92a3e810c3823dfab2496d73471f2307344b4f3c95d88?s=42&d=mm&r=g
    Published by Pritam

  • Sikhs in Finland

    Sikhs in Finland: Migration, Turban Rights, Gurdwaras Welcome to Global Sikhi Wiki, your comprehensive resource for exploring Sikh history, culture, and global communities. Today, we delve into the vibrant story

    fd8bd0ad319b431b2fa92a3e810c3823dfab2496d73471f2307344b4f3c95d88?s=42&d=mm&r=g
    Published by Pritam

  • Sikhs in Israel

    Sikhs in Israel: A Hidden Chapter of Global Sikh History Welcome to Global Sikhi Wiki, your comprehensive resource for exploring Sikh history, culture, and global communities. Today, we delve into

    fd8bd0ad319b431b2fa92a3e810c3823dfab2496d73471f2307344b4f3c95d88?s=42&d=mm&r=g
    Published by Pritam

  • Sikhs in Chile

    Sikhs in Chile: A Small but Vibrant Community in South America Welcome to Global Sikhi Wiki, your comprehensive resource for exploring Sikh history, culture, and global communities. Today, we delve

    fd8bd0ad319b431b2fa92a3e810c3823dfab2496d73471f2307344b4f3c95d88?s=42&d=mm&r=g
    Published by Pritam

  • Sikhs in Bermuda

    Sikhs in Bermuda: A British Overseas Territory Welcome to Global Sikhi Wiki, your comprehensive resource for exploring Sikh history, culture, and global communities. Today, we delve into the vibrant story

    fd8bd0ad319b431b2fa92a3e810c3823dfab2496d73471f2307344b4f3c95d88?s=42&d=mm&r=g
    Published by Pritam

  • Sikhs in Belize

    Sikhs in Belize — a small but significant thread in the Caribbean Welcome to Global Sikhi Wiki, your comprehensive resource for exploring Sikh history, culture, and global communities. Today, we

    fd8bd0ad319b431b2fa92a3e810c3823dfab2496d73471f2307344b4f3c95d88?s=42&d=mm&r=g
    Published by Pritam

  • Why a New York Street Honors a Sikh Guru

    Why a New York Street Honors a Sikh Guru-Guru Teg Bahadur Ji Marg Way A Historic Honor in New York Welcome to Global Sikhi Wiki, your comprehensive resource for exploring

    fd8bd0ad319b431b2fa92a3e810c3823dfab2496d73471f2307344b4f3c95d88?s=42&d=mm&r=g
    Published by Pritam

  • Sikhs in Malaysia – From Struggle to Strength

    Sikhs in Malaysia: A Tapestry of Courage, Faith, and Unyielding Spirit Welcome to Global Sikhi Wiki, your comprehensive resource for exploring Sikh history, culture, and global communities. Today, we delve

    fd8bd0ad319b431b2fa92a3e810c3823dfab2496d73471f2307344b4f3c95d88?s=42&d=mm&r=g
    Published by Pritam

  • Sikhs in France

    Sikhs in Malaysia: A Tapestry of Courage, Faith, and Unyielding Spirit Welcome to Global Sikhi Wiki, your comprehensive resource for exploring Sikh history, culture, and global communities. Today, we delve

    fd8bd0ad319b431b2fa92a3e810c3823dfab2496d73471f2307344b4f3c95d88?s=42&d=mm&r=g
    Published by Pritam

  • Sikhs in Fiji

    Sikhs in Fiji: A Journey of Resilience and Contribution in Modern Oceania Welcome to Global Sikhi Wiki! In this blog post, we explore the vibrant history and enduring legacy of

    fd8bd0ad319b431b2fa92a3e810c3823dfab2496d73471f2307344b4f3c95d88?s=42&d=mm&r=g
    Published by Pritam

  • Sikhs in Germany

    Sikhs in Germany – Building Faith and Community in Modern Europe Germany, the land of poets, philosophers, and thinkers, is home to one of the lesser-known yet deeply rooted Sikh

    fd8bd0ad319b431b2fa92a3e810c3823dfab2496d73471f2307344b4f3c95d88?s=42&d=mm&r=g
    Published by Pritam

  • Sikhs in Japan

    Sikhs in Japan : Small Community, Big Stories Among all the countries I’ve studied, Japan is perhaps the first where I found no illegal Sikh immigration network — just a

    fd8bd0ad319b431b2fa92a3e810c3823dfab2496d73471f2307344b4f3c95d88?s=42&d=mm&r=g
    Published by Pritam

  • Sikhs in Argentina

    Sikhs in Argentina: Bibiana Jasbe Singh Kaur Born in Argentina, Bibiana straddles two identities. Though her Sikh ancestors forbade beef, she acknowledges that at social events and in local culture,

    fd8bd0ad319b431b2fa92a3e810c3823dfab2496d73471f2307344b4f3c95d88?s=42&d=mm&r=g
    Published by Pritam

  • The Heartbreaking Journey of Harjit Kaur

    The Heartbreaking Journey of Harjit Kaur In the dusty villages of Punjab, where the mustard fields sway like whispers of forgotten dreams under the relentless Indian sun, Harjit Kaur was

    fd8bd0ad319b431b2fa92a3e810c3823dfab2496d73471f2307344b4f3c95d88?s=42&d=mm&r=g
    Published by Pritam

  • Sikhs in Mexico

    Sikhs in Mexico: Forgotten Journeys and Resilient Roots By [ Global Sikhi Wiki Team] | Published on GlobalSikhiWiki.com | September 23, 2025 IST It was the early 1900s. Ships left

    fd8bd0ad319b431b2fa92a3e810c3823dfab2496d73471f2307344b4f3c95d88?s=42&d=mm&r=g
    Published by Pritam

  • The Bitter Exodus of Sikhs from Afghanistan

    The Bitter Exodus of Sikhs from Afghanistan Picture this: The sun rises over Kabul's ancient bazaars in the 1970s, where the air hums with the chatter of turbaned Sikh traders

    fd8bd0ad319b431b2fa92a3e810c3823dfab2496d73471f2307344b4f3c95d88?s=42&d=mm&r=g
    Published by Pritam

  • Decline of Sikhs in China

    The Decline of Sikhs in China: A Multifaceted Historical Narrative The history of Sikhs in China is a poignant, often overlooked chapter in the global Sikh diaspora, marked by a

    fd8bd0ad319b431b2fa92a3e810c3823dfab2496d73471f2307344b4f3c95d88?s=42&d=mm&r=g
    Published by Pritam

  • Sikhs in Afghanistan

    The Untold Story of Sikhs in Afghanistan - From Prosperity to Perseverance Imagine the bustling streets of Kabul in the 1970s—a vibrant mosaic of cultures where turbaned Sikh merchants haggled

    fd8bd0ad319b431b2fa92a3e810c3823dfab2496d73471f2307344b4f3c95d88?s=42&d=mm&r=g
    Published by Pritam

  • Sikhs in China

    Sikhs in China: A Hidden Chapter of Sikh Heritage Hello, readers! Welcome to another intriguing exploration of Sikh heritage on GlobalSikhiWiki.com. Imagine a turbaned Sikh policeman patrolling the bustling streets

    fd8bd0ad319b431b2fa92a3e810c3823dfab2496d73471f2307344b4f3c95d88?s=42&d=mm&r=g
    Published by Pritam
    Sikhism in Hong Kong | Sikh Population in China | Nedrick Punjab News
    Scroll to Top