Kurbanjan Tewukel, a 34-year-old postgraduate student at Wuhan University, is very different from other students - he owns 17 halal restaurants at 12 universities in Hubei and Hunan provinces.

"My business is small, but it is very meaningful," the Uygur student said.

Kurbanjan is owner and chairman of Tarim Halal Food Co in Wuhan, capital of Hubei province. His business has attracted a number of his relatives, neighbors and friends to work and live in the city.