Abstract: This study focused on studying the physical growth characteristics of the youths of Dongxiang minority nation who lived in Linxia, Gansu province. Both Han urban and ruraly ouths with the same ages and also lived in Gansu, are used as reference samples. In total there were 10160 subjects aged 7 through 18, both from Dongxiang and Han nations who were measured in 1985, participated in this study. The results show that the physical g rowth status of Dongxiang youths are not only significantly lower that of than the urban Han youths, but also low er than that of the rural Han youths. The physical growth levels, both of Dongxiang and Han, are compared with the means of variables in 1985. Dongxiang youths show significant increments of stature during the recent 10 years, which are 1. 9cm and 2. 0 cm in average, for boys and girls respectively. However, the increments of body weight and chest girth of Dongxiang youths are not as significant as that of the Han. The factors for causing these differences are discussed. The author also prospects that the physical growth of Dongxiang youths, accompanying with the socioeconomic development of their living environment, will have significant increment in the near future.

Key words: Children and adolescents, Growth and development, Physical anthropometric characters, Secular growth changes, Dongxiang nation