Where Did Modern Chinese People Come From?

Summary：while modern Chinese people likely trace much of their ancestry to the group of humans that left Africa 50,000–100,000 years ago, their genetic heritage is also influenced by other hominins that were present in Asia. As our understanding of ancient DNA continues to evolve, it’s possible that the origins of modern Chinese people—and indeed all modern humans—are even more complex than we currently imagine.

After discussing the origin of humans, we can now explore the question of the origin of modern Chinese people.

According to the theory of modern humans originating from Africa, all humans across the globe trace their ancestry back to Africa 50,000–100,000 years ago. This includes the Chinese population. Although the exact timing and migration routes into China are still debated, the prevailing view is that, like other populations worldwide, Chinese people are descendants of the same human ancestors who left Africa thousands of years ago. In fact, as early as 2001, Professor Jin Li from Fudan University led a study analyzing Y-chromosome sequences of over 12,000 Asian males, finding that all of them descended from a common African ancestor.

However, the fact that this is considered the prevailing view implies that it is not without contention. Some scientists argue that modern Chinese people may not solely descend from the group that left Africa 50,000–100,000 years ago, or they may descend from an earlier wave of human migration.

To understand this, we need to revisit the broader migration history. Humans have not left Africa only once. Long before  Homo sapiens appeared, another human ancestor,  Homo erectus , left Africa around two million years ago. This early human species spread across Eurasia, including to what is now China, and was responsible for populations like the famous Peking Man, who lived about 700,000 years ago.

Furthermore, other hominins, such as Neanderthals and Denisovans, also migrated out of Africa long before Homo sapiens. After the emergence of  Homo sapiens, there were likely multiple waves of migration out of Africa over the past 200,000 years.

This has led some scientists to propose the "multiregional origin" theory, suggesting that modern humans evolved from different  Homo erectus populations in various regions, including East Asia. In essence, while both the "Out of Africa" theory and the multiregional theory agree on an African origin, they differ on the timing and pathways of human evolution. The former claims that all modern humans have a common African ancestor from 50,000–100,000 years ago, while the latter posits that modern populations are the result of much earlier migrations, up to two million years ago.

Supporters of the multiregional theory often point to fossil evidence in China. For instance, Homo erectus fossils, like those of  Peking Man, share some features with modern Chinese people, such as the characteristic "shovel-shaped" incisors. This has led to speculation that modern Chinese may have inherited this trait directly from  Homo erectus  populations in China.

However, genetic studies provide a different explanation for such traits. The "shovel-shaped" incisor trait, for example, is caused by a specific gene variant, EDAR370A, which also influences sweat glands and hair thickness. This variant likely evolved as an adaptation to the hot, humid environment of East and Southeast Asia, but it does not necessarily imply direct descent from Homo erectus populations in China.

Another challenge to the African origin theory has come from fossils discovered in southern China. Some of these, such as those found in Fuyan Cave, were initially dated to over 100,000 years ago, predating the supposed exodus from Africa. However, more recent studies, including one led by Professor Li Hui of Fudan University, have reanalyzed the fossils and determined that they are much younger—likely only 15,000 to 30,000 years old, well within the timeframe of the African migration.

This new evidence lends more support to the African origin theory. However, it doesn’t completely settle the debate. The idea of human migration being a single, linear event is overly simplistic. More likely, migration occurred in waves, with earlier groups potentially migrating out of Africa and interbreeding with populations already living in regions like China.

Indeed, in recent years, genetic studies have shown that modern humans are not purely of African origin. In 2010, a research team led by Svante Pääbo found that non-African populations carry 1-4% Neanderthal DNA, indicating interbreeding between Homo sapiens and Neanderthals. Later studies also revealed that populations in Asia and Oceania carry Denisovan DNA, suggesting further interbreeding with this now-extinct hominin group.

Thus, modern humans are a genetic mosaic, shaped by both African migrations and interbreeding with other human species such as Neanderthals and Denisovans. This complex history suggests that modern Chinese people, like all other populations, have multiple ancestral roots.