Photos: China's Hui Muslim women during Ramadan

Hui Muslim female Imam Yonghua Zheng, far left, talks with religious students outside the main Qingzhenshang Mosque on July 11, 2014 in Sangpo, Henan Province, China. As part of a tradition dating back to the late 19th century and unique to China's 10 million Hui Muslims, Zheng is one of hundreds of female Imams leading all female congregations in the women's only mosques of northwest China. Kevin Frayer / Getty Images

Hui Muslim women prepare food to break their fast during Ramadan at a women's only Mosque on July 11, 2014 in Sangpo, Henan Province, China. Kevin Frayer / Getty Images

Hui Muslim female Imam Yonghua Zheng, poses at the Ming Dynasty era Beida Mosque on July 22, 2014 in Qinyang City. Kevin Frayer / Getty Images

Hui Muslim female Imam Yonghua Zheng, center, prays with other worshippers during the holy month of Ramadan at the women's only Tuanjielu Mosque on July 22, 2014. Though able to teach and lead prayers for women, they are forbidden from overseeing funeral rituals or washing male corpses before burial. Kevin Frayer / Getty Images

Hui Muslim girls leave a graduation for an Islamic studies course during the holy month of Ramadan at a mosque on July 22, 2014 in Sangpo, Henan Province, China. Kevin Frayer / Getty Images

Hui Muslim female Imam Yonghua Zheng, puts on a headscarf in her quarters before leading prayers at the Qingzhenshang women's only mosque on July 10, 2014 in Sangpo. Kevin Frayer / Getty Images

Zheng prays before breaking her fast, July 22, 2014. Kevin Frayer / Getty Images

Hui women pray during hte holy month in Tuanjielu Mosque in Qinyang City. Kevin Frayer / Getty Images

Hui Muslim female Imam Yonghua Zheng, back center, speaks to worshippers as she prepares to lead prayer at the women's only Qingzhenshang Mosque on July 11, 2014 in Sangpo. Kevin Frayer / Getty Images

Hui Muslim female Imam Yonghua Zheng smiles as her in-laws see her off from the family home as she leaves for prayers at a women's only mosque on July 22, 2014 in Qinyang City. Kevin Frayer / Getty Images