The Indians in China are migrants from India to China and their descendants. Historically, Indians played a major role in disseminating Buddhism in China. In modern times, there is a large long-standing community of Indians living in Hong Kong, often for descendants with several generations of roots and a growing population of students, traders and employees in Mainland China. The majority of Indians are East Indian Bengali, and Biharis as well as a high proportion of North Indians (including Rajputs, Marathas and Punjabis).