The Tus call themselves "Mongguer", "Chahan Mongguer", and other names. There are different versions regarding the origin of the Tus, but most people believe that the Tus evolved from the Tuguhun people in ancient times. During their long history, they formed their own unique group by absorbing members of the Han, Tibetan, Mongolian, and other neighboring tribes.

The origin of Tu nationality still does not come to consensus. It is after a quite long time that Tu becomes a community. In late 13th century, Tu had unique characteristics. According to the record in Qing Dynasty, Tu had become a stable community and had their inhabiting regions in Ming Dynasty.

In Ming and Qing Dynasty, Tu had fast development of economy and productivity. Tu’s economy transformed from pasturage to combination of agriculture, pasturage and handicraft industry. The introduction of the farming technique from main land of China promoted Tu’s economy and handicraft industry like brewing and weaving. Ming and Qing Dynasty was an important period in Tu history and laid a foundation for its social development.

After the Revolution of 1911, Tu people in Qinghai and Gansu Province were under the control of warlord. Because of the oppressing ruling and racial discrimination, a lot of Tu people hid their identity and moved to other places. During that period, the population of Tu decreased in a large scale. Before 1930, there were only 38,000 Tu people, and 1933, there were 30,000.

To get rid of the ruling of the warlord, Tu people struggled constantly. In 1945, they organized troops to rebel.

On September 5, 1949, Chinese People’s Liberation Army liberated Qinghai and the warlord ruleing of more than 40 years was over. On February 17, 1954, the first Mutual Help Tu Autonomy was established.