元中统四年(公元1259年)时,大都的回回已达2953户,人口达万人以上,其中“多系富商大贾、势要兼并之家”。当时回回的经济状况虽无从查考,但这里所提的“富商大贾”,也足可说明回回人在经济生活上的显赫地位。不过经营珠宝玉石、香料的回回商人,活跃于北京则是有史可查的。明代,回回仍以善经商而著名,北京的回回除经营珠宝玉石外,王回回膏药、马思远药锭、制香的“香儿李家”等,也颇负盛名。回回经营的牛羊行业也有较大发展。据明代张萱著《西园闻见录》载:宣武门外多回夷聚居,以宰牛为业者有上万人之多。而到了清代,这一行业有了更大发展。牛街《冈志》载,康熙十五年前后“西街每日午后宰牛羊数百,血流成渠,各色人等嘈杂喧闹,执刀者、缚者、吹者、剥者、杠者、执秤者;又有接血者、接皮者、卖肉者……凡十余行,无虑数千家,莫不饱食暖衣,仰给于牛羊……”, In the four years of Yuan Zhongtong (1259 AD), most of the returns reached 2953, with a population of more than 10,000, including “more than a large number of wealthy merchants and the tendency to annex their homes.” Although the economic status of the returned economy was not inspected at the time, the “rich businessmen” mentioned here can also show the prominent position of the returnees in their economic life. However, the return of merchants operating jade jewelry, spice, is active in Beijing is well documented. Ming Dynasty, the return is still well-known for its good business, the return of Beijing in addition to operating jewelry jade, Wang Hui back plaster, Ma Siyuan Yuanzao, incense “Hong children Lee home”, also quite famous. Back to the management of cattle and sheep industry also have greater development. According to the Ming Dynasty, Zhang Xuan, “West Park, Wen Lu recorded” contains: Xuanwumen and more to settle back to the slaughter cattle industry as many as 10,000 people. By the Qing Dynasty, the industry had a greater development. Niujie “Okazaki” contains, Kangxi fifteen years ago, “Western daily slaughter hundreds of cattle and sheep in the afternoon, the blood into a canal, all kinds of people and other noisy noises, the executioner, bind those who blow, stripping, bar Those who hold the scales; there are blood recipients, then the skin, those who sell the meat ... ... more than ten lines, regardless of thousands of homes, not enough to eat warm clothing, Yang Yang for cattle and sheep ... ... ”