During its existence, the Dungan alphabet has changed its graphic base several times and has been repeatedly reformed. Currently, the Dungan script functions in Cyrillic. Three stages are distinguished in the history of the Dungan script:
- 1927-1928 - attempts to create a writing system based on the Arabic script system Xiao'erjing, developed in China by the Huizu Muslims;
- 1928-1953 - writing based on the Latin alphabet;
- since 1953 - writing based on the Cyrillic alphabet.
It is used in the territory of the former USSR, in regions where the Dungan language is widespread (mainly Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan).