In ancient times, this was the territory of the Goki people. Qiang people originally lived on the grasslands in the north. Later, under the pressure of the Han people, the Qiang people went south from the grassland in Qinghai, Gansu, through the Hengduan Mountains, and now to the Minjiang River Valley. Some Qiang people stayed in Maoxian county, and the local aborigines were Geji people. The two sides inevitably had fierce contradictions, which eventually turned into a war. At first, the Qiang people lost. Later, with the help of the gods, the Qiang people defeated the Geji people with white stones, and the Geji people disappeared from history. Qiang people began to thrive in Maoxian county.

Up to now, the Qiang nationality accounts for more than 90% of the total population of Maoxian County.