Modern East Asians originated recently from Africa. Anatomically modern humans entered East Asia via southern route 50,000 years ago. Rice and millet domestication post-Last Glacial Maximum drove population expansions. Neolithic expansions tied genetics to linguistic families and ethnic groups. Hongshan people from northeastern China relocated most ethnic populations 5,300 years ago. Ethnic groups fled to remote edges, creating genetic divides between periphery and center. Central China saw intense admixture accelerating over time to form Han Chinese. Han formation birthed Chinese civilization. North-south migrations produced smooth genetic gradients. East Asian genetic patterns illuminate global human history.