Ma Bufang was described as a socialist by American journalist John Roderick and friendly compared to the other Ma Clique warlords.
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The Ma Bufang Mansion in Xining, Qinghai was where Ma and his family lived from 1943 to 1949.
One Generation of this family had the same Generation name, 步 (Bù), Ma Bufang, Ma Buqing, Ma Bukang, Ma Buluan, and Ma Zhongying (whose original name was Ma Buying) all had the Bu character in their names and were of the same generation, all being grandsons of Ma Haiyan.