CH'IH-FENG

Pinyin Chifeng, Pinyin (Mongolian) Ulanhad, town, southeastern Inner Mongolia autonomous ch' (region), China. It lies on the upper reaches of the Ying-chin River, a western tributary of the Liao-ha River. The name, meaning "red mountain," refers to the red-coloured peak overlooking the town from the northeast. From early times Ch'ih-feng has been a key point of communication between the Chinese and their northern neighbours. In the period of invasion and disunion (3rd to 6th century AD), it was a stronghold of Hsien-pei tribal power. Under the T'ang dynasty (618-907) it was a centre for the Khitans, a people of Hsien-pei descent. Under the Ming dynasty (1368-1644) it was controlled by the Do-yen Wei, and in early Manchu times (17th century) it was in the territory of the Left and Right banners (local administrative units) of the ngt Mongols. In 1729, after many Chinese (e.g., from Shantung, Hopeh, and Shansi provinces) had settled in the area, the subprefecture of Ulaan Hada was set up to control them; it became a county-level town in 1773, was raised to a prefecture in 1907, and became a county seat again in 1913. Ch'ih-feng was never walled and was laid out on a spacious plan with solid brick buildings. It has rail links via Chien-p'ing, 75 miles (120 km) south to the main line from Peking to Shen-yang (Mukden); it is also the centre of a road network leading north into the Greater Khingan Mountains, into the interior plains of Inner Mongolia, westward to Kalgan (Hopeh), and southwestward to Ch'eng-te and thence to Peking. The town serves as a collecting and shipping point for the pastoral products of the Mongols, which include meat, hides, furs, and cattle. There are some local coal deposits. Much of the surrounding land is under cultivation. Ch'ih-feng is an area rich in archaeological remains, and important prehistoric (Neolithic and Bronze Age) sites have been discovered nearby. Pop. (1988 est.) 915,616.