SINKIANG, UIGHUR AUTONOMOUS REGION OF

Wade-Giles romanization Hsin-chiang Wei-wu-erh Tzu-chih-ch', Pinyin Xinjiang Uygur Zizhiqu autonomous region occupying the northwestern corner of the People's Republic of China. The region is bordered by Mongolia to the northeast, Kazakstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan to the northwest, Afghanistan and the disputed territory of Jammu and Kashmir to the southwest, the Tibet Autonomous Region to the southeast, and the Chinese provinces of Tsinghai and Kansu to the east. Southern Sinkiang came under the loose control of China's Western Han dynasty around 100 BC. Local Uighur leaders retained their autonomy after the decline of the Han. The area became part of the T'ang dynasty's empire in the 7th century AD, and in the 13th century it was conquered by the Mongol leader Genghis Khan. The Ch'ing dynasty took control of the area in the 18th century, and it was made a province of China in 1884. Because of the region's remote location, it was governed by semi-independent warlords rather than the central government. It came under the rule of the Chinese communist government in 1949 and became the Uighur Autonomous Region of Sinkiang in 1955. The capital city is Urumchi (Wu-lu-mu-ch'i). China's largest political unit, Sinkiang is an area of lonely rugged mountains and vast desert basins. It can be divided into five physiographic regions from north to south: the Northern Highlands, the Dzungarian Basin, the Tien Shan (Celestial Mountains), the Tarim Basin, and the Kunlun Mountains. The Northern Highlands extend in a semicircle along the Mongolian border. The Dzungarian Basin is surrounded by mountains on the south, northeast, and northwest and is open on the east and west. South of this, the Tien Shan, occupying nearly one-fourth of the region, is perpetually covered by snow with numerous long glaciers descending its slopes. Still further south, the Tarim Basin is surrounded by mountains on three sides and consists of a central desert and isolated oases. The Takla Makan Desert at the centre of the basin covers more than 105,000 square miles (272,000 square km) and is absolutely barren. The Kunlun Mountains, with elevations up to 24,000 feet (7,300 m), form an almost impenetrable barrier at their central part. Remote from the ocean and enclosed by high mountains, Sinkiang has a continental dry climate; annual temperature extremes are great, and rainfall is very slight. There are more than 40 different ethnic groups living in Sinkiang. The largest are the Uighurs (q.v.) and the Han (Chinese). The Uighurs are a Muslim Turkic-speaking people who constitute almost 50 percent of Sinkiang's population. Other groups include the Mongolians and Khalkha Mongols, Hui (Chinese Muslims), Kazaks, Uzbeks, Tungusic-speaking Manchus and Sibos, Tajiks, Tatars, Russians, and Tahurs. The population is evenly divided between the Dzungarian and Tarim basins. About 40 percent of the people in the north practice farming, while about the same proportion in the south are pastoralists. The region has four major cities: Urumchi, Karamay (K'o-la-ma-i), Kuldja (I-ning), and Kashgar (K'a-shih). Because of its dry climate, Sinkiang depends almost entirely on irrigation for cultivation of the land. The main crops grown are wheat (spring and winter), corn (maize), rice, kaoliang (sorghum), and millet. Sinkiang is one of China's main fruit-producing regions; its sweet Ha-mi (Hami) melons, seedless Turfan (Turpan) grapes, and Ili apples are well known. Sheep and horses are the principal livestock. Mineral resources include deposits of lead, zinc, copper, molybdenum, and tungsten. High yield oilfields are located between Urumchi and Karamay and in the Tarim Basin. Heavy industry includes an iron and steel works and a cement factory at Urumchi and a farm-tool plant at Kashgar. Industries processing agricultural products have been established within the region near the source of raw materials. Sinkiang has a good road system. There is a railway which crosses the region from Kansu province to Urumchi; a southern branch line connects Turfan with K'u-erh-le (Korla). Air service is centred in Urumchi. Area 635,900 square miles (1,646,900 square km). Pop. (1990) 15,155,778; (1996 est.) 16,610,000.