BRIEF INTRO OF KASHGHARLocation and Area
Kashi Prefecture, 141,600 square kilometers in total
area in the southern part of Xinjiang, is contiguous
with the Taklimakan Desert on its east and borders Russia,
Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kirghizia, Pakistan
to its west and southwest respectively.
The city of Kashi, a place of strategic importance in
south Xinjiang, has an area of fifteen square kilometers
with an average elevation of 1289.5 meters. The city
lies 1,473 kilometers from the city of Urumqi.
History
Kashi, short of Kashgar, was called Shule in ancient
times and has a history of more than two thousand years.
According to the record of the Persian Epic, Afulabuseyav,
an ancient Tulan hero, established the capital of his
kingdom here.
In the beginning of the Han Dynasty, it belonged to
the Zhuangpu Prefectural General's Office of the Hun.
In the latter half of the second century B.C., after
the Han Dynasty Emperor Wudi sent Zhang Qian as his
special envoy to the Western Region, Kashi submitted
to the authorities of the Western Han Dynasty.
During the first century, Kashi was the supreme headquarters
of Ban Chao, an imperial general who administered the
Western Region. But at the end of the Sui Dynasty and
at the beginning of the Tang Dynasty, Kashi had to pay
taxes and levies frequently to the Western Turkish Khanate.
During the reign of the Tang Dynasty Emperor Taizong
and afterwards, it was an important military stronghold
of the Tang government. Kashgar was one of the four
important towns in Anxi at that time, thus it was made
the seat of the Shule Superintendents Office. The Karakhanid
Dynasty also established its capital in Kashgar.
Before Genghis Khan went on his expedition, Kashgar
was the south capital of the Western Liao Regime established
by Khitans. After Khan's western expedition was over,
Kashgar became the reign of crown prince of Chagatai.
During the reign of Qing Dynasty, Kashi became the seat
of government of the Kashgar Councillor of the Qing
government.
Population and Nationalities
Kashi Prefecture has a population of 2.3 million, of
which the Uygur nationality comprises 92.92%, the Han
5.6% and the Tajik 1.03%, with the other 0.45% made
up of Hui, Kirgiz, Ozbek, Kazak, Manchu, Xibe, Mongol,
Tartar and Daur nationalities.
The city of Kashi has a population of 200,000, 74.62%
of which are Uygur and 24.32% of which are Han.
Administration Divisions
Kashi Prefecture has one city (Kashi) and eleven counties
(Shufu, Shule, Yengisar, Yuepuhu, Jiashi, Shache, Zepu,
Yecheng, Markit, Bachu and the Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous
County) under its jurisdiction. Under jurisdiction of
the city and counties there are twenty-six towns and
sub district offices, 134 townships, 2,310 villagers'
committees and ninety-six neighborhood committees.
The city Kashi is the seat of the Kashi Prefectural
Committee of the Communist Party of China and the administrative
office of the prefecture. The urban district of Kashi
has four subdistrict offices, thirty-eight neighborhood
committees; its suburbs have three townships, thirty-nine
villagers' committees as well as two farms under the
city's jurisdiction.
Climate and Natural Resources
Kashi Prefecture is located in the temperate zone of
a continental climate. The climate in this area varies
greatly because of the varied topography. Specifically,
the Kashi Prefecture can be divided into zones of plain
climate, desert climate, mountain climate, the Pamir
Plateau climate and the Kunlun Mountain climate.
Located in the plain climate zone with the clear four
seasons, Kashi has a long summer and a short winter.
The annual mean temperature in Kashi is 11.7
Related info