Difference between revisions of "Ningxia" - New World Encyclopedia
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== Geography == | == Geography == | ||
| + | Ningxia is a relatively dry, desert-like region, which is a characteristic shared by much of northern China, since it borders the [[Gobi Desert]]. The largest desert in the region is the [[Tengger desert]] in [[Shapotou]]. | ||
| − | + | While the province is dry, there is significant [[irrigation]] in order to support the growing of [[wolfberry|wolfberries]] (a commonly consumed [[fruit]] throughout the region and throughout China as a whole). The [[Yellow River]] flows throughout most of the region's land area, providing at least one major source of irrigation. | |
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On 16 December 1920 the Haiyuan earthquake, 8.6 magnitude, at {{coord|36.6|105.32}}, initiated a series of landslides that killed an estimated 200,000 people. Over 600 large [[loess]] landslides created more than 40 new lakes.<ref>Close, U., and McCormick (1922) "Where the mountains walked" ''National Geographic Magazine'' 41(5): pp.445-464</ref><ref>Feng, X. and Guo, A. (1985) "Earthquake landslides in China" In ''Proceedings, IVth International Conference and Field Workshop on Landslides'' pp. 339-346, Japan Landslide Society, Tokyo, [http://worldcat.org/oclc/70324350 OCLC 70324350]</ref> | On 16 December 1920 the Haiyuan earthquake, 8.6 magnitude, at {{coord|36.6|105.32}}, initiated a series of landslides that killed an estimated 200,000 people. Over 600 large [[loess]] landslides created more than 40 new lakes.<ref>Close, U., and McCormick (1922) "Where the mountains walked" ''National Geographic Magazine'' 41(5): pp.445-464</ref><ref>Feng, X. and Guo, A. (1985) "Earthquake landslides in China" In ''Proceedings, IVth International Conference and Field Workshop on Landslides'' pp. 339-346, Japan Landslide Society, Tokyo, [http://worldcat.org/oclc/70324350 OCLC 70324350]</ref> | ||
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{{reflist}} | {{reflist}} | ||
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==External links== | ==External links== | ||
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{{Province-level divisions of PR China}} | {{Province-level divisions of PR China}} | ||
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Revision as of 23:03, 6 December 2007
| 宁夏回族自治区 Níngxià Huízú Zìzhìqū | |
| Abbreviations: 宁 (Pinyin: Níng) | |
| |
| Origin of name | 宁 níng - tranquil 夏 xià - Western Xia "Tranquil Xia" |
| Administration type | Autonomous region |
| Capital (and largest city) |
Yinchuan |
| CPC Ctte Secretary | Chen Jianguo |
| Chairman | Ma Qizhi |
| Area | 66,000 km² (27th) |
| Population (2004) - Density |
5,880,000 (29th) 89.1/km² (25th) |
| GDP (2006) - per capita |
CNY 70.7 billion (29th) CNY 11,784 (21st) |
| HDI (2005) | 0.712 (medium) (26th) |
| Major nationalities | Han - 79% Hui - 20% Manchu - 0.4% |
| Prefecture-level | 5 divisions |
| County-level | 21 divisions |
| Township-level† | 219 divisions |
| ISO 3166-2 | CN-64 |
| Official website http://www.nx.gov.cn/ | |
| Source for population and GDP data: 《中国统计年鉴—2005》 China Statistical Yearbook 2005 Source for nationalities data:ISBN 7503747382 《2000年人口普查中国民族人口资料》 Tabulation on nationalities of 2000 population census of China † As at December 31, 2004
ISBN 7105054255 | |
Ningxia (Simplified Chinese: 宁夏; Traditional Chinese: 寧夏; pinyin: Níngxià; Wade-Giles: Ning-hsia; Postal map spelling: Ningsia), full name Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region (Simplified Chinese: 宁夏回族自治区; Traditional Chinese: 寧夏回族自治區; pinyin: Níngxià Huízú Zìzhìqū), is a Hui autonomous region of the People's Republic of China, located in the northwest of the country on the Loess highland. Ningxia borders Shaanxi to the west, Gansu to the east, and the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region to the north. Its capital city is Yinchuan.
History
Ningxia and its surrounding areas were incorporated into the territory of the Qin Dynasty as early as the third century B.C.E. Throughout the Han Dynasty and the Tang Dynasty, new settlements were added to the region, and by the eleventh century the Tangut tribe had established the Western Xia Dynasty in Ningxia, on the outskirts of the Song Dynasty.
Later on, the region came under Mongol domination after Genghis Khan conquered Yinchuan in the early thirteenth century. After the Mongols departed and their influence faded, Turkic-speaking Muslims slowly began moving into Ningxia from the west. This shift in demographics and religious difference created unavoidable tensions between the Han and the Hui ethnic groups in the following centuries.
In 1914, Ningxia was merged with the province of Gansu. However, in 1928 it was detached and became its own individual province. Between 1914 and 1928, the Xibei San Ma brothers (literally "three Mas of the northwest") ruled the provinces of Qinghai, Ningxia and Gansu.
In 1958, Ningxia formally became an autonomous region of China under the authority of the [communist]] People's Republic of China. In 1969, its border was extended to the north and the region acquired parts of the Inner Mongolia autonomous region, but these changes were reversed in 1979, leaving the area with its current borders.
Geography
Ningxia is a relatively dry, desert-like region, which is a characteristic shared by much of northern China, since it borders the Gobi Desert. The largest desert in the region is the Tengger desert in Shapotou.
While the province is dry, there is significant irrigation in order to support the growing of wolfberries (a commonly consumed fruit throughout the region and throughout China as a whole). The Yellow River flows throughout most of the region's land area, providing at least one major source of irrigation.
On 16 December 1920 the Haiyuan earthquake, 8.6 magnitude, at , initiated a series of landslides that killed an estimated 200,000 people. Over 600 large loess landslides created more than 40 new lakes.[1][2]
In 2006, satellite images indicated that a 700 by 200-meter fenced area within Ningxia – 35 km southwest of Yinchuan, near the remote village of Huangyangtan – is a near-exact scaled-down reproduction of a 450 by 350-kilometer area of Aksai Chin bordering India, complete with mountains, valleys, lakes and hills. Its purpose is as yet unknown.[3][4]
The region is 1,200 km from the sea and has a continental climate with average summer temperatures rising to between 17 and 24°C in July and average winter temperatures dropping to between -7 and -10°C in January. Seasonal extreme temperatures can reach 39°C in summer and -30°C in winter. The diurnal temperature variation in summer is 17°C. Annual rainfall averages from 190 to 700 millimeters, with more rain falling in the south of the region.
Administrative divisions
Ningxia is divided into five prefecture-level cities:
- Yinchuan (银川), the capital of Ningxia
- Shizuishan (石嘴山)
- Zhongwei (中卫)
- Wuzhong (吴忠)
- Guyuan (固原)
Demographics
Ningxia is the home of the Hui, one of the officially recognized Chinese minority groups. While some Hui are ethnically indistinguishable from the Han (the major Chinese ethnic group), many Hui retain Central Asian and Middle Eastern genetic features, most notably Arabs and Persians, such as dark skin and lighter-colored eyes in addition to their Islamic clothing. As a stop along the legendary Silk Road, the Hui were influenced by the Islamic traders and became Muslims.
Economy
Ningxia is the province with the third smallest GDP (Tibet being the last) in the PRC. Its nominal GDP in 2006 was just 70.7 billion yuan (US$9.2 billion) and a per capita GDP of 11,784 yuan (US$1,517). It contributes 0.3% of the national economy.
Ningxia is the principal region of China where wolfberries are grown. These fruits are known for their tremendous nutritional value, as they are some of the only fruits to contain vitamins, anti-oxidants, and protein. The most robust variety of wolfberries are reputed to be found in Ningxia.
Tourism
One of Ningxia's main tourist spots is the famous Xixia Tombs site located 30 km west of Yinchuan. The remnants of nine Western Xia emperors' tombs and two hundred other tombs lie within a 50-km² area. Other famous sites in Ningxia include Helan Shan, the mysterious 108 dagobas, the twin pagodas of Baisikou and the desert research outpost at Shapatou.
Notes
- ↑ Close, U., and McCormick (1922) "Where the mountains walked" National Geographic Magazine 41(5): pp.445-464
- ↑ Feng, X. and Guo, A. (1985) "Earthquake landslides in China" In Proceedings, IVth International Conference and Field Workshop on Landslides pp. 339-346, Japan Landslide Society, Tokyo, OCLC 70324350
- ↑ Haines, Lester (19 July 2006 ) "Chinese black helicopters circle Google Earth" The Register
- ↑ Cassidy, Katherine (13 September 2006) "Armchair Sleuths Uncover Strange Military Sites in China" McClatchy Newspapers / Real Cities Network
External links
- Ningxia regional government website (in simplified Chinese) Retrieved December 5, 2007.
- Large map of Ningxia Retrieved December 5, 2007.
- Overview of Ningxia Retrieved December 5, 2007.
- UNESCAP Retrieved December 5, 2007.
- People's Daily Retrieved December 5, 2007.
- The Australia-China CCI of New South Wales information center Retrieved December 5, 2007.
- Ningxia travel guide Retrieved December 5, 2007.
| Province-level divisions administered by the People's Republic of China (PRC) | |
|---|---|
| Provinces | Anhui · Fujian · Gansu · Guangdong · Guizhou · Hainan · Hebei · Heilongjiang · Henan · Hubei · Hunan · Jiangsu · Jiangxi · Jilin · Liaoning · Qinghai · Shaanxi · Shandong · Shanxi · Sichuan · Taiwan · Yunnan · Zhejiang |
| Autonomous regions | Guangxi · Inner Mongolia · Ningxia · Tibet (Xizang) · Xinjiang |
| Municipalities | Beijing · Chongqing · Shanghai · Tianjin |
| Special administrative regions | Hong Kong · Macau |
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