Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture (伊犁哈萨克自治州)

1. Introduction

Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture (Kazakh: ىله قازاق اۆتونوميالىق وبلىسى / Іле Қазақ автономиялық облысы; Uyghur: ئىلى قازاق ئاپتونوم ئوبلاستى‎ / Ili Qazaq Aptonom Oblasti), abbreviated as Ili Prefecture, is an autonomous prefecture under the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China. It is located in the northwestern part of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and administers two prefectures—Tacheng and Altay—as well as 11 county-level administrative divisions directly under the prefecture. In the directly governed areas of Ili Prefecture, the Han Chinese population accounts for approximately 35%, while the Kazakh population accounts for about 22%. The seat of the prefectural government is located at No. 60 Stalin Street, Yining City.

Currently, Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture is the only autonomous prefecture in China that administers both prefecture-level and county-level administrative divisions. Historically, it was explicitly designated as an autonomous prefecture at the sub-provincial administrative region level. However, after the abolition of the Regulations on the Organization of the People's Congress and People's Committee of Ili Prefecture in 1987 and the comprehensive cancellation of sub-provincial administrative regions in 1988, the legal basis for the establishment of the prefectural administrative office and its administrative level lost regulatory support. At present, the prefecture claims to be organized at the sub-provincial level, but its governor and the chairman of the Standing Committee of the People's Congress are configured at the full prefecture-department level, while the president of the court and the chief prosecutor of the procuratorate are configured at the deputy prefecture-department level.

2. Origin of the Name

The name of the Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture integrates multiple meanings from geography, ethnicity, and history:

Geography: Centered around the Ili River, symbolizing the region's natural environment and resources.

Ethnicity: With the Kazakh ethnic group as the main body, reflecting ethnic autonomy and cultural heritage.

History: Carrying the historical memories of the Silk Road and the Ili General's Office during the Qing Dynasty.

3. History

This region was once occupied by the Saka and Wusun peoples. In 552 AD, Tumen, the leader of the rising Turkic tribes, destroyed the Rouran Khaganate and established the Turkic Khaganate on the Mongolian Plateau, with its sphere of influence covering the present-day Ili region. At the same time, Tumen's younger brother, Istämi, established the Western Turkic Khaganate in this area, proclaiming himself as the Khagan. The capital was located in the Tekes River basin of present-day Ili, historically known as the Western Turkic Khaganate. Later, the Tang Dynasty stationed troops in Ili, placing it under the direct command of the Grand Protectorate of Beiting.

During the late Tang Dynasty, the dominant ethnic group in the Ili region was the Karluks, who were former subjects of the Turkic Khaganate. The Karluks, in alliance with the Uyghurs, established the Kara-Khanid Khanate. In the 12th century, Yelü Dashi, a Khitan noble from the northeast, led his people westward and established the Qara Khitai. The Karluks in Ili then submitted to the Western Liao Dynasty.

In the early 13th century, Genghis Khan unified the Mongolian Plateau and established the Mongol Empire, beginning the conquest of the Western Regions. In 1211 AD, the Karluks in the Ili River Valley submitted to the Mongol Empire. After Genghis Khan conquered the Western Regions and vast areas of Central Asia, he granted the expansive lands, including Ili, to his son Chagatai, historically known as the Chagatai Khanate, which ruled over most of Xinjiang, including Ili, and parts of Central Asia. By the 16th century, most of the Mongol royal lineage of the Chagatai Khanate had assimilated into Islamic ethnic groups, known as the Mughals.

In the 17th century, the Dzungar tribe, one of the four Oirat (also known as Eleuth) tribes that entered Xinjiang, gradually gained dominance, using Ili as their base. In 1755, the Qing government launched a military campaign against the Dzungar tribe. After unifying the Western Regions in 1759, the Qing Dynasty established the General of Ili in 1762, serving as the highest administrative and military authority in Xinjiang at the time, overseeing both the northern and southern routes of the Tianshan Mountains. The city of Huiyuan served as the headquarters of the General of Ili and was also the political and military center of Xinjiang at the time.

In September 1944, a separatist uprising known as the "Ili Rebellion" (referred to by the Chinese Communist Party as the "Three Districts Revolution") broke out in Ili, Tacheng, and Altay (present-day Altay), initiated by Uyghurs and Kazakhs. This was a large-scale armed rebellion against the central government in modern Xinjiang history. The "Ili Rebellion" erupted during the later stages of the War of Resistance Against Japan and led to the establishment of the "East Turkestan Republic," which was backed by Soviet support.

On August 1, 1948, under the advocacy of Ehmetjan Qasim, the "Xinjiang Alliance for the Defense of Peace and Democracy" (referred to as the "Xinjiang Alliance") was established, with Ehmetjan elected as its chairman and Abdulkerim Abbas serving as the head of the news department. In the founding declaration of the "Xinjiang Alliance," the term "East Turkestan" was referred to as "Xinjiang" for the first time. In the documents of the Three Districts Revolutionary Government, the Han Chinese were listed alongside other ethnic groups as revolutionary forces for the first time, calling for: "Uyghurs, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, Mongols, Han Chinese, Hui, Uzbeks, and other ethnic groups to unite to forever eliminate their actual powerless slave status and escape from poverty and darkness!"

In September 1949, Xinjiang was peacefully liberated. On October 12, the People's Liberation Army advanced into Xinjiang, and on October 20, they entered and garrisoned the provincial capital of Xinjiang, Dihua (present-day Ürümqi).

In September 1954, the Ili Prefecture, Tacheng Prefecture, and Altay Prefecture were merged to form the Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture, under the jurisdiction of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.

In 2001, the Ili Prefecture was abolished, and its subordinate counties were placed under the direct administration of the autonomous prefecture.

4. Geography

Ili is located in the northwest of Xinjiang, north of the Tianshan Mountains, in the heart of the Eurasian continent. Its geographical coordinates range from 40°14' to 49°10'45" north latitude and 89°9'42" to 91°01' east longitude. It covers a total area of 268,591 square kilometers, accounting for 16.18% of Xinjiang's total area. From northeast to southwest, it borders Mongolia and Russia, and to the west, it shares a border with Kazakhstan. The total length of its national border is 2,019 kilometers, and it hosts nine national first-class ports, including Khorgos, Bakhtu, and Jeminay. Ili's prominent geographical location makes it a vital commercial hub and international corridor for Xinjiang and China's westward opening-up.

Within Ili, mountainous areas cover 83,632 square kilometers, hilly regions 62,989 square kilometers, plains 102,974 square kilometers, and deserts 20,439 square kilometers. From north to south, the territory is traversed by three major mountain ranges: the Altai Mountains, the Junggar Mountains, and the Tianshan Mountains, all of which are perpetually snow-capped. The highest peak in the Altai Mountains reaches 4,374 meters, with a snowline elevation of 3,000–3,200 meters, a glacier area of 293.2 square kilometers, and a glacial reserve of 16.4 billion cubic meters. The peaks of the Junggar Mountains range from 3,500 to 3,700 meters in height. The Tianshan Mountains (including the Borohoro Mountains, Keguqin Mountains, Wusun Mountains, and Narat Mountains) feature peaks up to 7,443 meters high, with a snowline elevation of 3,600–4,400 meters, a glacier area of 3,139 square kilometers, and a glacial reserve of 118.5 billion cubic meters.

5. Administrative Divisions

Ili Prefecture directly administers 3 county-level cities, 7 counties, 1 autonomous county, and 2 prefectures.

County-level cities: Yining City, Kuitun City, Huocerguosi City Counties: Yining County, Huocheng County, Gongliu County, Xinyuan County, Zhaosu County, Tekesi County, Nileke County Autonomous county: Qapqal Xibe Autonomous County Prefectures: Tacheng Prefecture, Altay Prefecture

Administrative Division Map of County-level Administrative Regions Directly Under Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture

| Division Code | Division Name | Chinese Pinyin | Area (km²) | Resident Population (2020 Census) | Government Seat | Postal Code | Subdistricts | Towns | Townships | Ethnic Townships | Border Management Area Scope | |--------|---------------------------------|------------------------------------|-------------|---------------|---------|--------|----|-----|----|-----|---------| | 654000 | Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture | Yīlí Hāsàkè Zìzhìzhōu | 269,101.18 | 4,535,789 | Yining City | 835000 | 30 | 123 | 99 | 17 | Parts within the territory | | | ئىلى قازاق ئاپتونوم ئوبلاستى‎ | Ili Qazaq Aptonom Oblasti | -248,815.37 | | | | | | | | | | | ىله قازاق اۆتونوميالىق وبلىسى | Ile Qazaq aýtonomııalyq oblysy | 56,522.92 | 2,778,869 | | | 18 | 57 | 40 | 10 | | | | | | -49,813.24 | | | | | | | | | | 654002 | Yining City | Yīníng Shì | 644.01 | 778,047 | Ailanmubage Subdistrict | 835000 | 8 | 4 | 5 | | None | | | غۇلجا شەھىرى‎ | Ghulja Shehiri | -622.8 | | | | | | | | | | | قۇلجا قالاسى | Qulja qalasy | | | | | | | | | | | 654003 | Kuitun City | Kuítún Shì | 1,171.20 | 229,122 | Tuanjie Road Subdistrict | 833200 | 5 | | 1 | | None | | | كۈيتۇن شەھىرى‎ | Küytun Shehiri | -406.51 | | | | | | | | | | | كۇيتۇن قالاسى | Ku'i'tu'n qalasy | | | | | | | | | | | 654004 | Huocerguosi City | Huò'ěrguǒsī Shì | 1,908.49 | 71,466 | Longhai Road | 835221 | 5 | | 1 | 1 | None | | | قورغاس شەھىرى‎ | Qorghas Shehiri | -714.47 | | | | | | | | | | | قورعاس قالاسى | Qorg'as qalasy | | | | | | | | | | | 654021 | Yining County | Yīníng Xiàn | 4,476.03 | 365,307 | Jiliyuzi Town | 835100 | | 10 | 8 | 1 | None | | | غۇلجا ناھىيىسى‎ | Ghulja Nahiyisi | -4,372.25 | | | | | | | | | | | قۇلجا اۋدانى | Qulja ay'dany | | | | | | | | | | | 654022 | Qapqal Xibe Autonomous County | Chábùchá'ěr Xībó Zìzhìxiàn | 4,469.36 | 157,764 | Qapqal Town | 835300 | | 7 | 6 | 1 | Entire area | | | چاپچال شىبە ئاپتونوم ناھىيىسى‎ | Chapchal Shibe Aptonom Nahiyisi | -3,644.44 | | | | | | | | | | | شاپشال سىبە اۆتونوميالىق اۋدانى | S'aps'al Sibe avtonomi'aly ay'dany | | | | | | | | | | | 654023 | Huocheng County | Huòchéng Xiàn | 3,545.79 | 243,303 | Shuiding Town | 835200 | | 6 | 3 | 1 | Entire area | | | قورغاس ناھىيىسى‎ | Qorghas Nahiyisi | -2,592.97 | | | | | | | | | | | قورعاس اۋدانى | Qorg'as ay'dany | | | | | | | | | | | 654024 | Gongliu County | Gǒngliú Xiàn | 4,111.40 | 175,766 | Gongliu Town | 835400 | | 6 | 2 | | None | | | توققۇزتارا ناھىيىسى‎ | Toqquztara Nahiyisi | -3,825.35 | | | | | | | | | | | توعىزتاراۋ اۋدانى | Tog'yztaray' ay'dany | | | | | | | | | | | 654025 | Xinyuan County | Xīnyuán Xiàn | 7,580.62 | 306,525 | Xinyuan Town | 835800 | | 8 | 1 | | None | | | كۈنەس ناھىيىسى‎ | Künes Nahiyisi | -7,229.60 | | | | | | | | | | | كۇنەس اۋدانى | Ku'nes ay'dany | | | | | | | | | | | 654026 | Zhaosu County | Zhāosū Xiàn | 10,426.93 | 146,887 | Zhaosu Town | 835600 | | 6 | 4 | 3 | Entire area | | | موڭغۇلكۈرە ناھىيىسى‎ | Mongghulküre Nahiyisi | -9,112.71 | | | | | | | | | | | موڭعۇلكۇرە اۋدانى | Mon'g'ulku're ay'dany | | | | | | | | | | | 654027 | Tekes County | Tèkèsī Xiàn | 8,066.45 | 148,945 | Tekes Town | 835500 | | 5 | 3 | 2 | None | | | تېكەس ناھىيىسى‎ | Tëkes Nahiyisi | -7,377.81 | | | | | | | | | | | تەكەس اۋدانى | Tekes County | | | | | | | | | | | 654028 | Nileke County | Nílèkè Xiàn | 10,122.62 | 155,737 | Nileke Town | 835700 | | 5 | 6 | 1 | None | | | نىلقا ناھىيىسى‎ | Nilqa County | -9,914.34 | | | | | | | | | | | نىلقى اۋدانى | Nylqy County | | | | | | | | | | | 654200 | Tacheng Prefecture | Tǎchéng Dìqū | 94,868.65 | 1,108,747 | Tacheng City | 834700 | 8 | 36 | 33 | 5 | Parts within the territory | | | تارباغاتاي ۋىلايىتى‎ | Tarbaghatay Prefecture | -83,702.07 | | | | | | | | | | | تارباعاتاي ايماعى | Tarbağatay Prefecture | | | | | | | | | | | 654300 | Altay Prefecture | Ālètài Dìqū | 117,709.61 | 648,173 | Altay City | 836500 | 4 | 30 | 26 | 2 | Entire territory |

6. Economy

Yili has established the largest lavender base in the country and has become one of the world's eight renowned lavender production regions.

Yili Wine: A product of Chinese geographical indication.

7. Transportation

The Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture (referred to as "Ili Prefecture") is located in the western part of China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, situated in the heart of the Eurasian continent. It serves as a crucial transportation hub connecting China's inland regions with Central Asia and Europe. Ili Prefecture boasts a well-developed transportation network, encompassing various modes of transport such as highways, railways, and aviation, providing robust support for local economic development and opening-up.

8. Education

The Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture (referred to as "Ili Prefecture") is an important component of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Its education sector has developed rapidly, forming a comprehensive education system that covers preschool education, basic education, vocational education, and higher education. Ili Prefecture places emphasis on ethnic education and bilingual education, cultivating a large number of talents for local economic and social development.

9. Population

According to the Seventh National Population Census in 2020, the resident population of the counties and cities directly under the Ili Prefecture was 2,778,869. Compared with the 2,482,592 people from the Sixth National Population Census, there was an increase of 296,277 people over the past ten years, a growth of 11.93%, with an average annual growth rate of 1.13%. Among them, the male population was 1,420,505, accounting for 51.12% of the total population; the female population was 1,358,364, accounting for 48.88% of the total population. The sex ratio of the total population (with females as 100) was 104.57. The population aged 0–14 was 612,100, accounting for 22.03% of the total population; the population aged 15–59 was 1,836,105, accounting for 66.07% of the total population; the population aged 60 and above was 330,664, accounting for 11.9% of the total population, of which the population aged 65 and above was 228,316, accounting for 8.22% of the total population. The urban population was 1,585,388, accounting for 57.05% of the total population; the rural population was 1,193,481, accounting for 42.95% of the total population.

9.1. Ethnic Groups

Among the resident population, the Han population was 874,379, accounting for 35.22% of the total population; the total population of ethnic minorities was 1,608,213, accounting for 64.78% of the total population.

Ethnic Composition of Counties and Cities Directly Under Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture (November 2010)

| Ethnic Group | Han | Uyghur | Kazakh | Hui | Dongxiang | Mongol | Xibe | Kyrgyz | Uzbek | Salar | Other Ethnic Groups | |------------------------|--------------|---------------|---------------|--------------|---------------|--------------|--------------|---------------|---------------|--------------|-------------------------| | Population | 874,379 | 667,202 | 534,398 | 277,238 | 44,202 | 29,390 | 25,958 | 15,197 | 3,854 | 2,489 | 8,285 | | Percentage of Total Population (%) | 35.22 | 26.88 | 21.53 | 11.17 | 1.78 | 1.18 | 1.05 | 0.61 | 0.16 | 0.10 | 0.33 | | Percentage of Ethnic Minority Population (%) | --- | 41.49 | 33.23 | 17.24 | 2.75 | 1.83 | 1.61 | 0.94 | 0.46 | 0.15 | 0.52 |

10. Religion

The Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture (commonly referred to as "Ili Prefecture") is located in the western part of China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is a multi-ethnic area, with major ethnic groups including Kazakh, Uygur, Han, Hui, and others. Influenced by historical, cultural, and geographical factors, the religious culture of Ili Prefecture exhibits diverse characteristics. The main religions include Islam, Buddhism, and Christianity.

11. Culture

The religious culture of the Ili Prefecture is characterized by its profound historical heritage and diversity. The integration of Islam with Buddhism, Christianity, and other religions has made Ili a significant region for the study of religious history and culture. The religious architecture, historical sites, and festival activities in Ili are not only manifestations of religious beliefs but also vital components of the local cultural heritage.

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Yining City

Yining City

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