Hainan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (海南藏族自治州)

1. Introduction

Hainan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (Tibetan: མཚོ་ལྷོ་བོད་རིགས་རང་སྐྱོང་ཁུལ།, Wylie: mtsho-lho bod-rigs rang-skyong-khul, Tibetan Pinyin: Colho Poirig Ranggyong Kü), abbreviated as Hainan Prefecture, is an autonomous prefecture under the jurisdiction of Qinghai Province, People's Republic of China. The prefecture borders Xining City and Haidong City to the northeast, Huangnan Prefecture to the east, Golog Prefecture to the south, and Haixi Prefecture to the west. Located in the eastern part of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, its northern area comprises the Qinghai Lake Basin, the central part is the Gonghe Basin, and the southern part lies at the northern foothills of the Anyê Maqên Mountains. The Qinghai Nanshan and Ela Mountains, branches of the Kunlun Mountains, stretch across the central region. The Yellow River flows through the entire territory in a "C" shape from south to north, receiving tributaries such as the Qushian River and the Mangla River, with the Longyangxia Reservoir located in the central part of the prefecture. Rivers including the Buha River, Heima River, and Daotang River flow into Qinghai Lake in the northern part of the prefecture. The total area of the prefecture is 43,453 square kilometers, with a permanent population of 447,000 in 2020. The capital of the autonomous prefecture is located in Gonghe County.

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2. History

In the second year of the Shenjue era of the Han Dynasty (60 BCE), Heguan County was established under Jincheng Commandery, governing the present-day Guide and eastern Gonghe regions, and was under the jurisdiction of the Protector of the Qiang. In the fourth year of the Yuanshi era of Emperor Ping of Han (4 CE), Xihai Commandery was established, encompassing most of the present-day Gonghe and Xinghai counties.

During the Jin Dynasty, the areas now known as Guide and Gonghe were governed by the Former Liang, Later Liang, and Northern Liang regimes. In the fifth year of the Jiande era (576 CE), the Northern Zhou Dynasty recovered the region south of the Yellow River and established Kuozhou, which governed present-day Guide, Guinan, and other areas.

In the third year of the Daye era of the Sui Dynasty (607 CE), Kuozhou was renamed Jiaohe Commandery, with present-day Guide and Guinan counties as its territories. In the fifth year of the Daye era (609 CE), the Sui Dynasty conquered and annexed the Tuyuhun, establishing new commanderies of Heyuan and Xihai, governing the regions south of the Daheba area in present-day Xinghai County, as well as Tongde and Gonghe.

In the thirteenth year of the Tianbao era of the Tang Dynasty (754 CE), Geshu Han, the military governor of Longyou, recovered the Jiugu region and established Jiaohe Commandery and Wanxiu Army south of the Yellow River.

In the second year of the Daguan era of the Song Dynasty (1108 CE), Jishi Army was established, governing present-day Guide County and areas to its east. In the first year of the Shaoxing era (1131 CE), the Jin Dynasty captured Jishi Army, bringing it under Jin control.

In the eighth year of the Zhiyuan era of the Yuan Dynasty (1271 CE), Guidezhou was established in present-day Guide and placed under the jurisdiction of the Chief Military Command of the Tibetan Pacification Commissioner. In the twenty-third year of the Zhiyuan era (1286 CE), Guidezhou was transferred to the Hezhou Route of Shaanxi Province's Branch Secretariat, governing present-day Guide and its southwestern regions.

In the third year of the Hongwu era of the Ming Dynasty (1370 CE), Guidezhou was renamed Guidezhou. In the eighth year of the Hongwu era (1375 CE), Guidezhou was changed to Guide Garrison Battalion, subordinate to the Hezhou Guard of Linzhou Prefecture. In the tenth year of the Hongwu era (1377 CE), it was renamed Guidezhou again, governing present-day Guide and parts of Guinan. Other areas of present-day Hainan were under the jurisdiction of the Duogan Chief Military Command's Dasima Myriarchy and Bili Battalion.

In the sixth year of the Shunzhi era of the Qing Dynasty (1649 CE), the Qing Dynasty established Guide Garrison in present-day Guide County. In the second year of the Yongzheng era (1724 CE), the area north of the Yellow River in present-day Guide was placed under the jurisdiction of Xining County. That same year, the "Office of the Imperial Commissioner for Mongolian and Tibetan Affairs" was established in present-day Guide and later relocated to Xining, managing vast pastoral areas including present-day Hainan Prefecture. In the fourth year of the Yongzheng era (1726 CE), Guide Garrison was transferred to Linzhou Prefecture in Gansu. In the third year of the Qianlong era (1738 CE), Guide Garrison was transferred to Xining Prefecture. In the twenty-sixth year of the Qianlong era (1761 CE), Guide was renamed Guide and established as a county, with a county magistrate appointed. In the fifty-sixth year of the Qianlong era (1791 CE), Guide Subprefecture was established, with a Pacification Commissioner for Tibetan Affairs appointed, subordinate to Xining Prefecture, governing present-day Guide, Guinan, Tongde, and other areas south of the Yellow River in Hainan.

In the second year of the Republic of China (1913 CE), Guide Subprefecture was changed to a county under the jurisdiction of Xining Circuit in Gansu Province. On July 11, the eighteenth year of the Republic of China (1929 CE), Gonghe County was established by incorporating the Qiabuqa area of Huangyuan County and the Upper and Lower Kuomi areas of Xining County, with the county seat at Qugou Dazhuang. In the twenty-fourth year of the Republic of China (1935 CE), Tongde County was established by incorporating the Lucang, Wangshike, and Chahannuomenhan pastoral lands from Guide County, with the county seat at Lajia Monastery. In the twenty-eighth year of the Republic of China (1939 CE), the provincial government established the Daheba Administrative Bureau. In the twenty-ninth year of the Republic of China (1940 CE), the Seventh Administrative Inspectorate of Qinghai Province was established, governing Tongde County, Nanping Administrative Bureau (present-day Lucang area of Guinan), and Hequ Administrative Bureau (present-day Shizang Monastery area of Tongde). In the thirtieth year of the Republic of China (1941 CE), the Seventh Administrative Inspectorate was renamed the Third Administrative Inspectorate, governing only Tongde County. In the thirty-second year of the Republic of China (1943 CE), the administrative bureau was changed to a county, with the county seat at Old Daheba. In the thirty-third year of the Republic of China (1944 CE), the Nanping Administrative Bureau was abolished, and the Lucang area of Tongde County was transferred to Guide County, while small agricultural areas such as Mangla, Shagou, and Layihai remained under Tongde County's jurisdiction. In the thirty-fifth year of the Republic of China (1946 CE), the Third Administrative Inspectorate was abolished, and Tongde County came under the direct leadership of the Qinghai Provincial Government.

On November 20, 1951, the Tongde Tibetan Autonomous Region was established. In June 1952, the Gonghe Tibetan Autonomous Region was established. In March 1952, the Xinghai Tibetan Autonomous Region was established. In March 1953, the Guinan Tibetan Autonomous Region was established. On December 6, 1953, the Hainan Tibetan Autonomous Region was established, governing five counties: Guide, Gonghe, Tongde, Xinghai, and Guinan, with the prefectural seat in Gonghe County. On July 28, 1955, the Hainan Tibetan Autonomous Region was renamed the Hainan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture.

3. Geography

Hainan Prefecture is located in the eastern part of Qinghai Province and the northeastern part of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. It is named for its position south of Qinghai Lake. It borders Haidong City and Huangnan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture to the east, Haixi Mongol and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture to the west, Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture to the south, and faces Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture across Qinghai Lake to the north. It covers an area of 44,500 square kilometers, accounting for 6.18% of Qinghai Province's total area. Except for the South Qinghai Mountains, the terrain generally slopes from southwest to northeast. As the Yellow River flows through the central region, the overall landform also tilts along the axis of the Yellow River.

The terrain within the prefecture is predominantly mountainous, surrounded by mountains, with the Ela Mountains in the west and southwest. Basins lie in the center, interspersed with plateau hills and river valley terraces, resulting in significant and complex topographic variation. The average elevation of the prefecture is above 3,000 meters, with the highest point at 5,305 meters and the lowest at 2,168 meters. Mountains are the primary landform, covering 42.3% of the total land area; hills and residual mountains account for 11%; mid-altitude plains and terraces make up 46.7%, of which river valley terraces constitute 12.4%. The Yellow River traverses 5 counties and 20 townships in the central-southern part for 411.3 kilometers, with 101 tributaries. The six inland river systems, primarily centered on Qinghai Lake, have over 40 tributaries. Qinghai Lake, located in the northern part of the prefecture, is China's largest inland plateau brackish water lake. It has a surface area of 4,573 square kilometers, a total water volume of 85.4 billion cubic meters, and a mineralization level between 12.5 and 13.2 grams per liter. The lake surface sits at an elevation of 3,196 meters, with an average depth of 19.15 meters. The autonomous prefecture has numerous rivers, mainly belonging to the Yellow River and Qinghai Lake water systems.

Hainan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture has a typical plateau continental climate characterized by thin air, aridity, low rainfall, long sunshine duration, strong solar radiation, cool to cold temperatures, small annual temperature range, and large diurnal temperature variation. Springs are dry and windy, summers are short and cool, autumns are damp and rainy, and winters are long and dry. The average temperature within the prefecture decreases with increasing altitude. The highest annual average temperature, around 7°C, is found in the lower Yellow River valley; it is about 3°C in the Gonghe Basin; areas above 3,400 meters are below 0°C; and areas above 4,000 meters are below -4°C. The annual temperature range is 24–26°C. Annual precipitation is 400–500 mm in the southern part and the Qinghai Lake area, and between 300–360 mm in the Gonghe Basin and Xinghai Ziketang areas. The average annual sunshine hours are 2,900–3,040 in the eastern, northern, and Qinghai Lake regions, and 2,690–2,770 in the central and southern regions.

Average Meteorological Data for Gonghe County (1981-2010)

| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year | |------|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|------|------|------|------| | Avg high °C (°F) | -0.2 (31.6) | 3.7 (38.7) | 8.8 (47.8) | 14.1 (57.4) | 17.7 (63.9) | 20.3 (68.5) | 22.5 (72.5) | 22.2 (72.0) | 17.8 (64.0) | 12.5 (54.5) | 6.5 (43.7) | 1.1 (34.0) | 12.2 (54.1) | | Daily mean °C (°F) | -9.0 (15.8) | -4.9 (23.2) | 0.7 (33.3) | 6.4 (43.5) | 10.8 (51.4) | 13.9 (57.0) | 16.0 (60.8) | 15.3 (59.5) | 11.0 (51.8) | 4.8 (40.6) | -2.5 (27.5) | -7.9 (17.8) | 4.6 (40.2) | | Avg low °C (°F) | -15.7 (3.7) | -11.7 (10.9) | -5.8 (21.6) | -0.3 (31.5) | 4.4 (39.9) | 8.1 (46.6) | 10.3 (50.5) | 9.5 (49.1) | 5.7 (42.3) | -1.0 (30.2) | -9.0 (15.8) | -14.4 (6.1) | -1.7 (29.0) | | Avg precip mm (inches) | 1.5 (0.06) | 1.7 (0.07) | 5.7 (0.22) | 13.7 (0.54) | 41.3 (1.63) | 56.5 (2.22) | 73.6 (2.90) | 68.2 (2.69) | 46.0 (1.81) | 13.7 (0.54) | 1.9 (0.07) | 1.1 (0.04) | 324.9 (12.79) | | Avg relative humidity (%) | 43 | 37 | 37 | 40 | 48 | 56 | 61 | 61 | 64 | 56 | 44 | 44 | 49 |

4. Administrative Divisions

Hainan Prefecture administers 5 counties: Gonghe County, Tongde County, Guide County, Xinghai County, and Guinan County.

| Division Code | Division Name Tibetan | Hanyu Pinyin Tibetan Pinyin Wylie Transliteration | Area (km²) | Permanent Population (2020 Census) | Government Seat | Postal Code | Subdistricts | Towns | Townships | |---------------|----------|----------------|--------------|-------------------------------------|------------------|----------|------------------| ------------------| ------------------| | 632500 | Hainan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture མཚོ་ལྷོ་བོད་རིགས་རང་སྐྱོང་ཁུལ། | Hǎinán Zàngzú Zìzhìzhōu Colho Poirig Ranggyong Kü mtsho lho bod rigs rang skyong khul | 43,453.24 | 446,996 | Gonghe County | 813000 | 19 | 17 | 1 | | 632521 | Gonghe County གསེར་ཆེན་རྫོང་། | Gònghé Xiàn Gêrqên Zong gser chen rdzong | 16,626.73 | 133,409 | Qabqa Town | 813000 | 7 | 4 | | | 632522 | Tongde County འབའ་རྫོང་། | Tóngdé Xiàn Pa Zong 'ba' rdzong | 4,652.80 | 60,268 | Gabasongduo Town | 813200 | 2 | 3 | | | 632523 | Guide County ཁྲི་ཀ་རྫོང་། | Guìdé Xiàn Triga Zong khri ka rdzong | 3,510.37 | 105,645 | Heyin Town | 811700 | 4 | 3 | 1 | | 632524 | Xinghai County བྲག་དཀར་རྫོང་། | Xīnghǎi Xiàn Zhag'gar Zong brag dkar rdzong | 12,177.63 | 75,833 | Ziketan Town | 813300 | 3 | 4 | | | 632525 | Guinan County མང་ར་རྫོང་། | Guìnán Xiàn Mang Zong mang ra rdzong | 6,485.71 | 71,841 | Mangqu Town | 813100 | 3 | 3 | |

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5. Population

According to the Seventh National Population Census of 2020, the permanent resident population of the prefecture was 446,996[10]. Compared with the 441,691 people from the Sixth National Population Census, there was an increase of 5,305 people over the ten-year period, a growth of 1.2%, with an average annual growth rate of 0.12%. Among them, the male population was 225,808, accounting for 50.52% of the total population; the female population was 221,188, accounting for 49.48% of the total population. The sex ratio of the total population (with females as 100) was 102.09. The population aged 0–14 was 108,376, accounting for 24.25% of the total population; the population aged 15–59 was 295,926, accounting for 66.2% of the total population; the population aged 60 and above was 42,694, accounting for 9.55% of the total population, of which the population aged 65 and above was 30,852, accounting for 6.9% of the total population. The urban population was 182,707, accounting for 40.87% of the total population; the rural population was 264,289, accounting for 59.13% of the total population.

5.1. Ethnic Groups

Among the permanent resident population, the Han population was 99,418, accounting for 22.24%; the total ethnic minority population was 347,578, accounting for 77.76%. Among them: Tibetans numbered 303,678, accounting for 67.94%; Hui numbered 34,321, accounting for 7.68%; Tu numbered 3,468, accounting for 0.78%; Salar numbered 1,454, accounting for 0.33%; Mongols numbered 3,094, accounting for 0.69%; and other ethnic minorities numbered 1,563, accounting for 0.35%. Compared with the Sixth National Population Census in 2010, the Han population decreased by 10,281, a decline of 9.37%, with its proportion of the total population decreasing by 2.59 percentage points; the total ethnic minority population increased by 15,586, a growth of 4.69%, with its proportion of the total population increasing by 2.59 percentage points. Among them, the Tibetan population increased by 10,793, a growth of 3.69%, with its proportion of the total population increasing by 1.63 percentage points; the Hui population increased by 4,118, a growth of 13.63%, with its proportion of the total population increasing by 0.84 percentage points.

Ethnic Composition of Hainan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (November 2020)

| Ethnic Group | Tibetan | Han | Hui | Tu | Mongol | Salar | Dongxiang | Tujia | Manchu | Bai | Other Ethnic Groups | |-------------------|---------|--------|--------|-------|--------|--------|-----------|--------|--------|-------|---------------------| | Population | 303,678 | 99,418 | 34,321 | 3,468 | 3,094 | 1,454 | 582 | 526 | 136 | 101 | 218 | | Proportion of Total Population (%) | 67.94 | 22.24 | 7.68 | 0.78 | 0.69 | 0.33 | 0.13 | 0.12 | 0.03 | 0.02 | 0.05 | | Proportion of Ethnic Minority Population (%) | 87.37 | — | 9.87 | 1.00 | 0.89 | 0.42 | 0.17 | 0.15 | 0.04 | 0.03 | 0.06 |

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Gonghe County

Gonghe County

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