Bayingolin Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture (巴音郭楞蒙古自治州)

1. Introduction

Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture (Mongolian: ᠪᠠᠶᠠᠨᠭᠣᠣᠯᠮᠣᠩᠭᠣᠯᠥᠪᠡᠷᠲᠡᠭᠡᠨᠵᠠᠰᠠᠬᠤ ᠵᠧᠦ), abbreviated as Bayingolin, Bayingol Prefecture, or Bazhou, is an autonomous prefecture under the jurisdiction of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China. It is located in the central part of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The prefectural capital is Korla City. Covering an area of 471,526 square kilometers, it occupies about one-quarter of Xinjiang's total area. The permanent population of Bayingolin is approximately 1.5 million, with Han Chinese accounting for about 60%, Uygurs about 32%, Hui people about 5%, and Mongols about 60,000. Bayingolin is rich in oil and natural gas resources and also possesses abundant solar energy resources. The Bayanbulak Grassland in Hejing County is the second-largest grassland in China, covering an area of about 25,000 square kilometers. The People's Government of the Autonomous Prefecture is located at No. 45 Bayin East Road, Korla City.

2. Etymology

Bayan: In Mongolian, it means "rich" or "abundant."

Gol: In Mongolian, it means "river" or "watershed."

Bayan Gol: Combined, it means "rich river" or "abundant watershed."

3. History

3.1 Ancient Times

In the 2nd century BC, within the territory of today's Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture, there existed eleven "city-states" or "nomadic states" including Loulan, Ruoqiang, Qiemo, Xiaowan, Wulei, Shanguo, Luntai, Yuli, Quli, Yanqi (Karasahr), and Weixu. The inhabitants were primarily Caucasian peoples who spoke the Tocharian language and practiced Zoroastrianism.

In 176 BC, Modu Chanyu of the Xiongnu invaded the Western Regions from the Mongolian Plateau. The various small states submitted one after another. The Xiongnu Right Rizhu Prince established the Tongpu Commandant between Yanqi, Weixu, and Yuli to manage the tribute and taxes from the vassal states (servants) of the Western Regions.

In 101 BC, the Western Han Dynasty advanced into the Western Regions, establishing the Commandant of Envoys in Luntai and Quli to garrison troops and cultivate land. In 60 BC, the Xiongnu Rizhu Prince Xianxian Dan defected to the Western Han, bringing with him suzerainty over the Western Regions. The Western Han government then established the Protectorate of the Western Regions in Wulei (south of today's Cedaya in Luntai County), appointing Zheng Ji as the first Protector-General. They built Lielou City at the river bend (the bend of today's Peacock River). The followers of the Xiongnu Rizhu Prince who surrendered to the Han were also settled at the river bend.

In 16 AD, the Protector-General of the Western Regions, Li Chong, was defeated by the Xiongnu and retreated to Qiuci (today's Kuqa). Lielou City was captured by the Xiongnu.

In 46 AD, King Xian of Shache attacked Qiuci, and Lielou City was taken by Shache, becoming part of Shache's Wulei Prefecture. Several years later, Qiuci killed the King of Wulei and took possession of the land of the Wulei state.

In 74 AD, the Eastern Han Dynasty dispatched Protector-General Chen Mu of the Western Regions, who returned to Lielou City. However, the following year, Lielou City was captured by Yanqi.

In 91 AD, the Eastern Han established the headquarters of the Chief Official of the Western Regions in Loulan. In 94 AD, Ban Chao used troops from eight states including Qiuci and Shanshan to attack Yanqi, Weixu, and Yuli. He beheaded King Guang of Yanqi and the King of Yuli at Lielou City, allowing the Eastern Han to regain a firm foothold in the Western Regions.

In 127 AD, Ban Yong, son of Ban Chao and Chief Official of the Western Regions, along with Zhang Lang, the Governor of Dunhuang, attacked the state of Yanqi via the northern and southern routes respectively. Zhang Lang arrived first at Jueli Pass (today's Tiemen Pass) from Jueli City (i.e., Lielou City) and attacked King Yuan Meng of Yanqi, who ultimately surrendered.

3.2 Medieval Period

In the 3rd century AD, the Kingdom of Yanqi was powerful for a time. In the early 4th century, Qiuci and Yanqi were at war. King Long An of Yanqi was insulted by King Bai Shan of Qiuci. After Long An's son, Long Hui, succeeded to the throne, he defeated Qiuci and dominated the region east of the Pamirs, but was eventually assassinated by people from Qiuci. In 335 AD (the 23rd year of Jianxing), during the Former Liang Zhang Jun's expedition against Qiuci, his general Zhang Zhi repelled Long Xi, son of Yanqi King Long Hui, at Benlun City and Zheliu Valley. In 382 AD (the 18th year of Jianyuan of Former Qin), Former Qin dispatched the Di people Lü Guang to attack and subdue Yanqi, bringing it under Former Qin control. After Lü Guang established the Later Liang, Yanqi began paying tribute to Later Liang.

In 448 AD (the 9th year of Taiping Zhenjun of Northern Wei), Wan Dugui, Duke of Chenggong of Northern Wei, attacked Yanqi. He established the military district of Yanqi Garrison there and built Liulü City in Korla. During this period, Bayingolin began to adopt Buddhism.

In 555 AD, the Turkic Khaganate conquered Gaochang and then expanded towards Yanqi. In 583 AD, the Western Turkic Tardush Khagan split from the Eastern Turkic Khaganate, and Bayingolin became territory of the Western Turkic Khaganate.

From the 7th century onwards, King Long Tuqizhi of Yanqi began establishing friendly relations with the Tang (Tabgach). In 648 AD (the 22nd year of Zhenguan), the Tang established the Yanqi Protectorate in Yanqi, one of the Four Garrisons of Anxi. In 670 AD (the 1st year of Xianheng), the Tibetan Empire captured the Four Garrisons of Anxi, which were recaptured by Tang forces five years later. In 682 AD, the Tibetan Empire captured the Four Garrisons again, only to be retaken by Tang forces three years later. In 687 AD, the Tibetan Empire captured the Four Garrisons for a third time, and they were recaptured for a third time five years later by Tang forces led by Wang Xiaojie. A period of relative peace followed until 751 AD, when the Tang suffered a major defeat at the Battle of Talas, severely weakening it. In 789 AD, the Tibetan Empire finally captured the Four Garrisons of Anxi for good.

In 840 AD, pressured by the Kyrgyz, the Uyghur Khaganate, led by Khagan Pang Tele, migrated westward, seizing various areas of Yanqi from the Tibetan Empire. In 856 AD, Khagan Pang Tele migrated west to Yanqi, where he was called "Idiqut" (Lord of Happiness), ruling over 200,000 people. In 860 AD, Khagan Pang Tele was defeated and executed by his half-brother Kurtegin, shifting the center of the Anxi Uyghurs to the Beiting and Turpan areas. In 833 AD, Langdarma, the last emperor of the Tibetan Empire, was assassinated. In 866 AD, Pugu Jun, leader of the Xizhou Uyghurs, defeated the Tibetan leader Shang Gongre, expelling Tibetan influence from the Western Regions. Over the next two hundred years, influenced by the Kara-Khanid Khanate, the Western Regions began undergoing Turkification and Islamization.

In 1122 AD, the Xizhou Uyghurs submitted to the Western Liao (Kara Khitai). The Western Liao generally pursued a policy of religious tolerance until 1211, when the Naiman Küchlüg usurped the Western Liao throne. Muslims and Christians were forced to convert to Buddhism, suffering religious persecution. In 1218 AD, Genghis Khan sent Jebe to lead an army against the Western Liao. After entering Kashgar, Jebe declared religious freedom. The Western Liao government under Küchlüg faced severe retaliation from the people of Kashgar and was destroyed by the Mongols. Subsequently, Bayingolin became a fief of the Chagatai Khanate and the Eastern Chagatai Khanate. After the descendants of Chagatai were defeated, it became a nomadic area for the southward-migrating Oirat (Dzungar) Mongols.

3.3 Modern and Contemporary Era

In 1677, the Aq Taghliq (White Mountain) faction invited Galdan to advance into Altishahr, defeating the Qara Taghliq (Black Mountain) faction and beginning the rule of the Dzungar Khanate. In 1759 (the 24th year of Qianlong), the Qing defeated the Dzungars and established the Karashahr Minister Superintendent in Yanqi, administering Yanqi, Korla, and Bugur. Qarqan (today's Qiemo County) and Qakilik (today's Ruoqiang County) on the southern route of the Tianshan Mountains were under the jurisdiction of the Khotan Minister Superintendent. In 1771, Ubashi led the Torghut tribe, who had lived in the lower Volga region for a century and a half, on an eastward migration. The Qianlong Emperor settled the Torghut tribe in Bayingolin, which is the origin of the Mongol ethnic group in the present-day Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture.

According to the Uyghur historian Musa Sayrami, on May 30, 1877, Yaqub Beg, Khan of Yettishar, was poisoned in Korla by the Yarkand Hakim Niyaz Hakim Beg, though other accounts suggest he committed suicide or died in battle.

In 1887, Francis Younghusband passed through Bayingolin on his epic journey from Beijing to India, referring to it as Korlia. He described Korla city as prosperous and thriving, with good farming in the surrounding countryside and extensive cultivated land. Maize appeared to be the main crop, but rice was also grown. There was a small Chinese town, roughly 400 yards (370m) square, with mud walls about 35 feet (11m) high and a moat. There were round bastions at the corners but no city gates. One mile to the south was the Turkic town, but its walls were in ruins, and inside was a main street about 700 yards (640m) long. "The shops are better than in Karashahr (Yanqi), but not as good as in Turfan."

In 1884, Xinjiang was established as a province, and Karashahr Directly Administered Subprefecture was set up. In 1901, Karashahr Directly Administered Subprefecture was upgraded to Yanqi Prefecture, with Xinping (today's Yuli), Ruoqiang, and Luntai counties successively incorporated. On April 12, 1950, the Yanqi Administrative Office was established. On March 12, 1954, the "Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Region Preparatory Committee" was established. A general election produced 139 representatives for the first People's Congress of the Autonomous Region, with Mongols comprising over 49%; Uyghurs over 23%; Hui over 16%; and other ethnicities including Han, Kazakh, Tibetan, Manchu, Uzbek, and Russian comprising over 10%. The First Session of the First People's Congress of the Autonomous Region was convened on June 13. On June 23, 1954, the Congress passed the "Decision on the Establishment of the 'Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Region'" and submitted it to the Government Administration Council for approval. On June 26, 1954, the People's Government of the Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Region was established in the capital Yanqi, administering Yanqi, Hejing, and Heshuo counties. Additionally, the Korla Administrative Office was established, administering Korla, Luntai, Yuli, Ruoqiang, and Qiemo counties. In February 1955, the Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Region was renamed the Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture. On November 12, 1960, the State Council issued the "Reply to the People's Committee of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Concerning Agreeing to Abolish the Korla Administrative District and Merge its Five Counties Including Korla into the Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture." In December 1960, the Korla Administrative Office was merged into the Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture, and the prefectural capital was moved from Yanqi to Korla. On March 29, 1966, the 29th Session of the Standing Committee of the Third National People's Congress approved the "Organic Regulations of the People's Congress and People's Committee of the Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region." In April 1970, Bohu County was established. In October 1979, Korla City was established. In 1983, Korla County was merged into Korla City. On June 2, 2009, the 11th Session of the Standing Committee of the 11th People's Congress of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region passed the "Decision on Approving the 'Provisions on the Procedures for Formulating Autonomous Regulations and Separate Regulations of the Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture'." On December 29, 2012, the county-level city of Tiemenguan, directly under Xinjiang's administration, was established and placed under the jurisdiction of the Second Division of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps.

4. Geography

The landforms of Bazhou are divided into three geomorphological regions: the Tianshan Mountains, the Tarim Basin, and the Kunlun Mountains, with a basic pattern resembling a large "U" shape. The territory encompasses high mountains, basins, rivers, lakes, gobi deserts, sandy deserts, and plain oases. The Tianshan Mountains lie between the Junggar Basin and the Tarim Basin, forming one of Asia's largest mountain systems. Within the prefecture, they stretch approximately 950 km in length and 140-200 km in width, trending roughly northwest-west. Intermontane basins and longitudinal tectonic valleys segment the entire mountain system into numerous ranges and massifs. The main ones include the Tianger Mountains, Alagou Mountains, and Huola Mountains in the north. The Kunlun Mountains are situated between the Tarim Basin and the northern Tibetan Plateau. The Kunlun Mountains in the southern part of the autonomous prefecture belong to the eastern Kunlun Mountains, trending northeast-southwest, with general elevations between 4,000-6,000 meters. The highest peak, Muztagh Feng, reaches 7,723 meters. North of the eastern Kunlun Mountains, east of Qiemo lies the Altun Mountains, which serve as the boundary range between the eastern edge of the Tarim Basin in the southeastern part of the prefecture and the Qaidam Basin of Qinghai Province. Extending north to east, these mountains generally range from 3,000-5,000 meters in height, feature an arid climate, and are desert mountains. Mountainous areas cover 225,000 sq km, accounting for 47.7%; plain areas cover 246,500 sq km, accounting for 52.3%; within the plains, gobi and desert areas cover 143,000 sq km, representing 30.3% of the prefecture's total area.

There are 69 lakes of various sizes within the entire prefecture, with a total area of 2,398 sq km. Major lakes include Bosten Lake, Lop Nur, Taitema Lake, and Jingyu Lake. Located in the southeastern part of the Yanqi Basin, Bosten Lake is 55 km long from east to west and 25 km wide from north to south, with a water surface elevation of 1,048 meters and a water area of 1,001 sq km, making it the largest inland freshwater lake in China. The prefecture has 53 rivers of various sizes, with an annual runoff of 10.6 billion cubic meters. Based on their origins, the rivers can be classified into the Tianshan Mountain water system and the eastern Kunlun Mountain water system. Major rivers of the Tianshan system include the Kaidu River, Huangshuigou River, Qingshui River, Dina River, and Kuerchu River, nourishing vast lands in the Yanqi Basin, Korla, Yuli, and Luntai plains. Major rivers of the Altun Mountains system include the Qarqan River, Kalamilan River, Moleqie River, Milan River, Taxisaiyi River, and Washixia River, fostering the oases of Ruoqiang and Qiemo.

Bayanbulak Grassland in Hejing County Bazhou features a mid-temperate and warm-temperate arid to semi-arid climate. Its main characteristics are: arid with little rainfall, high evaporation, and long sunshine hours. Due to the prefecture's vast territory and complex topography, there are significant climatic differences between high mountain areas and plains, as well as between the four northern counties of the Yanqi Basin and the five southern counties (cities) of the Tarim Basin. In high mountain areas, spring and autumn are connected, with no summer throughout the year, while plains experience four distinct seasons. The Korla and Luntai areas on the edge of the Tarim Basin have a frost-free period of 194-203 days; the Ruoqiang area on the southeastern edge of the Tarim Basin has a frost-free period of 181-185 days; the Qiemo area has a frost-free period of 176 days; the four northern counties in the Yanqi Basin have the shortest frost-free period, around 170 days.

Korla City Meteorological Data (1971–2000)

| Month | Record High °C (°F) | Avg. High °C (°F) | Daily Mean °C (°F) | Avg. Low °C (°F) | Record Low °C (°F) | Avg. Precipitation mm (in) | Avg. Precipitation Days (≥ 0.1 mm) | |------|----------------------|--------------------|--------------------|--------------------|----------------------|------------------------|--------------------------| | Jan | 8.5 (47.3) | -1.5 (29.3) | -7.0 (19.4) | -11.8 (10.8) | -25.3 (−13.5) | 2.0 (0.08) | 2.6 | | Feb | 14.0 (57.2) | 4.8 (40.6) | -1.3 (29.7) | -6.8 (19.8) | -20.7 (−5.3) | 1.5 (0.06) | 1.0 | | Mar | 24.9 (76.8) | 13.3 (55.9) | 7.1 (44.8) | 1.0 (33.8) | -10.4 (13.3) | 1.2 (0.05) | 0.8 | | Apr | 34.6 (94.3) | 22.2 (72.0) | 15.5 (59.9) | 8.7 (47.7) | -3.0 (27.0) | 2.0 (0.08) | 1.4 | | May | 36.3 (97.3) | 27.6 (81.7) | 21.0 (69.8) | 14.4 (57.9) | 1.6 (34.9) | 6.7 (0.26) | 2.6 | | Jun | 38.2 (100.8) | 30.9 (87.6) | 24.6 (76.3) | 17.9 (64.2) | 6.2 (43.2) | 9.9 (0.39) | 5.2 | | Jul | 40.0 (104.0) | 32.8 (91.0) | 26.4 (79.5) | 19.8 (67.6) | 10.6 (51.1) | 12.4 (0.49) | 5.8 | | Aug | 40.0 (104.0) | 32.0 (89.6) | 25.4 (77.7) | 18.8 (65.8) | 7.9 (46.2) | 8.6 (0.34) | 5.3 | | Sep | 36.2 (97.2) | 27.0 (80.6) | 19.9 (67.8) | 13.2 (55.8) | 1.9 (35.4) | 7.0 (0.28) | 2.7 | | Oct | 29.8 (85.6) | 19.1 (66.4) | 11.3 (52.3) | 4.9 (40.8) | -4.4 (24.1) | 4.1 (0.16) | 1.3 | | Nov | 20.1 (68.2) | 8.8 (47.8) | 2.2 (36.0) | -2.9 (26.8) | -16.6 (2.1) | 0.6 (0.02) | 0.6 | | December | 9.8 (49.6) | 0.3 (32.5) | -5.2 (22.6) | -9.6 (14.7) | -24.4 (−11.9) | 1.4 (0.06) | 1.7 | | Annual | 40.0 (104.0) | 18.1 (64.6) | 11.7 (53.1) | 5.6 (42.1) | -25.3 (−13.5) | 57.4 (2.27) | 31 |

Data source: China Weather Network[12]

5. Administrative Divisions

Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture administers 1 county-level city, 7 counties, and 1 autonomous county.

County-level City: Korla City Counties: Luntai County, Yuli County, Ruoqiang County, Qiemo County, Hejing County, Hoxud County, Bohu County Autonomous County: Yanqi Hui Autonomous County County-level Administrative Agency: Lop Nur Region Management Committee

Administrative Division Map of Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture

| Division Code | Division Name | Uyghur Script | Traditional Mongolian Script | Hanyu Pinyin | Latin Transliteration | Area (km²) | Permanent Resident Population (2020 Census) | Seat of Government | Postal Code | Township-level Divisions | |-------------------|---------------------------------------|---------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|--------------------------------------|--------------------------------------|----------------|-------------------------------------------------|------------------------|-----------------|------------------------------| | 652800 | Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture | بايىنغولىن موڭغۇل ئاپتونوم ئوبلاستى | ᠪᠠᠶᠠᠨᠭᠣᠣᠯ ᠮᠣᠩᠭᠣᠯ ᠥᠪᠡᠷᠲᠡᠭᠡᠨ ᠵᠠᠰᠠᠬᠤ ᠵᠧᠦ | Bāyīnguōlèng Měnggǔ Zìzhìzhōu | Bayingholin Mongghol Aptonom Oblasti | 471,480.28 | 1,509,233 | Korla City | 841000 | 7 subdistricts, 38 towns, 48 townships, 1 ethnic township | | 652801 | Korla City | كورلا شەھىرى | ᠺᠣᠷᠯᠠ ᠬᠣᠲᠠ | Kù'ěrlè Shì | Korla Shehiri | 7,378.48 | 779,352 | Saybagh Subdistrict | 841000 | 7 subdistricts, 3 towns, 9 townships | | 652822 | Luntai County | بۈگۈر ناھىيىسى | ᠪᠦᠬᠦᠷ ᠰᠢᠶᠠᠨ | Lúntái Xiàn | Bügür Nahiyisi | 14,181.70 | 137,327 | Luntai Town | 841600 | 4 towns, 7 townships | | 652823 | Yuli County | لوپنۇر ناھىيىسى | ᠯᠤᠪᠨᠠᠭᠤᠷ ᠰᠢᠶᠠᠨ | Yùlí Xiàn | Lopnur Nahiyisi | 59,192.07 | 101,866 | Yuli Town | 841500 | 3 towns, 5 townships | | 652824 | Ruoqiang County | چاقىلىق ناھىيىسى | ᠴᠠᠬᠠᠯᠢᠬ ᠰᠢᠶᠠᠨ | Ruòqiāng Xiàn | Chaqiliq Nahiyisi | 198,322.03 | 43,045 | Ruoqiang Town | 841800 | 5 towns, 3 townships | | 652825 | Qiemo County | چەرچەن ناھىيىسى | ᠴᠠᠷᠴᠠᠨ ᠰᠢᠶᠠᠨ | Qiěmò Xiàn | Cherchen Nahiyisi | 138,664.93 | 69,236 | Qiemo Town | 841900 | 6 towns, 7 townships | | 652826 | Yanqi Hui Autonomous County | يەنجى خۇيزۇ ئاپتونوم ناھىيىسى | ᠶᠠᠨᠴᠢ ᠬᠣᠲᠣᠩ ᠥᠪᠡᠷᠲᠡᠭᠡᠨ ᠵᠠᠰᠠᠬᠤ ᠰᠢᠶᠠᠨ | Yānqí Huízú Zìzhìxiàn | Yenji Xuyzu Aptonom Nahiyisi | 2,429.20 | 122,961 | Yanqi Town | 841100 | 4 towns, 4 townships | | 652827 | Hejing County | خېجىڭ ناھىيىسى | ᠾᠧᠵᠢᠩ ᠰᠢᠶᠠᠨ | Héjìng Xiàn | Xëjing Nahiyisi | 34,978.89 | 147,859 | Hejing Town | 841300 | 8 towns, 4 townships | | 652828 | Hoxud County | خوشۇت ناھىيىسى | ᠬᠤᠱᠤᠳ ᠰᠢᠶᠠᠨ | Héshuò Xiàn | Xoshut Nahiyisi | 12,739.86 | 59,299 | Tewulike Town | 841200 | 3 towns, 4 townships, 1 ethnic township | | 652829 | Bohu County | باغراش ناھىيىسى | ᠪᠤᠰᠳᠤᠨᠠᠭᠤᠷ ᠰᠢᠶᠠᠨ | Bóhú Xiàn | Baghrash Nahiyisi | 3,593.11 | 48,288 | Bohu Town | 841400 | 2 towns, 5 townships |

6. Economy

Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture (referred to as Bayingolin) is located in the southeastern part of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, at the southern foot of the Tianshan Mountains. It serves as a vital transportation hub connecting northern and southern Xinjiang. In recent years, Bayingolin's economy has maintained steady growth, achieving a gross regional product of 160.12 billion yuan in 2023, a year-on-year increase of 6.2%. Among this, the added value of the primary industry was 23.17 billion yuan, the secondary industry was 90.571 billion yuan, and the tertiary industry was 46.379 billion yuan. The industrial structure ratio of the three sectors was 14.56:56.55:28.89.

Bayingolin's economy is dominated by industries such as petroleum and petrochemicals, mining, agricultural and sideline product processing, and green energy, with the new industrialization process accelerating. In 2023, crude oil production reached 7.4792 million tons, natural gas production reached 32.499 billion cubic meters, and cement production reached 3.5126 million tons. Additionally, Bayingolin's tourism industry has gradually developed, with tourism revenue continuing to grow, positively impacting the regional economy.

Despite the rapid economic development, Bayingolin still faces challenges, such as the need to optimize its industrial structure and significant environmental pressures. In the future, Bayingolin will continue to promote industrial upgrading and green development to achieve sustainable economic growth.

7. Transportation

Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture (referred to as Bayingolin) is located in the southeastern part of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China, and enjoys convenient transportation with a well-developed network of highways, railways, and aviation. Five national highways and three provincial highways traverse the prefecture, with a total road mileage of 20,000 kilometers, ranking first in Xinjiang. Major transportation hubs include Korla Airport, Korla Railway Station, and several long-distance bus stations. Additionally, Bayingolin is connected to cities such as Ürümqi and Kashgar via the Southern Xinjiang Railway, ensuring advanced railway connectivity. Self-driving tours are also a convenient way to explore Bayingolin, offering beautiful scenery along the way.

8. Education

The Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture (referred to as Bayingolin) is located in the southeastern part of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and is one of the largest prefecture-level administrative divisions in China by area. Bayingolin has a well-developed education system, covering multiple fields such as preschool education, basic education, higher education, vocational education, and special education.

In terms of preschool education, Bayingolin has 340 preschool institutions that provide early education services for children. For basic education, there are 184 primary and secondary schools across the prefecture, 11 of which are secondary vocational and technical schools. Higher education is primarily managed by the Bayingolin Vocational and Technical College, which was established in 2002. It is a public full-time higher vocational institution offering multiple majors, with a focus on practical teaching and collaboration between schools and enterprises.

In vocational education, the Bayingolin Vocational and Technical College is the only higher vocational institution in the prefecture. It comprises 13 secondary colleges, offers 45 higher vocational majors, and collaborates with numerous well-known domestic and international enterprises to cultivate high-quality technical and skilled professionals. Additionally, Bayingolin is home to the Xinjiang Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture Health School, which specializes in professional education such as medical imaging technology.

For special education, Bayingolin has a full-time boarding special education school that provides preschool education, nine-year compulsory education, and vocational education for school-age children with disabilities, including those who are blind, deaf, or intellectually impaired.

The Bayingolin Education Bureau is committed to promoting educational equity and balanced development. Through the implementation of a series of measures, it aims to enhance the quality and accessibility of education, ensuring that people of all ethnic groups have access to high-quality educational resources.

9. Population

By the end of 2022, the permanent resident population of the entire prefecture (excluding Tiemenguan City) was 1.4985 million, of which: the urban permanent resident population was 877.9 thousand. The urbanization rate was 58.59%, an increase of 0.8 percentage points from the end of the previous year. The annual number of births was 8.6 thousand, with a birth rate of 5.72‰; the number of deaths was 8 thousand, with a mortality rate of 5.32‰; the natural growth rate was 0.4‰.

According to the Seventh National Population Census in 2020, the permanent resident population of the entire prefecture was 1,509,233. Compared with the 1,278,486 people from the Sixth National Population Census, there was an increase of 230,747 people over the ten years, a growth of 18.05%, with an average annual growth rate of 1.67%. Among them, the male population was 793,832, accounting for 52.6% of the total population; the female population was 715,401, accounting for 47.4% of the total population. The sex ratio of the total population (with females as 100) was 110.96. The population aged 0–14 was 288,023, accounting for 19.08% of the total population; the population aged 15–59 was 1,043,973, accounting for 69.17% of the total population; the population aged 60 and above was 177,237, accounting for 11.74% of the total population, of which the population aged 65 and above was 119,908, accounting for 7.94% of the total population. The population living in urban areas was 861,459, accounting for 57.08% of the total population; the population living in rural areas was 647,774, accounting for 42.92% of the total population.

9.1. Ethnic Groups

Among the permanent resident population, the Han population was 757,983, accounting for 59.29% of the total population, and the population of various ethnic minorities was 520,503, accounting for 40.71% of the total population.

Ethnic Composition of Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture (November 2010)

| Ethnic Group | Population | Percentage of Total Population (%) | Percentage of Minority Population (%) | |------------------|----------------|----------------------------------------|------------------------------------------| | Han | 757,983 | 59.29 | --- | | Uyghur | 406,942 | 31.83 | 78.18 | | Hui | 60,451 | 4.73 | 11.61 | | Mongol | 43,484 | 3.40 | 8.35 | | Tujia | 2,336 | 0.18 | 0.45 | | Miao | 1,362 | 0.11 | 0.26 | | Dongxiang | 1,148 | 0.09 | 0.22 | | Kazakh | 1,091 | 0.09 | 0.21 | | Manchu | 888 | 0.07 | 0.17 | | Tibetan | 547 | 0.04 | 0.11 | | Other Ethnic Groups | 2,254 | 0.18 | 0.43 |

10. Religion

Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture, located in southeastern Xinjiang, is a region with multiple ethnic groups and diverse religious beliefs. The main religions in the prefecture include Islam and Tibetan Buddhism, along with Han Chinese Buddhism, Christianity, and Catholicism, among others.

In terms of Islam, mosques are common religious structures in the area, some of which may serve as significant religious and community centers.

Tibetan Buddhism also has a long history in Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture and is closely intertwined with the lives of the local Mongolian ethnic group.

Religious affairs in Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture are managed by the Prefecture’s Ethnic and Religious Affairs Bureau, which is dedicated to promoting the implementation of religious policies and fostering social harmony.

11. Culture

11.1 Introduction to Religion in Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture

Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture (abbreviated as "Bayingolin" or "Bazhou") is located in the southeastern part of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China. It is a multi-ethnic region, with major ethnic groups including Mongols, Uygurs, Han Chinese, and Hui people. Due to the coexistence of multiple ethnicities, the religious culture of Bayingolin presents diverse characteristics. The following is a brief introduction to religion in Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture:

11.2. Major Religions

• Tibetan Buddhism:
  • Tibetan Buddhism is the primary faith among the Mongol population in Bayingolin. Historically, Mongols have been deeply influenced by Tibetan Buddhism (the Gelug school). Many Mongol households have Buddhist shrines where Buddha statues are enshrined.
  • There are several Tibetan Buddhist temples within Bayingolin, such as the Baluntai Yellow Temple (also known as "Bayingolin Temple") in Hejing County, which is an important site for Tibetan Buddhist activities in the Xinjiang region.
• Islam:
  • Islam is the primary faith among ethnic groups such as the Uygurs and Hui people in Bayingolin. Most Uygur and Hui followers adhere to Sunni Islam.
  • There are many mosques in Bayingolin, such as the Korla Grand Mosque in Korla City, which serves as an important venue for local Muslims to conduct religious activities.
• Christianity:
  • Christianity also has a number of adherents in Bayingolin, primarily concentrated among the Han Chinese and other ethnic groups. There are a small number of Christian churches in Bayingolin for worship services.
• Taoism and Folk Beliefs:
  • Some Han Chinese follow Taoism or folk beliefs, but their scale is relatively small.

11.3. Characteristics of Religious Culture

• Coexistence of Multiple Religions:
  • Bayingolin is a region where multiple ethnicities and religions coexist. Tibetan Buddhism, Islam, Christianity, and other religions harmoniously coexist, forming a unique religious and cultural landscape.
• Integration of Religion and Ethnic Culture:
  • The Mongol belief in Tibetan Buddhism is deeply integrated with traditional Mongol culture, reflected in festivals, customs, and arts. For example, the Mongol "Nadam Fair" often includes religious rituals.
  • The Islamic faith of the Uygur and Hui people has also profoundly influenced their lifestyle, dietary culture, and festival celebrations, such as Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.

11.4. Religious Sites

• Tibetan Buddhist Temples:
  • Baluntai Yellow Temple (Bayingolin Temple): Located in Hejing County, it is one of the larger Tibetan Buddhist temples in the Xinjiang region, attracting a large number of believers and tourists annually.
• Mosques:
  • Korla Grand Mosque: Located in Korla City, it is an important Islamic activity site in Bayingolin.
  • Other Mosques: Spread across various counties and cities in Bayingolin, serving local Muslim communities.
• Christian Churches:
  • There are a small number of Christian churches in Bayingolin, mainly distributed in areas with concentrated Han Chinese populations, such as Korla City.

11.5. Religious Policies and Management

• The Chinese government implements a policy of freedom of religious belief, safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of religious groups and believers.
• Governments at all levels in Bayingolin manage religious affairs according to the law, maintaining religious harmony and social stability.
• Religious groups and sites actively carry out patriotic education, guiding believers to love their country and their faith, and promoting the adaptation of religion to the socialist society.

11.6. Religion and Tourism

• Bayingolin's rich religious and cultural resources attract a large number of tourists. For example, the Baluntai Yellow Temple is not only a site for religious activities but also an important cultural tourism attraction.
• Religious festivals and activities (such as the Nadam Fair, Eid al-Fitr, etc.) serve as important windows for showcasing Bayingolin's diverse culture.

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Mongolian, meaning "abundant river"

Korla City

Korla City

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