Hami (哈密)

1. Introduction

Hami City (Uyghur: قۇمۇل شەھىرى‎, Latin Uyghur: Qumul Shehiri) is a prefecture-level city under the jurisdiction of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China, located in the eastern part of Xinjiang. The city borders Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture to the northwest, Turpan City to the southwest, Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture to the south, and Jiuquan City of Gansu Province to the southeast. Situated on the eastern edge of the Tianshan Mountains, the Barkol Mountains and Karlik Mountains traverse the central area, dividing the city into northern and southern parts. The southern foothills of the Tianshan Mountains feature the Hami Basin and the Gobi Desert, interspersed with oases; the northern foothills consist of vast grasslands. The rivers are all seasonal streams, and the lakes are mostly salt lakes. The total area of the city is 137,222 square kilometers, with a population of 616,700. The ethnic composition is 70% Han, 18% Uyghur, 9% Kazakh, and 3% Hui. The municipal government is located at No. 19, Jianguo South Road, Yizhou District. The area is renowned for its production of Hami melons. According to the Xinjiang Huibu Zhi (Records of the Xinjiang Muslim Region), "Since the early Kangxi period, when Hami submitted to the Qing court, this melon began to be offered as tribute and was called Hami melon."

2. Etymology

The name of Hami City originates from the ancient Turkic word "Qumul," meaning "a place with abundant sand," reflecting the local natural environment. It was transliterated as "Hamili" during the Yuan Dynasty, simplified to "Hami" in the Ming Dynasty, and has been used ever since.

3. History

The San Dao Ling and Qijiaojing sites from the Neolithic period, dating back 7,000 years, have yielded a large number of polished stone tools. In ancient times, the area was known as Kunwu. During the Han Dynasty, the southern part was called Yiwulu, and the northern part was known as Pulei. In the second year of the Shenjue era of the Western Han Dynasty (60 BCE), the Protectorate of the Western Regions was established. In the sixteenth year of the Yongping era of the Eastern Han Dynasty (73 CE), the Yihu Commandant was appointed. In the sixth year of the Jianchu era (81 CE), the Yihu Sima was established. During the Cao Wei period of the Three Kingdoms, the Yihu Commandant was stationed in Hami. In the second year of the Xianhe era of the Eastern Jin Dynasty (327 CE), Zhang Jun of the Former Liang captured Yihu and incorporated it into Dunhuang Commandery, appointing Canjun Suo Fu as the Yihu Commandant. Later, remnants of the Western Liang, including the brothers Tang Qi and Tang He, along with their nephew Li Bao, fled from Wuwei to Yihu and declared themselves Kings of Yihu. In the second year of the Tai'an era of the Northern Wei Dynasty (456 CE), the Dunhuang garrison commander, Wei Juan, led troops to capture Yihu. In the twelfth year of the Taihe era of the Northern Wei Dynasty (488 CE), Yihu Commandery was established.

In the fourth year of the Daye era of the Sui Dynasty (608 CE), Emperor Yang sent Pei Ju and Xue Shixiong to station troops in Yihu. A new city was built east of Yihu, named New Yihu. In the sixth year of the Daye era (610 CE), Yihu Commandery was established, and the Rouyuan Garrison was set up northeast of Yihu City. In the fourth year of the Zhenguan era of the Tang Dynasty (630 CE), the Western Yizhou was established, governing three counties: Yihu (present-day Hami), Rouyuan (present-day Qincheng), and Nazhi (present-day Sibao). In the sixth year of the Zhenguan era (632 CE), it was renamed Yizhou. In the twenty-second year of the Zhenguan era (648 CE), Pulei was placed under the jurisdiction of the Anxi Protectorate. In the first year of the Jinglong era (707 CE), Pulei came under the administration of Yizhou. In the fourth year of the Jinglong era (710 CE), the Yihu Army was established, stationed at Ganluchuan (present-day Barkol River) northwest of Yizhou. In the first year of the Tianbao era (742 CE), it was renamed Yihu Commandery. In the first year of the Qianyuan era (758 CE), it reverted to Yizhou and was placed under the jurisdiction of Longyou Circuit. In the second year of the Guangde era (764 CE), Yihu was occupied by the Tibetan Empire. In the fifth year of the Dazhong era (851 CE), Zhang Yichao, a native of Shazhou, recaptured Yizhou, which was then placed under the Guiyi Army. Later, the westward-migrating Uighurs established the Gaochang Uighur Kingdom with Yizhou, Xizhou, and Beiting as their bases. In 1124, Yizhou and Pulei came under the control of the Western Liao. The Mongols conquered the region during the Yuan Dynasty, where Yizhou was called Hāmìlì and Pulei was called Barköl, both under the jurisdiction of Gansu Province. After the collapse of the Yuan Dynasty, the Su Prince Wunashili took control of Hami and began accepting the protection of the Ming Dynasty in the thirteenth year of the Hongwu era (1380 CE), being granted the title of King of Hami. In the fourth year of the Yongle era (1406 CE), the Ming Dynasty established the Hami Guard, appointing Zhou An as the Chief Historian of the Loyal and Obedient Prince and Liu Xing as the Jishan. In the eighth year of the Zhengde era (1513 CE), Hami was annexed by the Turpan Khanate.

In the thirty-seventh year of the Kangxi era of the Qing Dynasty (1698 CE), officials were sent to Hami to organize banner troops according to the Mongolian princely system, designating it as the Bordered Red Banner. In the fifty-fourth year of the Kangxi era (1715 CE), Barköl was renamed Barkol. In the fifty-sixth year of the Kangxi era (1717 CE), the Hami Hui City was built, named Zhenyuan City. In the fifth year of the Yongzheng era (1727 CE), the Hami Han City was constructed. Between the seventh and ninth years of the Yongzheng era (1729–1731 CE), the Barkol Han City was built. In the ninth year of the Yongzheng era (1731 CE), the Qing court relocated the Anxi Subprefectural Magistrate to Barkol, placing it under the jurisdiction of the Gansu Provincial Administration Commission. In the twenty-fourth year of the Qianlong era (1759 CE), the Hami Subprefecture was established, with an Assistant Subprefect appointed, under the jurisdiction of the Gansu Provincial Administration Commission. In the twenty-fifth year of the Qianlong era (1760 CE), a Grand Minister Superintendent was appointed in Hami, and a Deputy Lieutenant General was stationed in Barkol. In the thirty-seventh year of the Qianlong era (1772 CE), the Barkol Manchu City was built, named Huining City. In the thirty-eighth year of the Qianlong era (1773 CE), the Zhenxi Prefecture and Barkol Circuit were established. Zhenxi Prefecture governed two counties: Yihe and Qitai, with the prefectural seat in Yihe, under the joint jurisdiction of Gansu Province and the Urumqi Military Governor. In the forty-first year of the Qianlong era (1776 CE), the Barkol Circuit was relocated to Dihua and renamed the Zhendi Circuit. In the third year of the Xianfeng era (1853 CE), Zhenxi Prefecture was changed to Zhenxi Directly Administered Subprefecture, under the jurisdiction of the Zhendi Circuit. In the fifth year of the Xianfeng era (1855 CE), Zhenxi Prefecture was renamed Zhenxi Directly Administered Subprefecture. Yihe County was incorporated into the subprefecture, and Qitai County was transferred to Dihua. In the eighth year of the Tongzhi era (1869 CE), the New Hami City was built. On the sixteenth day of the eighth month of the seventh year of the Guangxu era (1881 CE), the Hami Subprefecture was transferred from the Anxi Circuit to the Zhendi Circuit. In the tenth year of the Guangxu era (1884 CE), Xinjiang Province was established, and the Hami Directly Administered Subprefecture was set up. The Hami Jasagh Prince, commonly known as the Hami Hui Prince, was a hereditary Uighur noble during the Qing Dynasty who ruled the Hami region of Xinjiang. Even after the establishment of the Republic of China, his authority remained unchanged. However, during the late Qing and early Republican periods, the Hami region experienced multiple uprisings against the Hami Hui Prince, including rebellions led by Talanchi in 1907 and 1912.

In the second year of the Republic of China (1913 CE), the Hami region underwent administrative reforms, with Hami Prefecture renamed Hami County and placed under the jurisdiction of Dihua Prefecture. Zhenxi Prefecture was also renamed Zhenxi County. In 1930, Jin Shuren, the Chairman of Xinjiang Province, ordered the abolition of the Hami Prince system and implemented land reform policies. Shortly afterward, a large-scale Hami uprising broke out, including revolts led by Hoja-Niyaz, which also became the direct cause for Ma Zhongying's entry into Xinjiang. In 1934, the Hami Administrative District was established, encompassing Hami County, Zhenxi County, and the Qijiaojing Administrative Bureau, becoming the ninth administrative district of Xinjiang Province. The Administrative Chief Office was located in Hami County, with Liu Yinglin serving as the first Administrative Chief. In 1935, the provincial government decided to transfer Tuhulu, Xiamaya, Yanchi, Qianshan, Weizixia, and Naomaohu from Hami County to Yiwu, forming the Yiwu Administrative Bureau. By this time, the Hami Administrative District included two counties and two administrative bureaus. Finally, in 1943, the Yiwu Administrative Bureau was upgraded to Yiwu County. In May of the same year, the Hami Administrative Chief Office was restructured into the Administrative Supervision Commissioner's Office, responsible for coordinating administrative affairs within the region.

In 1950, the Hami Administrative Supervision Commissioner's Office was established, headquartered in Hami County, governing Hami, Zhenxi, and Yiwu counties, as well as the Qijiaojing Central District.
On January 4, 1954, Zhenxi County was renamed Barkol County. On September 30, Barkol County was renamed the Barkol Kazakh Autonomous Region. The Qijiaojing Central District was abolished and reorganized into Qijiaojing Town (a township-level town), placed under the leadership of Hami County.
In 1955, the Barkol Kazakh Autonomous Region was renamed the Barkol Kazakh Autonomous County. The Hami Administrative District governed two counties and one autonomous county.
In 1961, based on the urban area of Hami County, including five urban communes—Huochetou, Tielong, Gangtie, Xianxing, and Hongqi—and the Huojian Farm, Hami City was established, under the leadership of the Hami Administrative Office. It was abolished in 1962 and merged into Hami County.
In 1970, the Hami Administrative District was renamed the Hami Prefecture, with the prefectural administrative office located in Hami County, governing Hami and Yiwu counties and the Barkol Kazakh Autonomous County.
In 1971, Shanshan County, originally directly administered by the autonomous region, was incorporated into Hami Prefecture until it was transferred to the Turpan Prefecture in 1975.
In 1977, the State Council decided to establish Hami City (a county-level city). Hami Prefecture governed one city (Hami), two counties (Hami and Yiwu), and one autonomous county (Barkol).
In 1979, the Hami Prefecture Revolutionary Committee was renamed the Hami Prefecture Administrative Office. Hami Prefecture governed one city, two counties, and one autonomous county, comprising two towns, three districts, 22 people's communes, 17 state-owned farms and pastures, 22 neighborhood committees, and the Sandao Ridge Mining Area Administrative Committee (county-level). The Hami Prefecture Administrative Office was located in the county-level Hami City.
On September 9, 1983, Hami County was merged into Hami City.
On January 7, 2016, Hami Prefecture was abolished and established as a prefecture-level city. The former county-level Hami City was renamed the Yizhou District under the city's jurisdiction.

4. Geography

Hami City is located at the easternmost tip of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, straddling both the northern and southern sides of the eastern Tianshan Mountains. It borders Jiuquan City of Gansu Province to the east; the Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture to the south; and the Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture and Turpan City to the west. North of the Tianshan Mountains are forests and grasslands, while the Hami Basin south of the mountains is an alluvial oasis. Mountains account for 4.5% of the total area, deserts for 1.5%, plains and Gobi for 27.9%, hills for 65.5%, water bodies for 0.1%, and agricultural land for 0.5%.

Hami City features a typical temperate continental arid climate. The annual average temperature is 10.3°C, with an average of -9.8°C in January and 26.8°C in July. The diurnal temperature variation is typically large, averaging about 15°C annually. The extreme maximum temperature is 43°C, and the extreme minimum is -32°C. Annual precipitation is 33.8 mm, with annual evaporation reaching 3300 mm. The frost-free period lasts 182 days. The air is dry, and atmospheric transparency is good. The average annual sunshine duration is 3358 hours, with a sunshine rate of 68% in December and as high as 79% in September and October, making it one of the cities with the most abundant sunshine in China.

Average Meteorological Data for Hami City from 1981−2010

| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year | |------|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|-----------------| | Average high °C (°F) | −2.6 (27.3) | 4.5 (40.1) | 13.1 (55.6) | 21.8 (71.2) | 28.3 (82.9) | 32.9 (91.2) | 34.6 (94.3) | 33.3 (91.9) | 28.0 (82.4) | 19.1 (66.4) | 8.0 (46.4) | −1.4 (29.5) | 18.3 (64.9) | | Daily mean °C (°F) | −9.8 (14.4) | −3.3 (26.1) | 5.3 (41.5) | 13.9 (57.0) | 20.5 (68.9) | 25.1 (77.2) | 26.8 (80.2) | 24.6 (76.3) | 18.2 (64.8) | 9.4 (48.9) | 0.3 (32.5) | −8.0 (17.6) | 10.3 (50.5) | | Average low °C (°F) | −15.5 (4.1) | −9.8 (14.4) | −1.9 (28.6) | 6.1 (43.0) | 12.2 (54.0) | 16.8 (62.2) | 18.9 (66.0) | 16.7 (62.1) | 10.4 (50.7) | 2.7 (36.9) | −4.9 (23.2) | −12.9 (8.8) | 3.2 (37.8) | | Average precipitation mm (inches) | 1.4 (0.06) | 1.4 (0.06) | 1.5 (0.06) | 2.9 (0.11) | 4.0 (0.16) | 5.7 (0.22) | 9.0 (0.35) | 5.7 (0.22) | 3.3 (0.13) | 4.0 (0.16) | 2.9 (0.11) | 1.8 (0.07) | 43.6 (1.71) | | Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 1.7 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 2.0 | 3.6 | 4.4 | 3.4 | 2.0 | 1.4 | 1.0 | 1.8 | 24.9 | | Average relative humidity (%) | 60 | 46 | 33 | 28 | 33 | 37 | 43 | 44 | 47 | 51 | 55 | 62 | 45 | | Mean monthly sunshine hours | 210.4 | 219.9 | 267.9 | 288.3 | 338.8 | 329.6 | 333.4 | 323.3 | 296.9 | 270.6 | 216.5 | 189.5 | 3,285.1 | | Percent possible sunshine | 73 | 74 | 73 | 72 | 75 | 72 | 72 | 75 | 79 | 79 | 74 | 68 | 74 |

Source: China Meteorological Administration (precipitation days and sunshine data from 1971−2000)

5. Administrative Divisions

Hami City administers 1 district, 1 county, and 1 autonomous county.

District: Yizhou District
County: Yiwu County
Autonomous County: Barkol Kazakh Autonomous County
The entire area of the city is designated as a border management zone. Non-local residents must obtain a travel permit to visit.

Administrative Division Map of Hami City

6. Economy

Hami City is located in the eastern part of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China and serves as an important energy and mineral resource base in Xinjiang. Its economic development is supported by pillars such as energy, mining, agriculture, and tourism. The following are the main characteristics of Hami's economy:

6.1 Energy Industry

• Coal Resources: Hami is one of China's important coal production bases, with abundant coal reserves primarily distributed in Barkol and Yiwu.
• Wind and Solar Energy: Hami possesses rich wind and solar energy resources, making it a significant clean energy base in China. The Hami Wind Power Base and photovoltaic power generation projects are large-scale, contributing substantially to the national energy structure adjustment and green development.

6.2 Mineral Resources

• Hami is rich in mineral resources, especially metal minerals such as iron ore, copper ore, and nickel ore, as well as non-metallic minerals like stone and salt. Mineral resource development is a crucial component of Hami's economy.

6.3 Agriculture

• Hami is an important agricultural area in Xinjiang, primarily focused on crop cultivation and animal husbandry.
  • Crop Cultivation: Hami melon is a local specialty agricultural product renowned nationwide. Additionally, cotton, grapes, and red dates are also significant cash crops.
  • Animal Husbandry: The Barkol and Yiwu regions mainly engage in animal husbandry, primarily raising livestock such as sheep and cattle.

6.4 Industry

• Hami's industry is dominated by energy, mineral processing, and chemical industries. Sectors such as coal, electricity, metallurgy, and building materials are the pillars of its industrial economy.
• In recent years, Hami has actively promoted industrial upgrading, developing high-end manufacturing and clean energy industries.

6.5 Tourism

• Hami boasts abundant natural and cultural tourism resources.
  • Natural Landscapes: Include the Tianshan Scenic Area, Barkol Grassland, and Yiwu Populus Euphratica Forest.
  • Cultural Landscapes: Historical and cultural sites such as the Hami King's Mausoleum, Huiwang Tomb, and Wubao Devil City attract a large number of tourists.
• Tourism is an important growth point for Hami's economy and has developed rapidly in recent years.

6.6 Transportation and Logistics

• Hami is a key transportation hub in eastern Xinjiang, with major transportation arteries such as the Lanzhou-Xinjiang Railway and the Lianyungang-Khorgas Expressway running through its territory.
• Hami Airport connects to multiple domestic cities, and its convenient transportation conditions provide strong support for economic development.
• As an important node city in the "Belt and Road" initiative, Hami's logistics industry has significant development potential.

6.7 Current Economic Development Status

• Hami City's economic output ranks in the upper-middle level among prefecture-level cities in Xinjiang, with the development of energy and mineral resources contributing significantly to economic growth.
• In recent years, Hami has actively promoted economic structure optimization, vigorously developed clean energy and the green economy, and strived to achieve sustainable development.

7. Transportation

National Highway 312 passes through the area. Lanzhou-Xinjiang Railway, Lanzhou-Xinjiang High-Speed Railway, Linhe-Hami Railway: Hami Railway Station Hami Airport In 2013, Hami's railway freight volume was 14.823 million tons, road freight volume was 16.38 million tons, civil aviation cargo throughput was 218.7 tons, railway passenger volume was 1.8669 million person-times, road passenger volume was 5.71 million person-times, civil aviation passenger throughput was 180,600 person-times, total road mileage was 7,230.3 kilometers, including 5,040.3 kilometers of ordinary roads and 400.0 kilometers of expressways. The number of civilian vehicles was 175,800, including 140,200 private vehicles.

8. Education

Hami City, located in the eastern part of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China, boasts a relatively well-developed education system covering multiple levels, including preschool education, basic education, vocational education, and higher education. The following are the main characteristics and current development status of education in Hami City:

8.1 Basic Education

• Preschool Education: Hami City actively promotes the universalization of preschool education. Kindergartens are established in both urban areas and townships to meet the enrollment needs of children of appropriate age.
• Compulsory Education: Hami City fully implements the nine-year compulsory education. The distribution of schools in urban and rural areas is reasonable, and educational resources are gradually becoming more balanced. Primary and secondary schools are established in the urban area and various counties (such as Yizhou District, Barkol Kazakh Autonomous County, and Yiwu County) to safeguard the right to education for children and adolescents of appropriate age.
• High School Education: Hami City has multiple general high schools and vocational high schools, providing students with diverse options for further education.

8.2 Vocational Education

• Vocational education in Hami City aims to serve local economic development, offering specialized courses in fields such as energy, mining, agriculture, and tourism.
• Hami Vocational and Technical College is a key local vocational education institution, cultivating a large number of technical and skilled talents for regional economic development.

8.3 Higher Education

• Hami City currently does not have a comprehensive university. However, through cooperation with universities in other regions of Xinjiang, opportunities for higher education are provided to students.
• Some vocational colleges collaborate with universities in inland China to offer adult education and continuing education, meeting the needs of working adults for academic advancement.

8.4 Bilingual Education

• As a multi-ethnic region, Hami City actively promotes bilingual education (Chinese and minority languages) to foster cultural exchange and integration among different ethnic groups.
• Bilingual education is widely implemented in minority schools, helping students master both Chinese and their native ethnic language.

8.5 Educational Investment and Policy Support

• The Hami City government places high importance on educational development, increasing educational funding year by year to improve school hardware facilities and teaching conditions.
• The state and the autonomous region provide policy support for education in Hami City, particularly in the fields of minority education and vocational education.

8.6 Current Status of Educational Development

• The education level in Hami City ranks in the upper-middle tier within Xinjiang, with a high普及率 of basic education and close integration between vocational education and industry.
• In recent years, Hami City has continuously improved education quality by introducing high-quality educational resources and strengthening teacher training.

9. Population

At the beginning of 2022, the city's permanent resident population was 670,000, of which: the urban permanent resident population was 484,000. The urbanization rate was 72.2%, an increase of 0.7 percentage points from the end of the previous year. The annual number of births was 3,800, with a birth rate of 5.65‰; the number of deaths was 3,700, with a mortality rate of 5.53‰; the natural growth rate was 0.12‰.

According to the Seventh National Population Census in 2020, the city's permanent resident population was 673,383. Compared with the 572,400 people from the Sixth National Population Census, there was an increase of 100,983 people over the ten years, a growth of 17.64%, with an average annual growth rate of 1.64%. Among them, the male population was 357,092, accounting for 53.03% of the total population; the female population was 316,291, accounting for 46.97% of the total population. The sex ratio of the total population (with females as 100) was 112.9. The population aged 0–14 was 105,505, accounting for 15.67% of the total population; the population aged 15–59 was 468,608, accounting for 69.59% of the total population; the population aged 60 and above was 99,270, accounting for 14.74% of the total population, of which the population aged 65 and above was 69,271, accounting for 10.29% of the total population. The population living in urban areas was 481,690, accounting for 71.53% of the total population; the population living in rural areas was 191,693, accounting for 28.47% of the total population.

9.1. Ethnic Groups

Among the permanent resident population, the Han population was 396,955, accounting for 69.35% of the total population, while the population of various ethnic minorities was 175,445, accounting for 30.65% of the total population.

Ethnic Composition of Hami City (November 2010)

| Ethnic Group | Han | Uyghur | Kazakh | Hui | Mongolian | Manchu | Tibetan | Tu | Tujia | Dongxiang | Other Ethnic Groups | |------------|--------|----------|----------|-------|--------|------|------|------|--------|--------|----------| | Population | 396955 | 101713 | 51201 | 17117 | 2028 | 1175 | 576 | 396 | 224 | 188 | 827 | | Proportion of Total Population (%) | 69.35 | 17.77 | 8.94 | 2.99 | 0.35 | 0.21 | 0.10 | 0.07 | 0.04 | 0.03 | 0.14 | | Proportion of Ethnic Minority Population (%) | --- | 57.97 | 29.18 | 9.76 | 1.16 | 0.67 | 0.33 | 0.23 | 0.13 | 0.11 | 0.47 |

10. Religion

Hami City is located in the eastern part of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China. It is a multi-ethnic region with diverse and historically rich religious cultures. The following are the main characteristics of religion in Hami City:

10.1 Major Religions

• Islam: The predominant religion in Hami City is Islam, with followers primarily among ethnic minorities such as the Uygur, Kazakh, and Hui peoples. The city has numerous mosques, which serve as important venues for Muslim religious activities.
• Buddhism: Buddhism also holds a certain influence in Hami, with some Han Chinese residents practicing it. Historically, Hami was an important area for the spread of Buddhism, and some Buddhist cultural relics remain today.
• Christianity: There is a small number of Christian believers in Hami City, mainly concentrated among the Han Chinese population.
• Taoism: Taoism has fewer adherents but still maintains some influence within traditional Han Chinese culture.

10.2 Religious Sites

• Mosques: Hami City has many mosques, some of which are historically significant and feature unique architectural styles, serving as important symbols of Islamic culture.
• Buddhist Temples: There are several Buddhist temples and historical sites in and around Hami City, reflecting the history of Buddhism's spread in the region.
• Churches: Christian churches are relatively few in Hami City but provide venues for believers to conduct religious activities.

10.3 Religious Policies

• Hami City strictly implements national religious policies, safeguarding citizens' freedom of religious belief while managing religious affairs in accordance with the law to maintain religious harmony and social stability.
• The government supports religious groups in carrying out activities legally and promotes mutual respect and harmonious coexistence among different religions.

10.4 Religious Culture

• The religious culture in Hami City is diverse, with Islam, Buddhism, Christianity, and other religious cultures intermingling to form a unique religious and cultural landscape.
• Religious festivals and activities are an important part of Hami's cultural life, such as the Islamic festivals of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.

10.5 Religion and Society

• Religion plays a significant role in the social life of Hami City, particularly in ethnic minority communities, where religious activities are closely intertwined with daily life.
• Religious groups actively participate in social welfare initiatives, contributing to social harmony and development.

11. Culture

Hami City is located in the eastern part of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China. It is a multi-ethnic region with diverse cultures and a long history. The following are the main characteristics of Hami's culture:

11.1 Ethnic Culture

• Multi-ethnic Coexistence: Hami City is home to multiple ethnic groups including the Han, Uygur, Kazakh, Hui, and Mongolian peoples. The cultures of these various ethnic groups blend together, forming a unique cultural landscape.
• Ethnic Festivals: The traditional festivals of each ethnic group are rich and varied. Important cultural activities in Hami include the Uygur Corban Festival, the Kazakh Nowruz Festival, and the Han Chinese Spring Festival.

11.2 Historical Culture

• Silk Road Culture: Hami was a crucial node on the ancient Silk Road. Historically, it served as a vital channel for cultural exchange between East and West, leaving behind a rich legacy of historical and cultural heritage.
• Ancient City Ruins: There are numerous ancient city ruins in and around Hami City, such as the Hami King's Palace and the Wubao Devil City, reflecting Hami's long history.

11.3 Religious Culture

• Islamic Culture: Islam is the predominant religion in Hami City. Mosques are important symbols of Islamic culture, and religious festivals such as Eid al-Fitr and Corban are significant cultural events.
• Buddhist Culture: Hami was historically an important area for the spread of Buddhism. Some Buddhist cultural sites remain, such as the Poplar Gully Buddhist Temple ruins.

11.4 Artistic Culture

• Music and Dance: The music and dance of Hami City possess strong ethnic characteristics. Important art forms include the Uygur Muqam and the Kazakh Aken singing.
• Handicrafts: Hami's handicrafts, such as carpets, embroidery, and pottery, feature unique ethnic styles and artistic value.

11.5 Culinary Culture

• Local Cuisine: Hami's culinary culture is rich and diverse. Local specialties include Uygur pilaf and lamb kebabs, Kazakh hand-torn meat, and Han Chinese laghman noodles.
• Hami Melon: The Hami melon is a specialty of Hami City, renowned throughout the country and an important component of Hami's culinary culture.

11.6 Modern Culture

• Cultural Facilities: Hami City boasts modern cultural facilities such as museums, libraries, and cultural centers, providing citizens with a wealth of cultural activities and educational resources.
• Cultural Events: Hami City regularly hosts various cultural festivals and events, such as the Hami Melon Festival and the Silk Road Cultural Festival, promoting cultural dissemination and exchange.

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Yizhou District

Yizhou District

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