Ulanqab (乌兰察布)

1. Introduction

Ulanqab (Mongolian: ᠤᠯᠠᠭᠠᠨᠴᠠᠪ ᠬᠣᠲᠠ, transcribed by Poppe: Ulaγančab qota, Cyrillic: Улаанцав хот) is a prefecture-level city under the jurisdiction of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China, located in the central part of Inner Mongolia. The city borders Xilingol League to the north, Zhangjiakou City of Hebei Province to the east, Datong City and Shuozhou City of Shanxi Province to the south, Hohhot City and Baotou City to the west, and reaches Mongolia to the northwest. The Daqing Mountains of the Yin Mountains traverse the central part of the city. The northern foothills are part of the Inner Mongolia Plateau, known as the "Houshan area," while the southern foothills belong to the hilly region of the Loess Plateau, known as the "Qianshan area." The terrain is high in the center and low in the north and south. Rivers within the territory belong to three major water systems: the Yellow River, the Yongding River, and inland rivers. The total area of the city is 54,500 square kilometers, with the Han ethnic group accounting for approximately 96% of the total population and the Mongolian ethnic group accounting for about 3%. "Ulanqab" is a transliteration from Mongolian, meaning "red cliff." The municipal government is located at No. 18 Chahar West Street, Jining District.

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2. History

During the Warring States period, the area belonged to the State of Zhao. In the Qin Dynasty, Yunzhong Commandery, Dai Commandery, and Yanmen Commandery were established within the present-day territory. In the Western Han Dynasty, it was occupied by the Xiongnu. During the Northern Wei Dynasty, it was held by the Tuoba Xianbei. In the Sui and Tang dynasties, it was alternately controlled by the Turks and the Central Plains dynasties. After the Song Dynasty, it was occupied by the Khitans, Jurchens, and Mongols. In the Yuan Dynasty, Jining Circuit was established, with its seat in present-day Jining District. During the Ming Dynasty, it was held by the Mongols, who established the Tümed Tumen within the present-day territory.

During the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty, four Mongol tribes and six banners successively submitted to the Qing court: the Dörbed Tribe, the Muumingγan Tribe, the Khalkha Right Wing Tribe, and the Urad Front, Center, and Rear Banners. The tribes first held an alliance meeting within the present-day Siziwang Banner territory. As there was a river named "Ulaan Chab" in the area, the Ulaan Chab League was established. In the 14th year of the Kangxi reign (1675), the four Right Wing banners of the Chahar Tribe entered the eastern part of the present-day territory.

In the 3rd year of the Republic of China (1914), the six banners of Ulaan Chab League belonged to the Suiyuan Special Administrative Region. In the 17th year of the Republic of China (1928), Ulaan Chab League was placed under Suiyuan Province, and the five counties of Fengzhen, Liangcheng, Xinghe, Taolin, and Jining, originally under the jurisdiction of the Chahar Special Administrative Region, were transferred to Suiyuan Province. In the 26th year of the Republic of China (1937), the Bayantal League of the Mengjiang United Autonomous Government was established, and the present-day territory fell under its jurisdiction.

On September 19, 1949, the People's Liberation Army entered Suiyuan Province. On April 1, 1950, the Ulaan Chab League Autonomous Government was established, headquartered in Ulanhua Town, governing Siziwang Banner, Darhan Banner, Muumingγan Banner, Urad West Duke Banner, Center Duke Banner, and East Duke Banner. On August 11 of the same year, it was reorganized into the Ulaan Chab League Autonomous Region.

• In October 1952, the Center Duke Banner and East Duke Banner merged to form the Urad Middle-Rear United Banner; Darhan Banner and Muumingγan Banner merged to form the Darhan Muumingγan United Banner.
• On March 5, 1954, Suiyuan Province was abolished, and the Ulaan Chab League Autonomous Region was placed under the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, reverting to the name Ulaan Chab League, with its seat in Guyang County. The Jining Prefecture was abolished and reorganized into the Pingdiquan Administrative Region. The Plain Yellow Banner was abolished and reorganized into the Chahar Right Front Banner. The Bordered Blue and Bordered Red United Banner and Taolin County were abolished and reorganized into the Chahar Right Middle Banner. The Center Banner was abolished and reorganized into the Chahar Right Rear Banner.
• In March 1956, Pingdiquan Town was abolished and reorganized into the county-level Jining City.
• On March 10, 1958, Urad Front Banner and Urad Middle-Rear United Banner were transferred to Bayannur League. On April 2 of the same year, the Pingdiquan Administrative Region was abolished, and its administered banners, counties, and cities were transferred to Ulaan Chab League. The league administrative office moved from Guyang County to Jining City, governing Jining City, Siziwang Banner, Darhan Muumingγan Banner, Chahar Right Front Banner, Chahar Right Middle Banner, Chahar Right Rear Banner, Tümed Banner, Salarqi County, Fengzhen County, Qingshuihe County, Horinger County, Togtoh County, Liangcheng County, Xinghe County, Zhuozi County, Wuchuan County, Wudong County, and Guyang County, totaling 1 city, 6 banners, and 11 counties. In May of the same year, Salarqi County was merged into Tümed Banner; Wudong County was merged into Siziwang Banner, Chahar Right Middle Banner, and Zhuozi County; and Guyang County was transferred to Baotou City.
• On February 1, 1960, Tümed Banner was transferred to Hohhot City. On March 31, 1962, Shangdu County, originally part of Hebei Province, was transferred to Ulaan Chab League.
• On February 21, 1963, Tümed Banner from Hohhot City and Guyang County from Baotou City were again incorporated. On January 1, 1966, Tümed Banner was abolished and divided into Tümed Left Banner and Tümed Right Banner. In November 1969, Sonid Right Banner, Huade County, and Erenhot City from Xilingol League were incorporated.
• In July 1971, Tümed Right Banner and Guyang County were transferred to Baotou City, while Tümed Left Banner and Togtoh County were transferred to Hohhot City.
• In May 1980, Sonid Right Banner and Erenhot City were transferred back to Xilingol League.
• On November 15, 1990, Fengzhen County was abolished and Fengzhen City was established.
• In December 1995, Horinger County and Qingshuihe County were transferred to Hohhot City.
• In January 1996, Wuchuan County was transferred to Hohhot City, and Darhan Muumingγan Banner was transferred to Baotou City.
• In December 2003, Ulaan Chab League was abolished and Ulaan Chab City was established; the former Jining City was reorganized into Jining District.

3. Geography

3.1. Location

Ulanqab is situated at the junction of the Hohhot-Baotou-Yinchuan Economic Zone and the Beijing-Tianjin-Tangshan Economic Belt, boasting a superior geographical location. It lies 320 kilometers east of the capital Beijing, 130 kilometers west of the autonomous region's capital Hohhot, 100 kilometers south of the coal city Datong, and borders Mongolia to the north. It is 300 kilometers from Erenhot, the largest land port in northern China, with a border line of 104 kilometers. Ulanqab is an open city approved by the State Council. It serves as the "bridgehead" for the autonomous region's eastward advancement and westward expansion, a convergence point for northern opening and southern linkage, a transportation hub connecting the three major economic zones of Northeast, North, and Northwest China, and an important international corridor from China to Mongolia, Russia, and Eastern Europe.

3.2. Climate

Meteorological Data for Jining District, Ulanqab City (1971–2000)

| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year | |------|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|------|------|------|------| | Record high °C (°F) | 8.0 (46.4) | 13.1 (55.6) | 18.2 (64.8) | 30.1 (86.2) | 31.9 (89.4) | 32.4 (90.3) | 33.6 (92.5) | 32.5 (90.5) | 32.4 (90.3) | 24.6 (76.3) | 18.3 (64.9) | 8.3 (46.9) | 33.6 (92.5) | | Average high °C (°F) | -6.1 (21.0) | -2.4 (27.7) | 4.0 (39.2) | 13.1 (55.6) | 20.0 (68.0) | 24.0 (75.2) | 25.4 (77.7) | 23.7 (74.7) | 18.8 (65.8) | 12.1 (53.8) | 2.7 (36.9) | -4.1 (24.6) | 10.9 (51.7) | | Daily mean °C (°F) | -13.0 (8.6) | -9.7 (14.5) | -2.8 (27.0) | 5.9 (42.6) | 13.2 (55.8) | 17.7 (63.9) | 19.5 (67.1) | 17.6 (63.7) | 12.1 (53.8) | 5.0 (41.0) | -3.9 (25.0) | -10.6 (12.9) | 4.3 (39.7) | | Average low °C (°F) | -18.5 (−1.3) | -15.6 (3.9) | -9.1 (15.6) | -1.1 (30.0) | 5.7 (42.3) | 10.7 (51.3) | 13.6 (56.5) | 11.9 (53.4) | 5.8 (42.4) | -1.0 (30.2) | -9.1 (15.6) | -15.8 (3.6) | -1.9 (28.6) | | Record low °C (°F) | -32.4 (−26.3) | -30.6 (−23.1) | -24.3 (−11.7) | -14.5 (5.9) | -6.0 (21.2) | -0.1 (31.8) | 6.9 (44.4) | 0.0 (32.0) | -6.5 (20.3) | -14.5 (5.9) | -27.8 (−18.0) | -31.6 (−24.9) | -32.4 (−26.3) | | Average precipitation mm (inches) | 1.8 (0.07) | 3.6 (0.14) | 6.8 (0.27) | 15.0 (0.59) | 26.4 (1.04) | 56.9 (2.24) | 98.5 (3.88) | 93.8 (3.69) | 39.9 (1.57) | 14.8 (0.58) | 4.9 (0.19) | 1.5 (0.06) | 363.9 (14.32) | | Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 2.0 | 2.8 | 4.1 | 4.4 | 6.1 | 11.0 | 14.7 | 13.5 | 9.0 | 4.7 | 2.5 | 2.1 | 76.9 |

4. Administrative Divisions

Historically, the Ulanqab League governed seven banners, which were, in order: the Dörbed Banner, the Khalkha Right Wing Banner, the Muminggan Banner, the Urad Middle Duke Banner, the Urad East Duke Banner, the Urad West Duke Banner, and the Guihua Tümed Banner (divided into Left and Right Wing Banners). During the Qianlong era, the Guihua City Tümed Banner was transferred from the Ulanqab League to Shanxi and changed to a Chief Banner.

After the founding of the People's Republic, the administrative divisions underwent significant adjustments. Among the various banners of the Qing Dynasty's Ulanqab, only the Dörbed Banner remains within the current Ulanqab City; most of the other areas belong to the territory of the Qing Dynasty's Chakhar.

Ulanqab City currently administers 1 district, 5 counties, 4 banners, and oversees 1 county-level city.

• District: Jining District
• County-level City: Fengzhen City
• Counties: Zhuozi County, Huade County, Shangdu County, Xinghe County, Liangcheng County
• Banners: Chakhar Right Front Banner, Chakhar Right Middle Banner, Chakhar Right Rear Banner, Dörbed Banner

| Division Code | Division Name Traditional Mongolian | Hanyu Pinyin Latin Transliteration | Area (km²) | Resident Population (2020 Census) | Government Seat | Postal Code | Subdistricts | Towns | Townships | Of which: Ethnic Townships | Sums | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | 150900 | Ulanqab City ᠤᠯᠠᠭᠠᠨᠴᠠᠪ ᠬᠣᠲᠠ | Wūlánchábù Shì Ulaγančab qota | 54,455.89 | 1,706,328 | Jining District | 012000 | 13 | 52 | 32 | 1 | 9 | | 150902 | Jining District ᠵᠢᠨᠢᠩ ᠲᠣᠭᠣᠷᠢᠭ | Jíníng Qū J̌ining toγoriγ | 393.72 | 425,059 | Xintilu Subdistrict | 012000 | 8 | 1 | 1 | | | | 150921 | Zhuozi County ᠵᠤᠵᠸᠸᠽᠢ ᠰᠢᠶᠠᠨ | Zhuózī Xiàn J̌üvëzi siyan | 3,100.37 | 85,648 | Zhuozishan Town | 012300 | | 5 | 3 | | | | 150922 | Huade County ᠬᠤᠧᠳᠧ ᠰᠢᠶᠠᠨ | Huàdé Xiàn Quvadë siyan | 2,534.14 | 95,273 | Changshun Town | 013300 | | 3 | 3 | | | | 150923 | Shangdu County ᠱᠠᠩᠳᠤ ᠰᠢᠶᠠᠨ | Shāngdū Xiàn Šangdu siyan | 4,283.50 | 173,926 | Qitai Town | 013400 | | 6 | 4 | | | | 150924 | Xinghe County ᠰᠢᠩ ᠾᠧ ᠰᠢᠶᠠᠨ | Xīnghé Xiàn Sing hë siyan | 3,512.44 | 167,881 | Chengguan Town | 013600 | | 5 | 4 | | | | 150925 | Liangcheng County ᠯᠢᠶᠠᠩᠴᠧᠩ ᠰᠢᠶᠠᠨ | Liángchéng Xiàn Liyangčëng siyan | 3,451.40 | 119,061 | Daihai Town | 013700 | | 6 | 2 | 1 | | | 150926 | Chakhar Right Front Banner ᠴᠠᠬᠠᠷ ᠪᠠᠷᠠᠭᠤᠨ ᠭᠠᠷᠤᠨ ᠡᠮᠦᠨᠡᠲᠦ ᠬᠣᠰᠢᠭᠤ | Cháhā'ěr Yòuyì Qián Qí Čaqar baraγun γarun emünedü qosiγu | 2,453.71 | 125,172 | Togrog Ul Town | 012200 | | 5 | 4 | | | | 150927 | Chakhar Right Middle Banner ᠴᠠᠬᠠᠷ ᠪᠠᠷᠠᠭᠤᠨ ᠭᠠᠷᠤᠨ ᠳᠤᠮᠳᠠᠳᠤ ᠬᠣᠰᠢᠭᠤ | Cháhā'ěr Yòuyì Zhōng Qí Čaqar baraγun γarun dumdadu qosiγu | 4,185.49 | 86,108 | Hobor Town | 013500 | | 5 | 4 | | 2 | | 150928 | Chakhar Right Rear Banner ᠴᠠᠬᠠᠷ ᠪᠠᠷᠠᠭᠤᠨ ᠭᠠᠷᠤᠨ ᠬᠣᠢᠲᠤ ᠬᠣᠰᠢᠭᠤ | Cháhā'ěr Yòuyì Hòu Qí Čaqar baraγun γarun qoitu qosiγu | 3,782.87 | 103,599 | Bayan Qagan Town | 012400 | | 5 | 1 | | 2 | | 150929 | Dörbed Banner ᠳᠥᠷᠪᠡᠳ ᠬᠣᠰᠢᠭᠤ | Sìzǐwáng Qí Dörbed qosiγu | 24,036.15 | 129,372 | Ulan Hua Town | 011800 | | 5 | 3 | | 5 | | 150981 | Fengzhen City ᠹᠧᠩᠵᠧᠨ ᠬᠣᠲᠠ | Fēngzhèn Shì Fëngǰën qota | 2,722.11 | 195,229 | Beichengqu Subdistrict | 012100 | 5 | 5 | 3 | | |

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5. Transportation

Ulanqab City boasts a developed and convenient transportation network with excellent geographical advantages. It serves as a crucial node city on the China-Mongolia-Russia Economic Corridor of the "Belt and Road" Initiative and for the China-Europe Railway Express.

5.1. Railway

The main railways within Ulanqab include the Beijing-Baotou Line (including the Jining-Baotou Second Double-Track Line opened in 2012), Zhangjiakou-Jining Line, Jining-Erenhot Line, Jining-Tongliao Line, and Fengzhen-Zhun'ge'er Line. Additionally, there are several high-speed rail lines such as the Hohhot-Zhangjiakou Passenger Dedicated Line, the Jining-Datong-Yuanping High-Speed Railway (under construction), the Jining-Erenhot Passenger Dedicated Line (planned), and the Jining-Chifeng-Tongliao-Changchun High-Speed Railway (planned). In 2016, Ulanqab launched its first China-Europe Railway Express service, X9053 (Ulanqab – Almaty). Since its inception, five international routes have been opened, with a cumulative total of 293 trains dispatched (as of May 6, 2020), making it the only non-provincial capital node city for the China-Europe Railway Express.

5.1.1. Hohhot-Baotou-Ordos-Ulanqab Rapid Rail Transit Network

In 2021, the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region issued the "14th Five-Year Plan" Integrated Development Plan for Hohhot, Baotou, Ordos, and Ulanqab, proposing to integrate Ulanqab into the Hohhot-Baotou-Ordos development framework. The plan advocates for building a "Rail-based Hohhot-Baotou-Ordos-Ulanqab," promoting the integrated development of four networks: trunk railways, intercity railways, suburban railways, and urban rail transit, to construct a high-quality rapid rail transit network. On December 8, intercity EMU train services within the Hohhot-Baotou-Ordos-Ulanqab region began offering the "Railway e-Card" service.

5.2. Highway

The city's total road mileage is nearly 7,000 kilometers, forming a highway network centered on the urban area, with National Highways 110, 208, and 335, and the Beijing-Lhasa Expressway (G6), Beijing-Urumqi Expressway (G7), and Hohhot-Manzhouli Expressway (G55, part of the Erlianhaote-Guangzhou Expressway corridor) as its main arteries.

5.3. Aviation

Ulanqab Jining Airport commenced operations on April 25, 2016. The total investment in the airport project was 517 million yuan. It features a Flight Area Grade 4C, a runway length of 3,200 meters, and a terminal building area of 35,700 square meters. It can accommodate aircraft up to the Boeing 737 series. The apron can simultaneously park three Category C aircraft (like the Boeing 737 series) and one Category B aircraft (like the Y-12). In China's "13th Five-Year Plan for Civil Aviation Development," Ulanqab Airport was listed as an airport for continued construction. Upon completion, its flight area grade will be upgraded to 4E, and it is planned to be promoted to an international airport. The airport is designed to handle an annual passenger throughput of 400,000 and a cargo and mail throughput of 900 tons by 2020.

6. Education

As of 2019, the city had a total of 3 regular institutions of higher education, 26 secondary vocational education schools, 25 regular high schools, 47 regular junior high schools, and 118 primary schools.

6.1. Institutions of Higher Education

• Jining Normal University (Undergraduate)
• Ulanqab Vocational College (Specialized College)
• Ulanqab Medical College (Specialized College)

7. Population

According to the 2010 Sixth National Population Census, the city's permanent resident population was 2.1436 million. Compared with the Fifth National Population Census, the population decreased by 182,700 over the decade, a decline of 7.85%. The average annual decrease rate was 0.82%. Among them, males numbered 1.0945 million, accounting for 51.06% of the total population; females numbered 1.0491 million, accounting for 48.94% of the total population. The overall sex ratio (with females as 100) was 104.37. The population aged 0–14 was 286,800, accounting for 13.38%; the population aged 15–64 was 1.6295 million, accounting for 79.54%; and the population aged 65 and above was 227,300, accounting for 10.6%. By the end of 2018, the permanent resident population of Ulanqab City was 2.0961 million, including an urban population of 1.0426 million and a rural population of 1.0535 million, resulting in an urbanization rate of 49.7% for the permanent resident population. The annual number of births was 12,100, with a birth rate of 5.8‰; the number of deaths was 18,200, with a death rate of 8.7‰; and the natural growth rate was -0.6‰. At the end of the year, the total registered population of the city was 2.711 million, including 1.392 million males and 1.319 million females. The Han population was 2.5934 million, the Mongolian population was 89,600, and other ethnic minorities numbered 28,000.

According to the 2020 Seventh National Population Census, the city's permanent resident population was 1,706,328. Compared with the 2,143,590 people from the 2010 Sixth National Population Census, the population decreased by 437,262 over the decade, a decline of 20.4%, with an average annual growth rate of -2.26%. Among them, the male population was 869,837, accounting for 50.98% of the total population; the female population was 836,491, accounting for 49.02% of the total population. The overall sex ratio (with females as 100) was 103.99. The population aged 0–14 was 188,519, accounting for 11.05% of the total population; the population aged 15–59 was 1,006,828, accounting for 59.01% of the total population; and the population aged 60 and above was 510,981, accounting for 29.95% of the total population, of which those aged 65 and above numbered 355,166, accounting for 20.81% of the total population. The urban population was 1,018,617, accounting for 59.7% of the total population; the rural population was 687,711, accounting for 40.3% of the total population. The city had a total of 795,202 family households and 27,133 collective households, with family household population totaling 1,613,705 and collective household population totaling 92,623. The average household size was 2.03 persons, a decrease of 0.61 persons compared to the 2.64 persons from the 2010 Sixth National Population Census.

By the end of 2022, the total registered population of the city was 2.6132 million, including an urban population of 854,400 and a rural population of 1.7588 million. The male population was 1.3390 million, and the female population was 1.2743 million.

7.1. Ethnic Groups

Among the city's permanent resident population, the Han population was 1,621,654, accounting for 95.04%; the Mongolian population was 64,926, accounting for 3.81%; and other ethnic minorities numbered 19,748, accounting for 1.16%. Compared with the 2010 Sixth National Population Census, the Han population decreased by 441,960, a decline of 21.42%, with its proportion of the total population decreasing by 1.23 percentage points. The population of various ethnic minorities increased by 4,698, a growth of 5.87%, with their proportion of the total population increasing by 1.23 percentage points. Among them, the Mongolian population increased by 2,606, a growth of 4.18%, with its proportion of the total population increasing by 0.9 percentage points.

Ethnic Composition of Ulanqab City (November 2020)

| Ethnic Group | Han | Mongolian | Manchu | Hui | Miao | Yi | Tujia | Daur | Tibetan | Dong | Other Ethnic Groups | |------------------|--------------|---------------|------------|---------|----------|--------|-----------|----------|-------------|----------|-------------------------| | Population | 1,621,654 | 64,926 | 8,806 | 6,889 | 572 | 427 | 410 | 403 | 242 | 240 | 1,759 | | Percentage of Total Population (%) | 95.04 | 3.81 | 0.52 | 0.40 | 0.03 | 0.03 | 0.02 | 0.02 | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.10 | | Percentage of Minority Population (%) | - | 76.68 | 10.40 | 8.14 | 0.68 | 0.50 | 0.48 | 0.48 | 0.29 | 0.28 | 2.08 |

7.2. Dialects

The Chinese language variants within Ulanqab mostly belong to the Jin dialect group. Mongolian speakers are primarily located in Siziwang Banner and speak the Central Mongolian dialect.

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8. Culture

8.1. Local Specialties

• Zhuozi Mountain Smoked Chicken: A specialty delicacy of Zhuozi County, made from locally raised free-range chickens and a variety of seasonings, prepared through boiling and smoking. The finished dish has an orange-red color, tender meat, and a unique flavor.
• Na'ersong Baijiu
• Fengzhen Mooncake: Originating from Longshengzhuang Town in Fengzhen City, with a history of over a hundred years. It is made from ingredients such as deep well mineral water, premium wheat, pure bottle gourd oil, and rock sugar from sugar factories.
• Buckwheat
• Oats, represented by "Yinshan Premium Oats"
• Naked Oats
• Potatoes, especially red-skinned potatoes, which are rich in nutritional value, represented by "Houqi Red"
• Hongmao Medicinal Wine

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Mongolian means "red cliff"

Jining District

Jining District

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