Wuhai (乌海)

1. Introduction

Wuhai City (Mongolian: ᠦᠬᠠᠢ ᠬᠣᠲᠠ, Poppe transcription: Üqai qota, Cyrillic: Yxāi xor) is a prefecture-level city under the jurisdiction of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China, located in the western part of Inner Mongolia. The city borders Ordos City to the east, the Alxa League to the northwest, and Shizuishan City of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region to the southwest. It lies on the southern edge of the Ulan Buh Desert and the western edge of the Ordos Plateau. The Yellow River flows from south to north through the entire territory, with its tributary, the Dusimian River, marking the southern boundary. The Han Chinese population accounts for 93% of the city's total population, while the Mongolian population makes up 3.5%. The municipal government is located in Haibowan District. Wuhai was named in 1975 following the merger of the former cities of Wuda and Haibowan. It is a resource-based city primarily focused on coal mining.

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2. History

In the second year of the Yuanshuo era (127 BCE) of the Han Dynasty, Emperor Wu of Han defeated the Loufan King and the White Sheep King of the Xiongnu, recovering the Henan region (the area south of the Wujia River in present-day Bayannur League and the Ordos Plateau). The original Jiuyuan Commandery was renamed Wuyuan Commandery, and Shuofang Commandery was additionally established, with its seat at Sanfeng County (located at Taoshengjing in Hateng Taohai Sumu, Dengkou County, Bayannur League, also known as the ancient city of Mamitu Temple). Shuofang Commandery administered ten counties, among which Woye County was established in the present-day Haibowan area. In the third year of the Yuanshou era (120 BCE), Woye County town was built (the ancient city of Beixindi in present-day Haibowan District). In the second year of the Yuanshou era (121 BCE), after the Southern Xiongnu Hunxie King submitted to the Han, the Wuda area became the northern territory of Wuwei Commandery.

During the Wei and Jin periods, the present-day Wuda area was occupied by the Western Xianbei. In the second year of the Daxing era (319 CE) of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, the Jie ethnic leader Shi Le grew powerful, gaining control over the vast middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River and establishing the Later Zhao. The present-day Haibowan area belonged to Shuofang Commandery of Shuozhou under Later Zhao. It was later held by the Former Liang, Later Liang, and Northern Liang. In the second year of the Jianyuan era (366 CE) of the Former Qin, it was subsequently replaced by the Former Qin and Former Yan; the area west of the Yellow River fell to the Former Qin, ruled by the Di ethnic leader Fu Jian. The Haibowan area belonged to Shuofang Commandery of the Former Qin. In the second year of the Huangchu era (395 CE) of the Later Qin, the Qiang ethnic Yao Xing faction rose, seizing the western regions of the Former Qin and establishing the Later Qin. Yao Xing established Shuofang Commandery in the northern vast area, governing the present-day Haibowan region. In the 16th year of the Taiyuan era (391 CE) of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, the King of Wei, Tuoba Wei, attacked the Tiefu tribe of Liu Weichen in Shuofang Commandery (covering the southern part of present-day Bayannur League and the northern part of Ih Ju League). After Weichen was defeated, his followers scattered, and his territory was lost, becoming part of Wei's domain. In the third year of the Yixi era (407 CE) of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, the Tiefu tribe leader of the Xiongnu, Helian Bobo, grew powerful and established the Xia state in the present-day Ih Ju League and northern Shaanxi region, with its capital at Tongwan City (north of present-day Jingbian County, Shaanxi, commonly known as Baichengzi). Its territory once extended north to the Yellow River, with Youzhou established at Dacheng (southeast of present-day Hanggin Banner, Ih Ju League), holding the southern part of present-day Bayannur League and the Ordos Plateau. In the fourth year of the Shengguang era (431 CE) of Xia, the Xia state was destroyed by the Tuoba Xianbei of Northern Wei, and its territory was incorporated into Northern Wei.

In the second year of the Renshou era (602 CE) of the Sui Dynasty, it belonged to Suzhou, with its seat at Fulu (present-day Jiuquan, Gansu). In the first year of the Zhenguan era (627 CE) of the Tang Dynasty, the empire was divided into ten circuits, with Sui, Yin, Feng, Sheng, and other prefectures belonging to the Guannei Circuit. The Lingzhou of Guannei Circuit was the area under the jurisdiction of the Sui Dynasty's Lingwu Commandery, a narrow strip along the eastern bank of the Yellow River from south to north, including the western part of present-day Otog Banner, the western part of Otog Front Banner, and the Haibowan area. The Wuda area during the Sui Dynasty belonged to Ganzhou, with its seat at Yongping (renamed Zhangye during Sui, present-day Zhangye, Gansu).

During the Song and Liao periods, the Tangut people, rising in the northwest, took advantage of the continuous warfare between Song and Liao to occupy the five prefectures of Yin, Xia, Sui, You, and Jing. In the first year of the Jianlong era (960 CE) of Emperor Taizu of Song, Zhao Kuangyin, the Tangut Qiang leader Li Yixing was granted the title of Grand Commandant. Li Yixing presented 300 horses to the Song as tribute to show submission. From then on, the vast majority of the present-day Ih Ju League area (including the Haibowan region) entered the Song territory but remained under the control of the Tangut Li clan. In the first year of the Baoyuan era (1038 CE) of Song, the Tangut leader Li Yuanhao declared himself emperor and established the Western Xia state. The present-day Haibowan area was part of Lingzhou under Western Xia, and the Wuda area was part of the Helan Mountain defense zone of Western Xia. During the Yuan Dynasty, the Wuhai area was under the jurisdiction of Zhongxing Circuit of Ningxia Province. In the 25th year of the Zhiyuan era (1288 CE), Zhongxing Circuit was renamed Ningxia Circuit, with its seat at present-day Yinchuan City.

During the Ming Dynasty, the Wuda area was the frontier territory outside Ganzhou and Suzhou garrisons. In the ninth year of the Hongwu era (1376 CE), Ningxia Garrison was established, later upgraded to a defense command, governing the present-day Haibowan area. It was subordinate to the Shaanxi Regional Military Commission and managed by the Central Right Army Chief Military Commission. In the sixth year of the Tianshun era (1462 CE), the Mongol Tatar chieftain Alnao'er and Maoli child entered the Ih Ju League area. During the Jiajing period (1552-1566 CE) of Ming, Gun Bilik Mergen, grandson of Dayan Khan, inherited the Jinong title and named his tribe Ordos. In 1635, the tribe's leader E Linchen submitted to the Qing Dynasty, ruling the Ordos region. In 1649, the Qing court divided the Ordos region into six banners, implementing the league-banner system. The Haibowan area became the northwestern territory of the Right Wing Middle Banner of Ordos (Otog Banner). In the 26th year of the Kangxi era (1697 CE), the Alxa Khoshut Banner was established. The present-day Wuda area was under the jurisdiction of the Alxa Banner.

During the Republic of China period, the Ningxia Army Expansion Commissioner also administered the Alxa Khoshut Banner, which later came directly under the Mongolian and Tibetan Affairs Commission. In the third year of the Republic of China (1914), Otog Banner was placed under the jurisdiction of Suiyuan Province. In January of the 18th year of the Republic of China (1929), after the establishment of the Ningxia Provincial Government, Dengkou County was formally established. Subsequently, a narrow strip about 200 kilometers long along the Yellow River from Shizuishan in the south to Hetao in the north was arbitrarily incorporated into Dengkou County (including the Wuhai area). In the 19th year of the Republic of China (1930), the Suiyuan Provincial Government in the Yellow River area... In the 26th year of the Republic of China (1937), Ningxia Provincial Chairman Ma Hongkui occupied Woye County, annexed it to Ningxia, and renamed it Taole County.

On March 31, 1950, the Alxa Khoshut Banner Autonomous Region was established, subordinate to Ningxia Province.

On April 25, 1954, the Ningxia Province Mongolian Autonomous Region was established, governing Alxa Banner and Dengkou County.

In September 1955, it was transferred to Gansu Province's jurisdiction and later became the Bayan Hot Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture of Gansu. On April 13, the Bayan Hot Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture was transferred to the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and renamed Bayannur League. The Wuda area remained under the jurisdiction of the Alxa Banner of Bayannur League.

In November 1958, the Wuda Town of Alxa Banner was established.

In February 1955, the Zhuozi Mountain Mining Area Office of Ih Ju League was established. In November 1958, Wuda Town of Alxa Banner was established;

On July 9, 1961, Wuda City (formerly Wuda Town) and Haibowan City (formerly Zhuozi Mountain Mining Area) were established, officially founded on October 1, subordinate to Bayannur League and Ih Ju League respectively;

On August 30, 1975, with State Council approval, Haibowan City and Wuda City merged to establish Wuhai City, officially founded on January 10, 1976, as a prefecture-level city of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The Municipal People's Government was located in Haibowan, administering three county-level offices: Wuda, Haibowan, and Lasengmiao;

In December 1979, the three offices were changed into districts, and simultaneously, the Lasengmiao office was renamed Hainan District.

3. Geography

3.1 Location

Wuhai is located in western Inner Mongolia, in the upper reaches of the Yellow River, which flows through the city. Wuda is situated on the western bank, while Haibowan and Hainan are on the eastern bank. It borders: Ordos City of Inner Mongolia (east, north), Shizuishan City of Ningxia (south), and the Alxa League of Inner Mongolia (west). The area lies in a transitional zone between desertified grassland and grassland desert, with an average elevation of 1,150 meters.

3.2 Topography

Wuhai City is situated in the upper reaches of the Yellow River, with the Ordos Plateau to the east, the Alxa Grassland to the west, and the Hetao Plain to the north. It serves as a junction between North China and Northwest China. The eastern part features the Zhuozishan Mountains, the central part the Gandur Mountains, and the western part the Wuhu Mountains, all of which are northern extensions of the Helan Mountains. These three mountain ranges run parallel in a north-south direction, forming two flat valleys between them. The Yellow River flows through the urban area along the western valley of the Gandur Mountains, blocking the Ulan Buh Desert from entering the Hetao region. The terrain of Wuhai is higher on the eastern and western sides and lower in the middle. Structurally eroded low to medium mountains account for 40% of Wuhai's total area, denuded hilly areas for 20%, alluvial-proluvial fan areas in front of the mountains for 30%, and Yellow River alluvial accumulation terraces for 10% of the total area.

3.3 Climate

Wuhai's climate is typical of a temperate arid zone, characterized by dryness, scant rainfall, frequent strong winds and sandstorms, and long hours of sunshine. The annual average temperature ranges from 7.8°C to 8.1°C. The Haibowan Water Control Project, constructed on the main stream of the Yellow River, has formed a 118-square-kilometer lake after water impoundment, which has improved the local climate.

4. Administrative Divisions

Wuhai City currently administers 3 municipal districts: Haibowan District, Wuda District, and Hainan District.

5. Economy

Wuhai City is rich in coal resources, with its coking coal accounting for 60% of Inner Mongolia's proven reserves. Its economy is primarily driven by energy, chemical industry, building materials, and specialty metallurgy, representing a typical resource-based economy.

5.1 Industry

The main industries include coal chemical industry, chlor-alkali chemical industry, building materials, and specialty metallurgy.

Wuhai Yellow River Sunset

Wuhai Gandur Mountain

5.2 Agriculture

Wuhai Grapes

High-Efficiency Agriculture (Haibowan District High-Efficiency Agriculture Demonstration Zone)

6. Transportation

Wuhai is located at the convergence of North China and Northwest China, serving as a vital transportation hub between these two regions.

6.1 Highways

• Beijing–Lhasa Expressway (G6)
  • Enters the city from the north of Haibowan District, passes through Hainan District, crosses the Yellow River, and reaches Wusitai Town in Alxa Left Banner.
• Rongcheng–Wuhai Expressway (G18)
  • Rongcheng – Wuhai
• Wuhai–Maqên Expressway (G0611)
  • Wuhai – Maqên
• National Highway 110 (G110)
  • Passes through Haibowan District and Wuda District.
• National Highway 109 (G109)
  • Passes through Gongwusu Town and Lasengmiao Town in Hainan District before entering Qipanjing Town in Ordos City.
• National Highway 244 (G244)
  • Wuhai – Chongqing

6.2 Railway

• Baotou–Lanzhou Railway
  • The first railway in Wuhai, running parallel to National Highway 110. Stations include Wuhai Station, Wuhai West Station, Wuhai North Station, and Huangbaici Station.
• Haibowan–Gongwusu Railway
• Jilantai Railway Line
• Dongsheng–Wuhai Railway
  • Dongsheng – Wuhai, opened for traffic in 2008.
• Baotou–Yinchuan High-Speed Railway
  • Construction commenced in August 2018.

6.3 Aviation

Wuhai Airport commenced operations in December 2003. Located 15 kilometers north of Wuhai City, it is constructed as a 3C-class flight area with a terminal building covering 12,500 square meters. Currently, it operates flights to Hohhot, Beijing, Xi'an, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Baotou, Yulin, Yinchuan, Taiyuan, Haikou, Ordos, Shijiazhuang, Hangzhou, and Chengdu.

7. Education

7.1 Higher Education Institutions

Wuhai Vocational and Technical College

7.2 Secondary Vocational Schools

Wuhai Vocational and Technical School

7.3 High Schools

Wuhai No. 1 Middle School
Wuhai Binhe Middle School (also known as Wuhai No. 6 Middle School)
Wuhai No. 10 Middle School (formerly Wuda District High School)

7.4 Middle Schools

Wuhai No. 2 Middle School
Wuhai No. 3 Middle School
Wuhai No. 4 Middle School
Wuhai No. 5 Middle School
Wuhai No. 6 Middle School
Wuhai No. 8 Middle School
Wuhai No. 9 Middle School
Wuhai No. 18 Middle School

7.5 Primary Schools

Wuhai Experimental Primary School
Wuhai Experimental Primary School Binhe Campus
Haibowan District No. 1 Primary School
Haibowan District No. 2 Primary School
Haibowan District No. 3 Primary School
Haibowan District No. 4 Primary School
Haibowan District No. 5 Primary School
Haibowan District No. 6 Primary School
Haibowan District No. 7 Primary School
Haibowan District No. 8 Primary School
Haibowan District No. 9 Primary School
Primary School Department of Wuhai No. 9 Middle School

8. Population

According to the Seventh National Population Census in 2020, the city's permanent resident population was 556,621. Compared with the 532,902 people from the Sixth National Population Census, there was an increase of 23,719 people over the past decade, representing a growth of 4.45%, with an average annual growth rate of 0.44%. Among them, the male population was 291,044, accounting for 52.29% of the total population; the female population was 265,577, accounting for 47.71% of the total population. The overall sex ratio (with females as 100) was 109.59. The population aged 0-14 was 74,750, accounting for 13.43% of the total population; the population aged 15-59 was 390,376, accounting for 70.13% of the total population; the population aged 60 and above was 91,495, accounting for 16.44% of the total population. Among them, the population aged 65 and above was 63,875, accounting for 11.48% of the total population. The urban population was 530,877, accounting for 95.37% of the total population; the rural population was 25,744, accounting for 4.63% of the total population.

8.1 Ethnic Groups

Among the permanent resident population, the Han ethnic group numbered 517,607, accounting for 92.99%; the Mongolian ethnic group numbered 22,091, accounting for 3.97%; and other ethnic minorities numbered 16,923, accounting for 3.04%. Compared with the Sixth National Population Census in 2010, the Han population increased by 20,882, a growth of 4.2%, with its proportion of the total population decreasing by 0.22 percentage points; the population of various ethnic minorities increased by 2,837, a growth of 7.84%, with their proportion of the total population increasing by 0.22 percentage points. Among them, the Mongolian population increased by 3,139, a growth of 16.56%, with its proportion of the total population increasing by 0.41 percentage points; the Hui population decreased by 1,331, a decline of 11.35%, with its proportion of the total population decreasing by 0.33 percentage points.

The population of Wuhai is predominantly composed of migrants, with migrants from Henan constituting the majority in Hainan District.

Ethnic Composition of Wuhai City (November 2020)

| Ethnic Group | Han | Mongolian | Hui | Manchu | Tibetan | Miao | Daur | Tujia | Korean | Yi | Other Ethnic Groups | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | Population | 517,607 | 22,091 | 10,401 | 4,291 | 389 | 246 | 214 | 187 | 143 | 116 | 936 | | Percentage of Total Population (%) | 92.99 | 3.97 | 1.87 | 0.77 | 0.07 | 0.04 | 0.04 | 0.03 | 0.03 | 0.02 | 0.17 | | Percentage of Ethnic Minority Population (%) | - | 56.62 | 26.66 | 11.00 | 1.00 | 0.63 | 0.55 | 0.48 | 0.37 | 0.30 | 2.40 |

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9. Culture

The city's culture is predominantly shaped by immigrant influences. On September 10, 2008, Wuhai City was designated as a Chinese Calligraphy City by the China Calligraphers Association.

9.1 National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units

Zhuozishan Rock Paintings

Tourism

Jinshawan Ecological Tourism Area

Populus Euphratica Island

Wuhai Lake

Tetraena Mongolica Nature Reserve

Longyouwan National Wetland Park

Manbalasang Temple

Jinshawan

Mahai Panorama

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Haibowan District

Haibowan District

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