Hinggan League (兴安盟)

1. Introduction

Xing'an League (Mongolian: ᠬᠢᠩᠭᠠᠨᠠᠶᠢᠮᠠᠭ, transcribed by Poppe as Qingγan ayimaγ, Cyrillic: Хянган аймаг) is a league under the jurisdiction of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China, located in the northeastern part of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Its territory borders Hulunbuir City to the north, Qiqihar City of Heilongjiang Province and Baicheng City of Jilin Province to the east, Tongliao City to the south, and Xilingol League and Mongolia to the west. Situated in the transitional zone between the middle slopes of the Greater Khingan Range and the Songnen Plain, its main rivers include the Chuo'er River, Tao'er River, and Huolin River, all of which flow eastward into the Nen River. The Han Chinese population accounts for approximately 54% of the league's total population, while the Mongolian population makes up about 41%. The league's administrative office is located in Ulanhot City. "Xing'an" is a Manchu transliteration meaning "hills." In October 2019, Xing'an League was awarded the title of "China's Grassland Ecological Rice Capital."

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2. History

During the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, the area was inhabited by nomadic tribes such as the Donghu. In the early Han Dynasty, it was under the jurisdiction of the Liaodong Commandery of the Youzhou Inspectorate. From then until the Three Kingdoms and Jin dynasties, it was part of the Xianbei territory. During the Northern and Southern Dynasties, it belonged to the Shiwei.

In the early Tang Dynasty, it was under the Anbei Protectorate. In the second year of the Zongzhang era (669 AD), it was placed under the Juyan Military Commissioner; in the fifteenth year of the Yuanhe era (820 AD), it was transferred to the Shiwei Military Commissioner. Later, it came under the control of the Khitan. During the Liao Dynasty, it was part of Jinshan County, Taizhou, in the Shangjing Circuit. In the Jin Dynasty, it was under the jurisdiction of Taizhou in the Linhuangfu Circuit, with military control exercised by the Northeast Route Military Command. During the Yuan Dynasty, it was part of Taining Circuit in the Liaoyang Province. In the early Ming Dynasty, it was under the Taining Guard, one of the Uriankhai Three Guards, and was subordinate to the Daning Regional Military Commission. In the fourth year of the Yongle era (1406), the Mudalishan Guard was added and placed under the Nurgan Regional Military Commission. It was later abolished.

In the late Ming Dynasty, it became the pastoral land of the Khorchin tribe of the Southern Mongols. In the first year of the Chongde era of the Qing Dynasty (1636), the six banners of the Khorchin tribe, two banners of the Gorlos tribe, one banner of the Jalaid tribe, and one banner of the Dörbed tribe held a league assembly at Jerim Mountain (now within the territory of the Right Wing Middle Banner of Khorchin), establishing the Jerim League. In the thirtieth year of the Kangxi era (1691), the third-generation Jasagh Prince Očir built a family temple in what is now the urban area of Ulanhot, which the local people called "Wangye Temple," and Ulanhot thus became known as Wangye Temple.

On August 19, 1912, the Provisional Government of the Republic of China promulgated the "Regulations on the Treatment of Mongolia," stipulating that the league and banner system and the original jurisdiction and governance rights of the Mongolian nobility would remain unchanged. However, the Beiyang Government later assigned the banners of the Jerim League to the provinces of Fengtian, Jilin, and Heilongjiang. In 1929, the Northeast Army established an administrative office in the Xing'an Reclamation Area. After the September 18 Incident in 1931, the area was occupied by the Japanese army. In 1932, Manchukuo established Xing'an Province in Wangye Temple, governing three sub-provinces: South Xing'an, North Xing'an, and East Xing'an (later, West Xing'an Sub-province was added). In December 1934, Xing'an Province was abolished, and the four Xing'an sub-provinces were directly renamed as provinces. The territory of the present-day Xing'an League belonged to South Xing'an Province.

After Japan's surrender in 1945, the Nationalist Government announced a new provincial plan for Northeast China, transferring the area from Liaoning Province to the newly established Liaobei Province.

According to the "Nine Provinces of Northeast China" plan in the 1940s, the territory of Xing'an League belonged to Liaobei Province. On January 16, 1946, the Xing'an League Government was established, subordinate to the simultaneously established East Mongolian People's Autonomous Government, with the league seat located in Wangye Temple. At that time, it governed five banners and one street: West Kharqin Front Banner, West Kharqin Middle Banner, West Kharqin Rear Banner, Jalaid Banner, Xizhaga'er Banner, and Wangye Temple Street (now Ulanhot City). In April, following the spirit of the Chengde "April 3 Conference," the East Mongolian Autonomous Government and the Xing'an League Government were dissolved. On May 28, Xing'an Province was established, with the league subordinate to the province, and both governments were based in Wangye Temple.

On May 1, 1947, the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Government was established in Wangye Temple, with Ulanhu, a member of the Chinese Communist Party, as its chairman. On November 15, 1948, the second Xing'an League Government was established, subordinate to the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Government, with the league seat in Wangye Temple. At that time, it governed the Front Banner of the Right Wing of Khorchin, the Middle Banner of the Right Wing of Khorchin, the Rear Banner of the Right Wing of Khorchin, Jalaid Banner, and Xizhaga'er Banner. In March 1949, Wangye Temple, directly under the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Government, and Tuquan County, originally part of Liaobei Province, were placed under the jurisdiction of Xing'an League. In December of the same year, the Xing'an League Government was renamed the Xing'an League People's Government.

In 1953, the Huna League, Xing'an League, and Jerim League were merged to establish the Eastern District Administrative Office of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, based in Ulanhot City.

In 1954, the administrative office was abolished, and the original Xing'an League was merged with the Huna League to form the Hulunbuir League.

In 1969, Jalaid Banner was transferred to Heilongjiang Province along with Hulunbuir League; the Front Banner of the Right Wing of Khorchin and Tuquan County were transferred to the Baicheng Prefecture of Jilin Province; and the Middle Banner of the Right Wing of Khorchin was transferred to Jilin Province along with the Jerim League.

In 1979, the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region was restored to its original administrative structure. Jalaid Banner, the Front Banner of the Right Wing of Khorchin, and Tuquan County were returned to Hulunbuir League, while the Middle Banner of the Right Wing of Khorchin remained part of the Jerim League.

On July 26, 1980, the State Council approved the restoration of Xing'an League and Ulanhot City. Xing'an League governed Ulanhot City, the Front Banner of the Right Wing of Khorchin, the Middle Banner of the Right Wing of Khorchin, Jalaid Banner, and Tuquan County.

On December 5, 1992, the Arxan Economic Development Zone, directly under the leadership of Xing'an League, was established. On June 10, 1996, the State Council approved the establishment of the county-level Arxan City.

3. Geography

The Greater Khingan Range traverses the entire territory, with the western side being part of the Mongolian Plateau and the eastern side part of the Songliao Plain. It is an important forest and pastoral region. Hinggan League borders Mongolia to the northwest, Jilin Province to the east, and Heilongjiang Province to the northeast, covering a total area of 67,706 square kilometers. Located in the transitional zone from the Greater Khingan Range to the Songnen Plain, its elevation ranges from 150 to 1,800 meters. Mountains and hills account for about 95% of the area, while plains make up about 5%. The forested areas are mainly concentrated in the mid-mountain zones along the main ridge of the Greater Khingan Range, covering over 7,000 square kilometers. Pastoral areas are primarily located in the low-mountain zones of Ulan Mod, covering over 8,000 square kilometers. Semi-agricultural and semi-pastoral areas, as well as agricultural zones, are distributed across low mountains, hills, and plains, covering approximately 45,000 square kilometers.

Hinggan League has over 200 rivers of various sizes, belonging to the Nen River, Argun River, West Liao River, and inland river systems. The main rivers are seven: the Chor River, Tao'er River, Guiliu River, Halha River, Huolin River, Handahan River, and Jiaoliu River. All originate from the Greater Khingan Range, with most belonging to the Nen River system, which has a basin area of 49,041 square kilometers, accounting for 82% of the league's total area. The Halha River, located on the western foothills of the Greater Khingan Range, belongs to the Argun River system, with a basin area of 4,118 square kilometers, accounting for 6.9% of the league's total area. The West Liao River system includes the Wunageqi River, with a basin area of 6,413 square kilometers, accounting for 10.7% of the league's total area. The inland river system includes the Ulagai River basin, covering 234 square kilometers, accounting for 0.4% of the league's total area.

Hinggan League lies within the temperate continental monsoon climate zone, characterized by distinct vertical climate variations, four distinct seasons, and significant regional differences. Spring is dry and windy, with rapid temperature increases and large daily temperature variations. Summer is warm and short, lasting about two months in most parts of the league, while the northwestern mid-mountain areas experience a continuous spring and autumn with no summer. The highest annual temperatures occur in July. Autumn sees a sharp drop in temperatures, with early frosts. Winter is severely cold and prolonged, lasting five to six months in most parts of the league and up to seven months in the northwestern forested areas. The lowest annual temperatures occur in January. The average annual temperature in most areas ranges from 4 to 6°C, while in the northwestern forested areas, it is -3.2°C. The frost-free period in most areas lasts 120–140 days, while northwest of the range, it is 51 days. The region enjoys abundant sunlight and rich solar energy resources, with total annual solar radiation in most areas ranging from 5,500 to 6,000 megajoules per square meter. The multi-year average annual precipitation ranges between 373 and 467 millimeters, with significant interannual variability and low reliability. About 72–78% of the annual precipitation is concentrated from June to August.

4. Administrative Divisions

• Xing'an League currently administers 2 county-level cities, 1 county, and 3 banners.
• County-level cities: Ulanhot City, Arxan City
• County: Tuquan County
• Banners: Horqin Right Front Banner, Horqin Right Middle Banner, Jalaid Banner

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5. Population

At the end of 2022, the permanent resident population of the entire league was 1.396 million, a decrease of 9,400 people compared to the end of the previous year. Among them, the urban population was 754,700, and the rural population was 641,300; the urbanization rate of the permanent resident population reached 54.06%, an increase of 0.28 percentage points from the previous year. The male population was 704,900, and the female population was 691,100. The annual number of births was 7,500, with a birth rate of 5.34‰; the number of deaths was 10,100, with a death rate of 7.24‰.

According to the Seventh National Population Census in 2020, the permanent resident population of the entire league was 1,416,929. Compared with the 1,613,250 people from the Sixth National Population Census, there was a total decrease of 196,321 people over the ten years, a decline of 12.17%, with an average annual growth rate of -1.29%. Among them, the male population was 717,239, accounting for 50.62% of the total population; the female population was 699,690, accounting for 49.38% of the total population. The overall sex ratio (with females as 100) was 102.51. The population aged 0–14 was 205,356, accounting for 14.49% of the total population; the population aged 15–59 was 956,381, accounting for 67.5% of the total population; the population aged 60 and above was 255,192, accounting for 18.01% of the total population, of which the population aged 65 and above was 163,348, accounting for 11.53% of the total population. The population residing in urban areas was 754,183, accounting for 53.23% of the total population; the population residing in rural areas was 662,746, accounting for 46.77% of the total population.

5.1. Ethnic Groups

Among the permanent resident population, the Han ethnic group numbered 753,335, accounting for 53.17%; the Mongolian ethnic group numbered 593,223, accounting for 41.87%; and other ethnic minorities numbered 70,371, accounting for 4.97%. Compared with the Sixth National Population Census in 2010, the Han population decreased by 121,056, a decline of 13.84%, and its proportion of the total population decreased by 1.03 percentage points; the population of all ethnic minorities decreased by 75,261, a decline of 10.19%, but their proportion of the total population increased by 1.03 percentage points. Among them, the Mongolian population decreased by 72,603, a decline of 10.9%, but its proportion of the total population increased by 0.59 percentage points; the Manchu population decreased by 4,208, a decline of 6.75%, but its proportion of the total population increased by 0.24 percentage points.

Ethnic Composition of Xing'an League (November 2020)

| Ethnic Group | Han | Mongolian | Manchu | Korean | Hui | Daur | Miao | Xibe | Dong | Tujia | Other Ethnic Groups | |------------------|------------|---------------|------------|------------|----------|------------|----------|----------|----------|------------|-------------------------| | Population | 753,335 | 593,223 | 58,144 | 4,511 | 3,137 | 1,259 | 635 | 407 | 338 | 302 | 1,638 | | % of Total Population | 53.17 | 41.87 | 4.10 | 0.32 | 0.22 | 0.09 | 0.04 | 0.03 | 0.02 | 0.02 | 0.12 | | % of Minority Population | - | 89.40 | 8.76 | 0.68 | 0.47 | 0.19 | 0.10 | 0.06 | 0.05 | 0.05 | 0.25 |

6. Ethnicity

Among the permanent population, the Han ethnic group comprises 753,335 people, accounting for 53.17%; the Mongolian ethnic group comprises 593,223 people, accounting for 41.87%; and other ethnic minorities comprise 70,371 people, accounting for 4.97%. Compared with the Sixth National Population Census in 2010, the Han population decreased by 121,056 people, a decline of 13.84%, with its proportion of the total population dropping by 1.03 percentage points; the population of ethnic minorities decreased by 75,261 people, a decline of 10.19%, with their proportion of the total population increasing by 1.03 percentage points. Among them, the Mongolian population decreased by 72,603 people, a decline of 10.9%, with its proportion of the total population increasing by 0.59 percentage points; the Manchu population decreased by 4,208 people, a decline of 6.75%, with its proportion of the total population increasing by 0.24 percentage points.

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Located at the southern foot of the Greater Khingan Mountains, hence the name. "Khingan" is derived from the Manchu language, meaning "hills."

Ulanhot City

Ulanhot City

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