challenger
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A brief introduction:
Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has, since ancient times, been populated by many ethnic groups, including a great number of nomadic tribes and nations. By the end of the 19th century, 13 major ethnic communities had established themselves there: the Uygurs, Hans, Kazaks, Mongolians, Huis, Kirgizs, Manchus, Xibes, Tajiks, Daurs, Ozbeks, Tatars and Russians. The Uygurs comprised the majority, and this multiethnic pattern remains even today.
Once called the "Western Region," Xinjiang includes China's northwest frontier in the heartland of Eurasia. It covers 1,664,900 square kilometers, one-sixth of the country's area, and shares a 5,600 km border with eight neighboring countries. According to the 2003 census, its population was 19,339,500, 39.9 percent of whom belonged to the Han ethnic majority. One of five autonomous regions in China, Xinjiang is home to 47 ethnic groups.
Lying in northwestern China, the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, also called Xin for short, was referred to as the Western Region in ancient times. It has an area of 1.66 million square kilometers, roughly about one-sixth of the total territory of China. Xinjiang is the largest and has the longest boundary line among Chinas provinces and autonomous regions. It shares 5,600 kilometers of frontier with Mongolia in the northeast; Russia, Kazakhstan, Kirghiszstan, and Tadzhikistan in the west; and Afghanistan and Pakistan in the southwest.
In 138 BC, the Han Dynasty imperial court sent Zhang Qian as special envoy to the "Western Region" to forge alliances with local tribes against border harassment from the Huns. In 121 BC, the Han army defeated the Huns at the "River-West Corridor" in Gansu Province and established four frontier prefectures: Wuwei, Zhangye, Jiuquan and Dunhuang. In 101 BC, the Western Han Dynasty stationed hundreds of garrison troops south of the Tianshan Mountains to guard the border and cultivate the land. Later in 60 BC, the Han Dynasty set up a "Western Region Frontiers Command" in Xinjiang, taking up sovereignty over the region. Xinjiang hence became an integral part of the multiethnic Chinese nation.
Xinjiang's 13 major ethnic groups have been involved in constant migration due to great changes in the natural environment. These population movements have caused religious and cultural intermingling, producing the region's present unique customs. These are expressed through diet, costume, wedding and funeral ceremonies, as well as religious beliefs, values, taboos and art. It is no wonder that whoever visits is deeply impressed by Xinjiang's rich cultural diversity.
The population growth rate of ethnic minorities in China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region is more rapid than that of the Han nationality, as demographic survey shows. Results of the national census of 2000 showed the total population of Xinjiang as comprising 65% ethnic and less than 34% Han nationality peoples as the family planning policy applied in ethnic minority areas is more flexible, e.g., Uygur couples living in cities of Xinjiang can have two children, those in rural areas can have three, and couples of the Kazak ethnic group can have as many as four children if they wish. As a result the natural population growth of minority ethnic groups in Xinjiang exceeds that of the Han people.
Xinjiang is a main outpost on what was the ancient Chinese "Silk Road" trading route connecting East, South, and Western Asia with the Mediterranean countries, North and Northeast Africa and Europe. Its an indisputable fact that China's ethnic groups in Xinjang have been living harmoniously for more than 2,000 years.
In this thread photos of Xinjiang people and landscape will be posted.
Thank you.
Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has, since ancient times, been populated by many ethnic groups, including a great number of nomadic tribes and nations. By the end of the 19th century, 13 major ethnic communities had established themselves there: the Uygurs, Hans, Kazaks, Mongolians, Huis, Kirgizs, Manchus, Xibes, Tajiks, Daurs, Ozbeks, Tatars and Russians. The Uygurs comprised the majority, and this multiethnic pattern remains even today.
Once called the "Western Region," Xinjiang includes China's northwest frontier in the heartland of Eurasia. It covers 1,664,900 square kilometers, one-sixth of the country's area, and shares a 5,600 km border with eight neighboring countries. According to the 2003 census, its population was 19,339,500, 39.9 percent of whom belonged to the Han ethnic majority. One of five autonomous regions in China, Xinjiang is home to 47 ethnic groups.
Lying in northwestern China, the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, also called Xin for short, was referred to as the Western Region in ancient times. It has an area of 1.66 million square kilometers, roughly about one-sixth of the total territory of China. Xinjiang is the largest and has the longest boundary line among Chinas provinces and autonomous regions. It shares 5,600 kilometers of frontier with Mongolia in the northeast; Russia, Kazakhstan, Kirghiszstan, and Tadzhikistan in the west; and Afghanistan and Pakistan in the southwest.
In 138 BC, the Han Dynasty imperial court sent Zhang Qian as special envoy to the "Western Region" to forge alliances with local tribes against border harassment from the Huns. In 121 BC, the Han army defeated the Huns at the "River-West Corridor" in Gansu Province and established four frontier prefectures: Wuwei, Zhangye, Jiuquan and Dunhuang. In 101 BC, the Western Han Dynasty stationed hundreds of garrison troops south of the Tianshan Mountains to guard the border and cultivate the land. Later in 60 BC, the Han Dynasty set up a "Western Region Frontiers Command" in Xinjiang, taking up sovereignty over the region. Xinjiang hence became an integral part of the multiethnic Chinese nation.
Xinjiang's 13 major ethnic groups have been involved in constant migration due to great changes in the natural environment. These population movements have caused religious and cultural intermingling, producing the region's present unique customs. These are expressed through diet, costume, wedding and funeral ceremonies, as well as religious beliefs, values, taboos and art. It is no wonder that whoever visits is deeply impressed by Xinjiang's rich cultural diversity.
The population growth rate of ethnic minorities in China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region is more rapid than that of the Han nationality, as demographic survey shows. Results of the national census of 2000 showed the total population of Xinjiang as comprising 65% ethnic and less than 34% Han nationality peoples as the family planning policy applied in ethnic minority areas is more flexible, e.g., Uygur couples living in cities of Xinjiang can have two children, those in rural areas can have three, and couples of the Kazak ethnic group can have as many as four children if they wish. As a result the natural population growth of minority ethnic groups in Xinjiang exceeds that of the Han people.
Xinjiang is a main outpost on what was the ancient Chinese "Silk Road" trading route connecting East, South, and Western Asia with the Mediterranean countries, North and Northeast Africa and Europe. Its an indisputable fact that China's ethnic groups in Xinjang have been living harmoniously for more than 2,000 years.
In this thread photos of Xinjiang people and landscape will be posted.
Thank you.
