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Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture

Coordinates: 44°01′N 87°19′E / 44.01°N 87.31°E / 44.01; 87.31
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Changji Prefecture
昌吉州 · سانجى ئوبلاستى
Autonomous prefecture
Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture
昌吉回族自治州
سانجى خۇيزۇ ئاپتونوم ئوبلاستى
Fukang City in the prefecture
Fukang City in the prefecture
Changji Prefecture (red) in Xinjiang (orange)
Changji Prefecture (red) in Xinjiang (orange)
CountryPeople's Republic of China
Autonomous regionXinjiang
Prefectural seatChangji
Area
 • Total
73,485 km2 (28,373 sq mi)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
1,613,585
 • Density22/km2 (57/sq mi)
GDP[1]
 • TotalCN¥ 132.5 billion
US$ 19.2 billion
 • Per capitaCN¥ 82,605
US$ 11,974
Time zoneUTC+8 (China Standard)
ISO 3166 codeCN-XJ-23
Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture
Chinese name
Chinese昌吉回族自治州
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinChāngjí Huízú Zìzhìzhōu
Wade–GilesChʻang¹-chi² Hui²-tsu² Tzŭ⁴-chih⁴-chou¹
other Mandarin
Xiao'erjingچَانْ‌ݣِ خُوِزُوْ زِجِ‌جِوْ
Uyghur name
Uyghurسانجى خۇيزۇ ئاپتونوم ئوبلاستى‎
Transcriptions
Latin YëziqiSanji Xuyzu Aptonom Oblasti
Yengi YeziⱪSanji Huyzu Aptonom Oblasti
SASM/GNCSanji Huyzu Aptonom Oblasti
Siril YëziqiСанҗи Хуизу Аптоном Области

Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture (Chinese: 昌吉回族自治州; Uyghur: سانجى خۇيزۇ ئاپتونوم ئوبلاستى) is an autonomous prefecture for Hui people in the middle north of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, Western China. The prefecture has an area of 77,129 km2 (29,780 sq mi) and its seat is Changji City.

To the south lies the snow-capped Tianshan Mountains throughout the year, with extensive forests and pastures at the mountain foot; the northern region consists of vast grasslands in the Junggar Basin. The population of Changji Prefecture is ethnically diverse, with Han Chinese making up approximately 75%, Hui people around 10%, and Kazakh people about 9% of the total population.[2] [3]

Subdivisions

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Changji directly controls 2 county-level cities, 4 counties and 1 autonomous county.

Map
Name Hanzi Hanyu Pinyin Xiao'erjing Uyghur (UEY) Uyghur Latin (ULY) Population (2020 Census) Area (km2) Density (/km2)
Changji City 昌吉市 Chāngjí Shì چَانْ‌ݣِ شِ‎ سانجى شەھىرى Sanji Shehiri 607,441 7,971 76.2
Fukang City 阜康市 Fùkāng Shì فُ‌کَانْ شِ‎ فۇكاڭ شەھىرى Fukang Shehiri 181,144 8,529 21.24
Hutubi County 呼图壁县 Hūtúbì Xiàn خُ‌تُ‌بِ ثِیًا‎ قۇتۇبى ناھىيىسى Qutubi Nahiyisi 192,638 9,518 20.24
Manas County 玛纳斯县 Mǎnàsī Xiàn مَانَاسِ ثِیًا‎ ماناس ناھىيىسى Manas Nahiyisi 192,098 9,171 20.95
Qitai County 奇台县 Qítái Xiàn کِ‌تَیْ ثِیًا‎ گۇچۇڭ ناھىيىسى Guchung Nahiyisi 219,811 16,645 13.21
Jimsar County 吉木萨尔县 Jímùsà'ěr Xiàn ݣِ‌مُ‌سَاعَر ثِیًا‎ جىمىسار ناھىيىسى Jimisar Nahiyisi 153,197 8,141 18.82
Mori Kazakh Autonomous County 木垒哈萨克自治县 Mùlěi Hāsàkè Zìzhìxiàn مُ‌لُوِ خَاسَاکْ زِجِ‌ثِیًا‎ مورى قازاق ئاپتونوم ناھىيىسى Mori Qazaq Aptonom Nahiyisi 67,256 13,510 4.98
  • Defunct: Miquan (county-level city)

History

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Flying Horse Roundabout, Changji City

During the Western Han dynasty, the region belonged to the Rear Cheshi Kingdom, one of the Western Regions states. In 102 BCE, the Han established control through the Protectorate of the Western Regions, and by 60 BCE formally instituted the Protectorate headquartered at Beiting (modern Jimsar County), which lasted for over 400 years.[4]

Between the 3rd and 6th centuries CE, nomadic powers such as the Gaoche, Rouran, and Turkic tribes governed this area.[5]

In 640 CE (Tang Zhenguan 14), the Tang dynasty created Ting Prefecture over the region, and in 702 CE (Chang'an 2, under Wu Zetian) elevated it to the Beiting Protectorate, covering areas north of the Tianshan and south of Lake Balkhash.[6]

From 1954 to 2007, administrative changes included the founding of the Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture, incorporation of surrounding counties, and adjustments such as merging Miquan into Urumqi and establishing Midong District.[7]

Demographics

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According to the 2010 census, Changji had a population of 1,428,587 inhabitants, with a population density of 19.4 inhabitants per km2. Its population in the 2000 census was 1,503,097. Part of the change in population is due to boundary changes, for example, the formerly county-level city Miquan was merged into Midong District and became part of Ürümqi in 2007. The population in 2000 minus Miquan was 1,322,145.[8]

Nationality 2000[9] 2010[10]
Population % Population %
Han 1,075,852 75.31% 1,129,384 73.91%
Hui 136,013 9.52% 176,563 11.55%
Kazakh 119,942 8.40% 133,286 8.72%
Uyghur 58,984 4.13% 63,606 4.16%
Total 1,428,587 100% 1,528,097 100%

Geography

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Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture features a terrain that is high in the south and low in the north, sloping from southeast to northwest. The southern part lies in the Tianshan Mountains, the central region is a vast alluvial plain, and the north is dominated by the Gurbantünggüt Desert Basin. This region is known as the "Northern Slope of the Tianshan Mountains" and includes the Beita Mountain range in the east—an east-west extension of the Tianshan and north-south Altay ranges[11].

It can be classified into four geomorphological units: the Tianshan mountain system, tilted alluvial plain, desert basin, and Beita Mountain system. The Tianshan Mountains run east–west through central Xinjiang, dividing Xinjiang into southern and northern regions. The central plain—formed by fluvial and alluvial processes—supports fertile oasis agriculture. To the north lies the Junggar Basin and the Gurbantünggüt Desert. Beita Mountain, a southern spur of the Altay Mountains, forms the northeastern margin of the prefecture[12].

Surface water includes glaciers, snowmelt, rivers, springs, lakes, reservoirs, and irrigation channels. Glaciers and perennial snow cover mirror altitudes above 3,800 m—present in all counties except Mulei, serving as “natural reservoirs” for runoff[13]. The basin’s rivers are short and reliant on mountain sources; most do not reach the sea, except the Manas River, which terminates in Manas Lake. Notable lakes include Tianchi in the Tian Shan range and Dongdaohaizi on the desert fringe of Mìquan County[14].

Changji’s climate is temperate continental arid, characterized by cold winters, hot summers, and large diurnal temperature variations. Due to elevation differences, precipitation increases from north to south. The northern desert exhibits strong arid characteristics. Annual sunshine totals around 2,700 hours, and average precipitation is approximately 190 mm, with most rainfall occurring in summer. The frost-free period spans 160–190 days per year[15].

Transportation

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Highways

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  • G7 Beijing–Urumqi Expressway traverses Changji Prefecture[16].
  • G30 Lianyungang–Khorgas Expressway passes through Changji[17].
  • National Highways 216, 312, 335, 679, and 691 serve the prefecture[18].

Rail

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  • The Lanzhou–Xinjiang Railway connects through Changji Station, linking the prefecture to the national rail network[19].

Urban Rail & Maglev

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  • The proposed Urumqi–Changji Maglev is planned to run ~24 km from Urumqi Airport to Changji West Outer Ring, with 5 stations and one rail depot[20] [21]

Sister cities

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References

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  1. ^ 新疆维吾尔自治区统计局、国家统计局新疆调查总队 (2021). 《新疆统计年鉴－2020》. China Statistics Press. ISBN 978-7-5037-9457-5.
  2. ^ "自然地理 [Physical Geography]" [Physical Geography]. People's Government of Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 2016-11-23. Retrieved 2015-03-03.
  3. ^ "常住人口按民族分（2020年第七次全国人口普查）" [Permanent Population by Ethnic Group (Seventh National Population Census, 2020)] (in Chinese). 中华人民共和国国家统计局. Retrieved 2025-06-24.
  4. ^ Changji Government. "历史沿革 [Historical Evolution]" (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 2016-11-22. Retrieved 2025-06-24.
  5. ^ "昌吉州概况 [Changji Prefecture Overview]" (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 2016-11-23. Retrieved 2025-06-24.
  6. ^ Changji Government. "历史沿革 [Historical Evolution]" (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 2016-11-22. Retrieved 2025-06-24.
  7. ^ Changji Government. "历史沿革 [Historical Evolution]" (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 2016-11-22. Retrieved 2025-06-24.
  8. ^ "CHĀNGJÍ HUÍZÚ ZÌZHÌZHŌU (Hui Autonomous Prefecture) Subdivision". City Population.
  9. ^ 2000年人口普查中国民族人口资料，民族出版社. 2003. ISBN 7-105-05425-5.
  10. ^ Stanley W. Toops (August 2012). Susan M. Walcott; Corey Johnson (eds.). Eurasian Corridors of Interconnection: From the South China to the Caspian Sea. Routledge. pp. 65–66. ISBN 978-1135078751.
  11. ^ "Study on soil and water conservation regionalization in Changji Prefecture" (PDF). E3S Web of Conferences. 2021. Retrieved 2025-06-24.
  12. ^ "Study on soil and water conservation regionalization in Changji Prefecture" (PDF). E3S Web of Conferences. 2021. Retrieved 2025-06-24.
  13. ^ "Vulnerability of glacier change in the Tianshan Mountains region". Science of the Total Environment. 2021. Retrieved 2025-06-24.
  14. ^ "Study on characteristics and causes of groundwater level dynamics in Changji". IWAP Water Practice & Technology. 2024. Retrieved 2025-06-24.
  15. ^ "Study on soil and water conservation regionalization in Changji Prefecture" (PDF). E3S Web of Conferences. 2021. Retrieved 2025-06-24.
  16. ^ XinjiangTransport, Official. "G7 Expressway Route Map". Xinjiang Highway Authority. Retrieved 2025-06-24.
  17. ^ XinjiangTransport, Official. "G30 Expressway Overview". Xinjiang Highway Authority. Retrieved 2025-06-24.
  18. ^ XinjiangTransport, Official. "National Highway Routes in Changji". Xinjiang Highway Authority. Retrieved 2025-06-24.
  19. ^ ChinaRail, Ministry. "Lanzhou–Xinjiang Railway Operations". Ministry of Railways. Retrieved 2025-06-24.
  20. ^ CTB, Technical. "Urumqi–Changji Maglev Feasibility Study". China Maglev Technology. Retrieved 2025-06-24.
  21. ^ Li, Zheng (2021-03-21). "Changji prefecture backs maglev plans". China Daily. Retrieved 2025-06-24.

44°01′N 87°19′E / 44.01°N 87.31°E / 44.01; 87.31

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