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Southern XinjiangorNanjiang (Chinese: 南疆; pinyin: Nánjiāng) is the southern half of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous RegionofChina. Its historical name was Altishahr (Chinese: 回部; pinyin: Huíbù), which also includes some territories in modern-day Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. The name "Chinese Turkestan" was commonly used by Europeans to refer to Southern Xinjiang or Xinjiang as a whole[1] especially during the Qing dynasty.
Southern Xinjiang includes the Tarim Basin and the adjacent mountainous area which includes Aksai Chin. Most of the inhabitants in Southern Xinjiang are Uyghurs.