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Karakax County

Coordinates: 37°17′N 79°42′E / 37.283°N 79.700°E / 37.283; 79.700
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Karakax County
Moyu, Mo-yü, Qaraqash
Location of Karakax County (red) within Hotan Prefecture (yellow) and Xinjiang
Location of Karakax County (red) within Hotan Prefecture (yellow) and Xinjiang
Karakax County is located in Southern Xinjiang
Karakax County

Karakax County

Location within Xinjiang

Karakax County is located in Xinjiang
Karakax County

Karakax County

Karakax County (Xinjiang)

Karakax County is located in China
Karakax County

Karakax County

Karakax County (China)

Coordinates: 37°17′N 79°42′E / 37.283°N 79.700°E / 37.283; 79.700
CountryChina
Autonomous regionXinjiang
PrefectureHotan
County seatKarakax Town
Area
 • Total25,788.86 km2 (9,957.13 sq mi)
Population
 (2020)[3]
 • Total571,648
 • Density22/km2 (57/sq mi)
Ethnic groups
 • Major ethnic groupsUyghur, Han Chinese[4][5]
Time zoneUTC+8 (China Standard[a])
Postal code
848100
Websitewww.myx.gov.cn (in Chinese)
Karakax County
Uyghur name
Uyghurقاراقاش ناھىيىسى
Chinese name
Simplified Chinese墨玉
Traditional Chinese墨玉
Alternative Chinese name
Simplified Chinese喀拉喀什
Traditional Chinese喀拉喀什

Karakax County[6][7] (Chinese: 墨玉县), alternatively Moyu County, also transliterated from Uyghur as Qaraqash County[8] (Uyghur: قاراقاش ناھىيىسى; Chinese: 喀拉喀什县), alternately Qaraqash, is a county in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region and is located in the southern edge of the Tarim Basin, it is under the administration of the Hotan Prefecture. It contains an area of 25,667 km2 (9,910 sq mi). According to the 2011 census it has a population of 577,000 and 98,1% are Uyghurs. The county is bordered to the north by Awat County in Aksu Prefecture, to the northeast by Lop County, to the southeast by Hotan County, to the northwest by Maralbexi County in Kashgar Prefecture, and to the southwest by Pishan County and Kunyu. Exclaves of Kunyu are located within the county.

History

[edit]

In the Late Qing dynasty, the area that would become Karakax County was divided into four ming () (Mandarin Chinese Hanyu Pinyin-derived names): Hayashi (哈雅什明), Buhua (布華明), Makuiya (馬奎牙明), and Kuiya (奎牙明). On the eve of the creation of the county, the area was divided into six ming (): Zhawa (扎瓦明), Ying'ai (英愛明) (also known as Tahe (塔合明)), Balamusu (巴拉木蘇明), Kuiya (奎牙明), Makuiya (馬奎牙明), and Ka'ersai (喀爾賽明).[9]

In 1919, the county was split off from Hotan County.[2][10]

In October 1984, the people's communes in the county were replaced with towns and townships.[11]

In 2012, Zawa (Zhawa) was changed from a township into a town.[1][11]

In 2013, Kuya (Kuiya) was changed from a township into a town.[1][11]

On February 13, 2014, Qarasaz (Ka'ersai) was changed from a township into a town.[1][11]

On the morning of June 20, 2014, five police officers at a security checkpoint in Kayash village in Manglay township were found dead killed by unknown assailants. The security checkpoint, known as a place where women wearing headscarves and men wearing beards would be interrogated, was razed to the ground.[12]

At 3 AM on July 19, 2014, the day after a raid at a local mosque, Zeynep Memtimin, wife of party secretary Rejep Islam, was killed by unknown assailants in an attack at their home. Islam was severely injured and left for dead, but survived.[13]

In December 2016, the Communist Party office in Karakax County was reportedly attacked by assailants using knives and improvised explosive devices, leading to the deaths of two government employees and three assailants.[14][15][16]

In 2017, the county was divided between four and later five main district area committees (大片区管委会).[11]

In May 2017, Abduheber Ahmet, the imam of the Dongbagh Mosque in Urchi township, was arrested for bringing his son to an underground religious school on one occasion several years before the arrest. Because Ahmet admitted that the events took place, Ahmet was sentenced to five and a half years in prison instead of seven years.[17]

In February 2020 dissidents leaked the hacked records of 311 detained Uyghurs from a single neighborhood in Karakax County.[18]

Geography

[edit]

The populated part of Karakax county is located at the northern edge of the Karakoram mountains and southern part of Tarim basin (Taklamakan Desert). The Karakax river separates the county from Hotan County and the Hotan River separates the county from Lop County. The length from south to north is 320 km (200 mi) and width from east to width is 51 km (32 mi). Mazartag is a prominent arc-shaped mountain range in the northern desert area of the county.

Climate

[edit]
Climate data for Karakax, elevation 1,349 m (4,426 ft), (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1981–2010)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 21.
(70)
22.1
(71.8)
31.0
(87.8)
35.5
(95.9)
37.5
(99.5)
39.9
(103.8)
40.7
(105.3)
39.2
(102.6)
35.3
(95.5)
29.9
(85.8)
26.0
(78.8)
18.8
(65.8)
40.7
(105.3)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 1.4
(34.5)
7.5
(45.5)
17.0
(62.6)
24.4
(75.9)
28.2
(82.8)
31.3
(88.3)
32.6
(90.7)
31.4
(88.5)
27.6
(81.7)
21.4
(70.5)
12.3
(54.1)
3.4
(38.1)
19.9
(67.8)
Daily mean °C (°F) −5.2
(22.6)
0.6
(33.1)
9.3
(48.7)
16.2
(61.2)
20.1
(68.2)
23.3
(73.9)
24.6
(76.3)
23.4
(74.1)
18.7
(65.7)
11.1
(52.0)
3.4
(38.1)
−3.2
(26.2)
11.9
(53.3)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −11.0
(12.2)
−5.7
(21.7)
1.9
(35.4)
8.5
(47.3)
12.7
(54.9)
16.3
(61.3)
18.1
(64.6)
17.0
(62.6)
11.5
(52.7)
2.9
(37.2)
−3.6
(25.5)
−8.6
(16.5)
5.0
(41.0)
Record low °C (°F) −22.5
(−8.5)
−22.3
(−8.1)
−8.8
(16.2)
−0.5
(31.1)
2.9
(37.2)
8.3
(46.9)
10.5
(50.9)
7.9
(46.2)
2.4
(36.3)
−5.9
(21.4)
−13.5
(7.7)
−21.7
(−7.1)
−22.5
(−8.5)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 1.7
(0.07)
2.3
(0.09)
2.8
(0.11)
3.4
(0.13)
8.7
(0.34)
10.8
(0.43)
8.7
(0.34)
6.4
(0.25)
5.3
(0.21)
1.3
(0.05)
1.4
(0.06)
1.1
(0.04)
53.9
(2.12)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) 1.9 1.3 0.8 1.2 2.8 3.7 3.5 2.7 1.4 0.4 0.5 1.3 21.5
Average snowy days 4.7 2.4 0.4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.5 3.4 11.4
Average relative humidity (%) 60 50 38 38 47 51 57 61 63 60 55 62 54
Mean monthly sunshine hours 166.8 170.9 201.9 220.6 254.9 263.4 250.2 229.3 231.9 243.3 208.5 174.7 2,616.4
Percent possible sunshine 54 55 54 55 58 60 57 56 64 71 69 59 59
Source: China Meteorological Administration[19][20]

Administrative divisions

[edit]

Karakax county is subdivided into the following 5 towns and 11 townships:[1][21][9]


Name Simplified Chinese Hanyu Pinyin Uyghur (UEY) Uyghur Latin (ULY) Administrative division code Notes
Towns
Karakax Town 喀拉喀什镇 Kālākāshí Zhèn قاراقاش بازىرى qaraqash baziri 653222100
Zawa Town
(Cha-wa[22])
扎瓦镇 Zhāwǎ Zhèn زاۋا بازىرى zawa baziri 653222101
Kuya Town 奎牙镇 Kuíyá Zhèn كۇيا بازىرى kuya baziri 653222102
Qarasay Town 喀尔赛镇 Kā'ěrsài Zhèn قاراساي بازىرى qarasay baziri 653222103
Purchaqchi Town 普恰克其镇 Pǔqiàkèqí Zhèn پۇرچاقچى بازىرى purchaqchi baziri 653222104 formerly Purchaqchi Township (پۇرچاقچى يېزىسى / 普恰克其乡)
Townships
Aqsaray Township 阿克萨拉依乡 Ākèsàlāyī Xiāng ئاقساراي يېزىسى Aqsaray yëzisi 653222203
Urchi Township 乌尔其乡 Wū'ěrqí Xiāng ئۇرچى يېزىسى Urchi yëzisi 653222204
Tokhula Township[23] 托胡拉乡 Tuōhúlā Xiāng توخۇلا يېزىسى toxula yëzisi 653222205
Saybagh Township[24] 萨依巴格乡 Sàyībāgé Xiāng سايباغ يېزىسى saybagh yëzisi 653222206
Jahanbagh Township 加汗巴格乡 Jiāhànbāgé Xiāng جاھانباغ يېزىسى[25] jahanbagh yëzisi 653222207
Manglay Township 芒来乡 Mánglái Xiāng ماڭلاي يېزىسى manglay yëzisi 653222209
Qochi Township 阔依其乡 Kuòyīqí Xiāng قوچى يېزىسى qochi yëzisi 653222210
Yawa Township
(Ya-wa[22])
雅瓦乡 Yǎwǎ Xiāng ياۋا يېزىسى yawa yëzisi 653222211
Tüwat Township[26] 吐外特乡 Tǔwàitè Xiāng تۈۋەت يېزىسى tüwet yëzisi 653222212
Yéngiyer Township 英也尔乡 Yīngyě'ěr Xiāng يېڭىيەر يېزىسى yëngiyer yëzisi 653222213
Kawak Township 喀瓦克乡 Kāwǎkè Xiāng كاۋاك يېزىسى kawak yëzisi 653222214

Economy

[edit]

The county produces cotton, corn, wheat, melons, silkworm cocoons, black jade and walnuts. Industries include cotton ginning, food processing, tractors and carpet making.[2]

Demographics

[edit]
Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
2000405,634—    
2010500,114+2.12%
[1]

As of 2015, Uyghurs made up 97.61% of the population of the county. Han Chinese made up 2.34% of the population.[4]

As of 1999, 98.53% of the population of Karakax (Moyu) County was Uyghur and 1.44% of the population was Han Chinese.[27]

Transportation

[edit]

Karakax county has daily bus and taxi to Hotan and other counties like Guma, and also has direct luxury buses to Ürümchi, which is the capital city of Xinjiang, Karakax is also served by China National Highway 315 and the Kashgar-Hotan Railway.

A long, straight special-use road (专用道[28]) enters the Taklamakan Desert northwest of Dunkule village (墩库勒村) in Kawak (Kawake) township. The road turns near a ridge[29] and terminates near buildings. The area is near Mazar Tagh (Ma-cha-t'a-ko, Mazartag; مازار تاغ / 麻扎塔格戌堡遗址).[30][31]

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Locals in Xinjiang frequently observe UTC+6 (Xinjiang Time), 2 hours behind Beijing.
  2. ^ From map: "DELINEATION OF INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARIES MUST NOT BE CONSIDERED AUTHORITATIVE".

References

[edit]


(一)^ abcdef沿 [Karakax County Historical Development] (in Simplified Chinese). XZQH.org. 2 December 2014. Retrieved 26 December 2019. 2000405634{...}200325788.86{...}2010500114313324089243212521652735216400188003235524524351422340826346339492468511485109921381011877952236998167 2012[2012]282013[2013]140 2014213412

(二)^ abc; , eds. (September 2009).  [Cihai (Sixth Edition in Color)] (in Chinese). . Shanghai: Shanghai Lexicographical Publishing House. Shanghai Lexicographical Publishing House. p. 1610. ISBN 978-7-5326-2859-9. 2.58472006{...}1919{...}

(三)^ Xinjiang: Prefectures, Cities, Districts and Counties

(四)^ ab . . 13 February 2018. Retrieved 27 December 2019. 201547224563 60697.61%13 5222.34%

(五)^ 1997 [1997 Karakax County Administrative Divisions]. XZQH.org. 6 January 2011. Retrieved 4 April 2020. 23098.537.398.71.3115

(六)^ Ben Westcott (26 February 2020). "Chinese government disputes Xinjiang detention records leaked to CNN". CNN. Retrieved 2 April 2020. The leaked document contained a list of 311 Uyghur residents from Karakax county in southwestern Xinjiang, all of whom were shown to have been sent off to re-education sites for a wide range of alleged offenses.

(七)^ "Records of Xinjiang Ground-jay Podoces biddulphi in Taklimakan Desert, Xinjiang, China" (PDF). 2004. pp. 121, 122. Retrieved 28 July 2020. Karakax

(八)^ Sasha Chavkin (19 February 2020). "New Leak Shows How China Targets Uighurs in Xinjiang". International Consortium of Investigative Journalists. Retrieved 6 September 2020. A newly leaked document from Xinjiang listing personal details of hundreds of individuals detained in the region's Qaraqash county offers new insights into China's campaign of repression against Uighurs and other ethnic minorities.

(九)^ ab.  (in Simplified Chinese). 13 February 2018. Retrieved 26 December 2019. :446{...}201574123

(十)^ 沿.  (in Simplified Chinese). 13 February 2018. Retrieved 26 December 2019. 2191381919

(11)^ abcde沿. . 13 February 2018. Retrieved 27 December 2019. 1984198410116{...}201220143{...}2017541182244 2017653113144324342 20177541212362433

(12)^ Shohret Hoshur; Parameswaran Ponnudurai (22 June 2014). "Five Police Officers Killed in Attack on Xinjiang Security Checkpoint". Radio Free Asia. Translated by Shohret Hoshur. Retrieved 28 December 2019.

(13)^ Shohret Hoshur; Joshua Lipes (30 July 2014). "Wife of Party Official Killed in Xinjiang 'Revenge Attack'". Radio Free Asia. Translated by Mamatjan Juma. Retrieved 28 December 2019.

(14)^ Watt, Louise (December 29, 2016). "China: Police shoot dead 3 who killed 2 in Xinjiang attack". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on December 29, 2016. Retrieved December 29, 2016. Three 'rioters' drove into Moyu County's Communist Party courtyard in a vehicle, attacked workers with knives and detonated an explosive device, Xinhua News Agency reported, citing the Ministry of Public Security. It said an official and security guard were killed. A ministry press officer, who would only identify herself by her surname, Wang, confirmed the information in the report.

(15)^ Hernández, Javier C. (December 29, 2016). "China Says 5 Killed in Attack at Communist Party Office in Xinjiang". The New York Times. Retrieved December 9, 2016. The confrontation erupted shortly before 5 p.m. on Wednesday, according to Xinhua. Several people emerged from a car and began attacking government employees with knives before detonating a bomb, Xinhua reported. A party official and a security guard were killed, according to Xinhua, and three others were injured.

(16)^ Ng, Teddy (December 29, 2016). "Five dead in car bomb terror attack in China's western Xinjiang region, official media reports". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on December 29, 2016. A car carrying the attackers crashed into the yard of the office building of the local Communist Party committee in Karakax county at 4.50pm, and a home-made explosive device was ignited, according to the news portal of the Xinjiang government. Police shot and killed the three attackers, while an official and a security worker were also killed and three others were injured, Xinhua reported, quoting the Ministry of Public Security.

(17)^ Hoshur, Shohret; Joshua Lipes (2018-05-10). "Xinjiang Authorities Jail Uyghur Imam Who Took Son to Unsanctioned Religious School". Radio Free Asia. Archived from the original on May 10, 2018.

(18)^ Ivan Watson; Ben Westcott (17 February 2020). "Watched, judged, detained". CNN. Retrieved 17 February 2020.

(19)^   WeatherBk Data (in Simplified Chinese). China Meteorological Administration. Retrieved 10 October 2023.

(20)^  "Experience Template"  (in Simplified Chinese). China Meteorological Administration. Retrieved 10 October 2023.

(21)^ 2018 [2018 Statistical Area Numbers and Rural-Urban Area Numbers: Karakax County] (in Simplified Chinese). National Bureau of Statistics of the People's Republic of China. 2018. Retrieved 26 December 2019.   653222100000  653222101000  653222102000  653222103000  653222104000  653222203000  653222204000  653222205000  653222206000  653222207000  653222209000  653222210000  653222211000  653222212000  653222213000  653222214000  653222500000  653222501000 

(22)^ ab"NJ 44 Ho-tien". Washington, D. C.: U.S. Army Topographic Command. 1971  via PerryCastañeda Library Map Collection. MO-YÜ (KARAKASH){...}Cha-wa{...}Ya-wa

(23)^ Tohula (Approved - N)atGEOnet Names Server, United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency

(24)^ Saybagh (Approved - N)atGEOnet Names Server, United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency

(25)^ قۇربانجان قېيۇم, ed. (14 January 2020). كەنت ئاھالىلىرى ئىشىك ئالدىدىلا «ساياھەت تامىقى» يېيەلىدى. Xinjiang Daily (in Uyghur). Retrieved 13 May 2020. قاراقاش ناھىيەسى جاھانباغ يېزىسى

(26)^ Tüwat (Approved - N)atGEOnet Names Server, United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency

(27)^ Morris Rossabi, ed. (2004). Governing China's Multiethnic Frontiers (PDF). University of Washington Press. p. 180. ISBN 0-295-98390-6.

(28)^ "20120719105550523.jpg".  (in Simplified Chinese). 2012. Retrieved 23 January 2020. 

(29)^ "NJ 44 Ho-tien [China, India] Series 1301, Edition 3-TPC". Washington, D. C.: U.S. Army Topographic Command. 1971  via PerryCastañeda Library Map Collection. HA-LA-MA 1577 1611 1500 1703 MH {...} ELEVATIONS IN METERS

(30)^ Mazatagexu Baoyizhi (Approved - N)atGEOnet Names Server, United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency

(31)^  (12 February 2018). .  (in Simplified Chinese). Retrieved 25 January 2020.