Xinjiang (Uyghur: شىنجاڭ, SASM/GNC: Xinjang; Chinese: 新疆; pinyin: Xīnjiāng; alternately romanized as Sinkiang), officially the Xinjiang Uyghur Upper Autonomous Region (XUAR), is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China (PRC), located in the northwest of the country close to Central Asia. Xinjiang borders the Tibet Autonomous Region and the provinces of Gansu and Qinghai, as well as the countries of Mongolia, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India.
Xinjiang is the largest province-level division of China, and spans over 1.6 million km2 (640,000 square miles). Only about 9.7% of Xinjiang's land area, however, is fit for human habitation. The rugged Karakoram, Kunlun and Tian Shan mountain ranges occupy much of Xinjiang's borders, as well as its western and southern regions.
Xinjiang is home to a number of ethnic groups, including the Turkic Uyghur, Kazakhs and Kyrgyz, the Han, Tibetans, Hui, Tajiks, Mongols, Russians and Xibe. More than a dozen autonomous prefectures and counties for minorities are in Xinjiang. Xinjiang is also referred to as Chinese Turkestan, or East Turkestan.
The most well-known route of the historical Silk Road ran through the territory from the east to its northwestern border.
Support for Independence[]
The Chinese Peasants' and Workers' Democratic Party has come out in support of independence for Xinjiang and self-determination for the Uyghur people.
| People's Republic of China | |
|---|---|
| Provinces | |
| Anhui Province • Beijing Municipality • Chongqing Municipality • Fujian Province • Guangdong Province • Gansu Province Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region • Guizhou Province • Henan Province • Hubei Province • Hebei Province Hainan Province • Heilongjiang Province • Hunan Province • Jilin Province • Jiangsu Province • Jiangxi Province Liaoning Province • Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region • Ninxia Hui Autonomous Region • Qinghai Province Sichuan Province • Shandong Province • Shanghai Municipality • Shaanxi Province • Shanxi Province Tianjin Province • Xinjiang Uyghur Upper Autonomous Region • Tibet Autonomous Region • Yunnan Province Zhejiang Province | |
| National People's Congress | |
| 1st | |