Huocheng County (Chinese: 霍城县; pinyin: Huòchéng xiàn), also known as Korgas County (Kazakh: قورعاس اۋدانى; Uyghur: قورغاس ناھىيىسى; Chinese: 霍尔果斯县), is situated within the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region and falls under the administration of the Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture. The county is located between Yining and the border city of Khorgas, covering an area of 5,466 km2 (2,110 sq mi), with a population of 360,000 (2004 estimate). There are twenty-nine ethnic groups residing in the county, including the Han and Uyghur nationalities.

To the north of Huocheng County is Wenquan County, while the Ili River lies to the south. Its Western side is bordered by Khorgas City, and Yining is located approximately 45 km (28 mi) to the east.

History

Within Huocheng County, lies the significant ruined site of ancient Almaliq. Additionally, the mausoleum of the first khan of Moghulistan, Tughlugh Timur, is also located within the county.

During the 1760s, nine fortresses were constructed in the Ili River Basin, and four of them were situated within the modern Huocheng County. Huiyuan served as the headquarters of the General of Ili, making it the military and administrative center of Xinjiang until the 1860s.

Suiding County (绥定县) was established in 1888, with Suiding as the county seat. In 1914, the western area of Shuiding County was organized into Khorgas County, later abbreviated to Huocheng County, with Gongchen (Khorgas) as county seat. In 1965 Suiding was renamed Shuiding. In 1966, Shuiding County merged into Huocheng County with Shuiding as the county seat of the new Huocheng County. In 2014, Khorgas became a county-level city separate from Huocheng County.

Administrative divisions

Tughlugh Timur Mausoleum (zh), some 30 km northwest of the county seat

The county includes 6 towns, 2 townships, and 1 ethnic township.

NameSimplified ChineseHanyu PinyinUyghur (UEY)Uyghur Latin (ULY)Number of communitiesPopulation (thousand)Land area (km2)
Towns
Shuiding Town (Süydüng Town)水定镇Shuǐdìng Zhènسۈيدۈڭ بازىرىsüydüng baziri13314.9
Qingshuihe Town (Chingsixoza Town)清水河镇Qīngshuǐhé Zhènچىڭسىخوزا بازىرىchingsixoza baziri1546.7185.2
Lucaogou Town (Losigung Town)芦草沟镇Lúcǎogōu Zhènلۇسىگۇڭ بازىرىlusigung baziri1135.4346
Huiyuan Town (Küre Town)惠远镇Huìyuǎn Zhènكۈرە بازىرىküre baziri421.4138.6
Sarbulaq Town萨尔布拉克镇Sà'ěrbùlākè Zhènساربۇلاق بازىرىsarbulaq baziri1128.2431.7
Lengger Town兰干镇Lángàn Zhènلەڭگەر بازىرىlengger baziri13314.9
Townships
Sendoxoza Township (Sandaohe Township)三道河乡Sāndàohé Xiāngسەندوخوزا يېزىسىsendoxoza yëzisi39.378.7
Dashigu Township (Daxigou Township)大西沟乡Dàxīgōu Xiāngداشىگۇ يېزىسىdashigu yëzisi710.8252.7
Ethnic Township
Sengung Township (Sangong Township)三宫乡 (三宫回族乡)Sāngōng Xiāng (Sāngōng Huízú Xiāng)سەنگۇڭ خۇيزۇ يېزىسىsengung xuyzu yëzisi515126.9

Climate

Climate data for Huocheng, elevation 640 m (2,100 ft), (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1991–present)
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Record high °C (°F)10.1 (50.2)16.6 (61.9)28.2 (82.8)34.7 (94.5)37.1 (98.8)36.9 (98.4)40.2 (104.4)39.4 (102.9)36.4 (97.5)32.4 (90.3)25.2 (77.4)14.5 (58.1)40.2 (104.4)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)−1.9 (28.6)1.8 (35.2)12.2 (54.0)21.5 (70.7)26.4 (79.5)30.3 (86.5)32.3 (90.1)31.4 (88.5)26.8 (80.2)18.8 (65.8)8.9 (48.0)0.6 (33.1)17.4 (63.4)
Daily mean °C (°F)−7.7 (18.1)−3.7 (25.3)5.7 (42.3)13.9 (57.0)18.7 (65.7)22.7 (72.9)24.4 (75.9)23.1 (73.6)18.0 (64.4)10.4 (50.7)2.7 (36.9)−4.7 (23.5)10.3 (50.5)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)−12.4 (9.7)−8.4 (16.9)0.4 (32.7)7.5 (45.5)12.0 (53.6)16.0 (60.8)17.4 (63.3)15.7 (60.3)10.5 (50.9)4.2 (39.6)−1.6 (29.1)−8.8 (16.2)4.4 (39.9)
Record low °C (°F)−28.3 (−18.9)−26.7 (−16.1)−19.3 (−2.7)−7.0 (19.4)−0.5 (31.1)7.9 (46.2)9.5 (49.1)4.2 (39.6)−1.6 (29.1)−6.7 (19.9)−16.5 (2.3)−30.4 (−22.7)−30.4 (−22.7)
Average precipitation mm (inches)18.4 (0.72)20.1 (0.79)17.6 (0.69)26.3 (1.04)23.5 (0.93)27.7 (1.09)22.5 (0.89)17.8 (0.70)12.2 (0.48)21.3 (0.84)30.0 (1.18)22.8 (0.90)260.2 (10.25)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm)8.67.76.57.67.77.87.86.05.05.77.78.886.9
Average snowy days10.48.73.50.80.100000.54.210.338.5
Average relative humidity (%)76746353525353535464737762
Mean monthly sunshine hours151.8166.8233.5268.8318.2318.7338.0325.3278.5226.1154.5135.42,915.6
Percentage possible sunshine52556266696973777668554964
Source: China Meteorological Administration

Demographics

Breakdown of nationalities in Huocheng County
NationalityPercentage
Han33.6%
Uyghurs26.8%
Huis23.8%
Kazakhs9.0%
Xibe0.4%
Mongols0.2%
Others6.2%
Source of the population statistics :

Economy

In agriculture, the local population cultivate wheat, corn and other crops including sugar beet, cotton, tobacco, apples, animal husbandry with cattle and sheep.

The main minerals extracted in the area include coal, phosphorus, iron, gold, silver, copper, limestone, Iceland spar and marble, etc.

Transport

Huocheng is served by China National Highway 312 and the Jinghe-Yining-Khorgas Railway.

There is a border crossing into Kazakhstan at Khorgas, where the road continues to Zharkent in Panfilov District.

The Jinghe–Yining–Khorgas Railway through Huocheng county was completed in 2010, reaching practically to the Kazakhstan border. There are plans to construct a connecting railway line on the Kazakh side, creating China's second railway link to Central Asia besides Alashankou.

Notes

External links

  • , at the site of Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture (in Chinese)
  • 2007-05-14 at the Wayback Machine (in Chinese)
  • (the writer's point of view on how the places should be called) (in Chinese)
  • Henry Lansdell, "Russian Central Asia: Including Kuldja, Bokhara, Khiva and Merv", vol. I. available at Google Books; there is also a 2001 facsimile reprint of the 1885 edition, ISBN 1-4021-7762-3. (Chapters XIV-XVI in Volume I describe Lansdell's visit to the area in the early 1880s, soon after the Russian withdrawal). (in English)