Ningxia

Ningxia, [[Chinese Postal Map Romanization|formerly transliterated]] as Ningsia, is an autonomous region (Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region) of the [[People's Republic of China]]. Located in [[Northwest China]], on the [[Loess Plateau]], the [[Yellow River]] flows through this vast area of land. The [[Great Wall of China]] runs along its northeastern boundary. The region is the home of the [[Hui people]], one of the 56 officially recognised [[Nationalities of China]]. The capital is [[Yinchuan]]. Ningxia is bounded by [[Shaanxi]] (to the east) and [[Gansu]] (in all directions but the north) provinces and [[Inner Mongolia]] (to the north) Autonomous Region and has an area of around {{convert|66,400|km2|sqmi}}. Formerly a [[Province (China)|province]], Ningxia was incorporated into Gansu in 1954 but was detached and reconstituted as an autonomous region for the Hui people in 1958. This sparsely settled mostly desert region lies in the vast plain of the Yellow River in the north which has been irrigated for centuries. Over the years an extensive system of canals has been built. Extensive [[land reclamation]] and [[irrigation]] projects have made increased cultivation possible.

History

Ningxia and its surrounding areas were incorporated into the [[Qin Dynasty]] as early as the 3rd century BC. Throughout the [[Han Dynasty]] and the [[Tang Dynasty]] there were several large cities established in the region, and by the 11th century the [[Tangut people|Tangut]] tribe had established the [[Western Xia Dynasty]] on the outskirts of the then [[Song Dynasty]]. It then came under [[Mongol]] domination after [[Genghis Khan]] conquered [[Yinchuan]] in the early 13th century. After the Mongols departed and its influences faded, some Turkic-speaking Muslims also began moving into Ningxia from the west. The [[Muslim Rebellion]] of the 19th century occurred here. In 1914, Ningxia was merged with the [[Province of China|province]] of [[Gansu]]; in 1928, however, it was detached and became a province. Between 1914 and 1928, the [[Xibei San Ma]] (literally "three Mas of the northwest") ruled the provinces of Qinghai, Ningxia and Gansu. Muslim [[Kuomintang]] General [[Ma Hongkui]] was the military Governor of Ningxia and had absolute authority in the province. In 1958, Ningxia formally became an [[Autonomous areas of China|autonomous region of China]]. In 1969, Ningxia received a part of the Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region, but this area was returned in 1979. It is nearly coextensive with the ancient kingdom of the [[Tangut people]], whose capital was captured by [[Genghis Khan]] in the early 13th century. A number of Chinese artifacts dating from the [[Tang dynasty]] and [[Song dynasty]], some of which had been owned by [[Emperor Zhenzong]] were excavated and then came into the hands of Ma Hongkui, who refused to publicize the findings. Among the artifacts were a white marble tablet from the Tang dynasty, gold nails, and bands made out of metal. It was not until after Ma passed away, that his wife went to Taiwan in 1971 from America to bring the artifacts to [[Chiang Kai-shek]], who turned them over to the [[Taipei]] [[National Palace Museum]].

Geography

Ningxia borders the provinces of [[Shaanxi]] and [[Gansu]], and the [[Inner Mongolia|Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region]]. The [[Yellow River]] flows through Ningxia. The Ningxia ecosystem is one of the least studied regions in the world. Some plant genera in Ningxia have been estimated at over 40,000 years old. Ningxia is a relatively dry, desert-like region. Significant [[irrigation]] supports the growing of [[wolfberry|wolfberries]], a commonly consumed [[fruit]] throughout the region. Ningxia's deserts include the [[Tengger desert]] in [[Shapotou]]. The northern section, through which the Yellow River flows, supports the best agricultural land. A railroad, linking [[Lanzhou]] with [[Baotou]], crosses the region. A highway has been built across the Yellow River at Yinchuan. On 16 December 1920, the [[1920 Haiyuan earthquake|Haiyuan earthquake]], 8.6 magnitude, at 36.6°N 105.32°W, initiated a series of landslides that killed an estimated 200,000 people. Over 600 large [[loess]] landslides created more than 40 new lakes. In 2006, satellite images indicated that a 700 by 200-meter fenced area within Ningxia—5 km southwest of [[Yinchuan]], near the remote village of [[Huangyangtan]]—is a near-exact 1:500 scale terrain model reproduction of a 450 by 350-kilometer area of [[Aksai Chin]] bordering [[India]], complete with mountains, valleys, lakes and hills. Its purpose is as yet unknown. {{Islam and China}}

Climate

The region is {{convert|1,200|km}} from the sea and has a [[continental climate]] with average summer temperatures rising to {{convert|17|to|24|°C|°F|0}} in July and average winter temperatures dropping to between {{convert|−7|to|−10|°C|°F|0}} in January. Seasonal extreme temperatures can reach {{convert|39|°C|0}} in summer and {{convert|-30|°C}} in winter. The [[Day|diurnal]] temperature variation can reach above {{convert|17|°C-change}}, especially in spring. Annual rainfall averages from {{convert|190|to|700|mm|1}}, with more rain falling in the south of the region.

Environment

*[http://anzdec.zes.zeald.com/Services/Case+Studies/Ningxia+Yinchuan+Integrated+Ecosystem+Management+Project.html Ningxia Yinchuan Integrated Ecosystem Management Project], 2006

Governance

{{main|Politics of Ningxia}} The politics of Ningxia is structured in a dual party-government system like all other governing institutions in [[mainland China]]. The Chairman of the Autonomous Region is the highest ranking official in the People's Government of Ningxia. However, in the Autonomous Region's dual party-government governing system, the Chairman has less power than the [[Communist Party of China]] Ningxia Committee Secretary, colloquially termed the "Ningxia [[CPC Party Chief]]". Ningxia has a friendship agreement with [[Sogn og Fjordane]] county of Norway. Administrative divisions {{main|List of administrative divisions of Ningxia}} Ningxia is divided into five [[Prefecture-level city|prefecture-level cities]]: NEWLINENEWLINENEWLINENEWLINENEWLINENEWLINENEWLINENEWLINENEWLINENEWLINENEWLINENEWLINENEWLINENEWLINENEWLINENEWLINENEWLINENEWLINENEWLINENEWLINENEWLINENEWLINENEWLINENEWLINENEWLINENEWLINENEWLINENEWLINENEWLINENEWLINENEWLINENEWLINENEWLINENEWLINENEWLINENEWLINENEWLINENEWLINENEWLINENEWLINENEWLINENEWLINENEWLINENEWLINENEWLINENEWLINENEWLINENEWLINENEWLINENEWLINENEWLINENEWLINENEWLINENEWLINENEWLINE

Map	#	Name	[[Hanzi]]	[[Hanyu Pinyin]]	[[Xiao'erjing]]	Administrative Seat	Population ([[Sixth National Population Census of the People's Republic of China|2010]])
[[File:Ningxia prf map.png|300x300px]]
	— [[Prefecture-level city]] —
	1	[[Yinchuan]]	银川市	Yínchuān Shì	ىٍ ﭼُﻮًا شِ	[[Xingqing District]]	1,993,088
	2	[[Shizuishan]]	石嘴山市	Shízuǐshān Shì	شِ ذُﻮِ شً شِ	[[Dawukou District]]	725,482
	3	[[Wuzhong, Ningxia|Wuzhong]]	吴忠市	Wúzhōng Shì	ءُ ﺟْﻮ شِ	[[Litong District]]	1,273,792
	4	[[Zhongwei]]	中卫市	Zhōngwèi Shì	ﺟْﻮ وِ شِ	[[Shapotou District]]	1,080,832
	5	[[Guyuan]]	固原市	Gùyuán Shì	ﻗُﻮْ ﻳُﻮًا شِ	[[Yuanzhou District, Guyuan|Yuanzhou District]]	1,228,156

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Economy

{{see also|List of Chinese administrative divisions by GDP}} Ningxia is the province with the third smallest GDP ([[Tibet Autonomous Region|Tibet]] being the last) in China, even though its neighbors, Inner Mongolia and Shaanxi, are among the strongest emerging provincial economies in the country. Its nominal GDP in 2008 was just 133.46 billion yuan (US$19.5 billion) and a per capita GDP of 21,470 yuan (US$3,143). It contributes 0.3% of the [[Economy of the People's Republic of China|national economy]]. Unlike several other underdeveloped provinces, labor costs in Ningxia are among the highest in China (ranking in the top third percentile), making it unattractive as a manufacturing center. Furthermore, Ningxia has yet to become a hub for consumption due to it's low population. Ningxia is the principal region of China where [[Wolfberry|wolfberries]] are grown. [[Yinchuan]] [[Economic and Technological Development Zones|Economic and Technological Development Zone]]: established in 1992 spanning 32 km2, annual economic output Rmb23.7 billion (25.1% up) (US$3.5 billion) Major investors: Mainly local enterprises such as Kocel Steel Foundry, FAG Railway Bearing (Ningxia), Ningxia Little Giant Machine Tools, etc. Major industries: Machinery and equipment manufacturing, new materials, fine chemicals and the animation industry Desheng Industrial Park (in [[Helan County]]), is a base for about 400 enterprises. The industrial park has industrial chains from Muslim food and commodities to trade and logistics, new materials and bio-pharmaceuticals that has 80 billion yuan in fixed assets. Desheng is looking to be the most promising industrial park in the city. It achieved a total output value of 4.85 billion in 2008, up 40 percent year-on-year. The local government plans to cut taxes and other fees to reduce the burden on local enterprises. The industrial output value reached 2.68 billion yuan in 2008, an increase of 48 percent from a year earlier.

Airports

* [[Yinchuan Hedong Airport]] (银川河东机场) * [[Yinchuan Helanshan Airport]] (银川贺兰山机场) * [[Zhongwei Xiangshan Airport]] (中卫香山机场) * [[GuYuan Airport]](固原机场) * [[Wuhai Airport]] (serves the northern area)

Highways

* [[China National Highway 109]] * [[China National Highway 110]] * [[China National Highway 211]] * [[China National Highway 307]] * [[China National Highway 309]] * [[China National Highway 312]]

Religion

Ningxia has a major [[Islam|Muslim]] and a minor [[Christianity|Christian]] population. Church leaders from Ningxia have been detained in 2011. [[The Diary of Ma Yan]] is a diary by a female Muslim from Ningxia. The [[Dungan revolt (1862–1877)]], [[Liang Province Rebellion]], [[Kuomintang Islamic insurgency in China (1950–1958)]] and [[Muslim Conflict in Gansu (1927–1930)]] took place in the province. Outside [[Qingtongxia]], there are 108 well-known [[Dagoba]]s.

Hospitals

*People's Hospital of Ningxia *Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Ningxia *Ningxia Medical College affiliated Hospital *Yinchuan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine *Yinchuan People's Hospital *Yinchuan Stomatological Hospital *Yinchuan Women and Children's Healthcare Center *Women and Children's Healthcare Center of Ningixa *Yinchuan No.1 People's Hospital *Yinchuan No.2 People's Hospital *Yinchuan No.3 People's Hospital *Shizuishan No.2 People's Hospital *Guyuan Hospital of Ningxia

Tourism

One of Ningxia's main tourist spots is the famous [[Xixia Tombs]] site located 30 km west of [[Yinchuan]]. The remnants of nine [[Western Xia Dynasty|Western Xia]] emperors' tombs and two hundred other tombs lie within a 50-km² area. Other famous sites in Ningxia include [[Helan Shan]], the mysterious 108 [[Stupa|dagobas]], the twin [[Chinese pagodas|pagodas]] of [[Baisikou]] and the desert research outpost at [[Shapatou]].

Museums

*[[Ningxia Museum]], opened in 1988 *[[Ningxia Transportation Museum]], opened in August 2008

External links

{{sisterlinks|Ningxia}} * [http://www.nx.gov.cn/ Ningxia Provincial Government] * [http://www.nxny.gov.cn/ Ningxia Agricultural Information Network] * [http://www.nxinvest.gov.cn/default/english/index.htm Ningxia Investment Promotion Bureau] * [http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/415725/Ningxia Britnannica Ningxia] {{Geographic location |Centre = Ningxia |North = [[Inner Mongolia]] |Northeast = |East = [[Shaanxi]] |Southeast = |South = [[Gansu]] |Southwest = |West = |Northwest = }} {{Ningxia topics}} {{Ningxia}} {{Province-level divisions of the People's Republic of China}} {{Hui autonomy in the People's Republic of China}}