Ili Prefecture Overview
Ili Kazak autonomous prefecture (shortened as Ili prefecture) situates in the northwest border of People’s Republic of China, also in the northwestern part of Xinjiang Uighur autonomous region. It borders Russia and Mongolia in the northeast, and it connects Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture and Bayinguoleng Mongol autonomous prefecture in the southeast. It faces Akesu area in the southwest, and it borders the Republic of Kazakhstan in the northwest.
The autonomous prefecture has an area of 350 thousand square kilometers and occupies one fifth of Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. The borderline in Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture is as long as two thousand kilometers and it is three fifths of the borderline in Xinjiang. Along the borderline there are eight trading ports at national level.
The trading ports have already become the cultural and economic bridgehead between China and Central Asia, east Europe and Russia. “Three mountains, two valleys, and three basins” is the brief summary of the geography in Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture. The mountains there include Altay Mountain, Taer Bahatai Mountain, Sawuer Mountain, Tianshan Mountain and its branch Poluo Kenu Mountain. The valleys there are formed because of the Irtysh River and Ili River. The mountains and rivers in Ili have divided the triangle area to the north of Tianshan Mountain into three different basins, namely, Junggar Basin, Tacheng-Emin Basin, and Tekesi—zhaosu basin.
Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture is praised as “lush southern type fields north of the Great Wall”. Ili autonomous prefecture got its name because of the Ili River. Ili River and its branches Kashi River, Kunes River, and Tekes River, like blood vessels, cross the whole area. The Ili Valley is surrounded by mountains in three sides and the valley opens in the west. The rainfall in the valley is plentiful and there are many rivers there, so the grass there is luxuriant and the soil there fertile. It has 40 percent of the water resource in the whole Xinjiang and it is an oasis in the dry central Asia, so it is called “the oasis in Central Asia”.
The special geography, landform, and climate in Ili give birth to beautiful natural conditions and fantastic natural scenery. The forest in Ili valley is thick, the grassland there is extensive, and sheep and cows can be found anywhere there. The beauty and richness of Ili can be better summarized by one sentence: “The width of China can never be known if you have never been in Xinjiang, and the beauty of Xinjiang can never be known if you have never been in Ili.
There are 13 ethnic groups living in Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture. It has a population of 3.82 million. Among them, 988 thousand are Kazak, 613 thousand are Uygur, and 1.71 million are Han. Ili is the main passage in the ancient Silk Road . Now, it is a bridge of the new Europe-Asia continents, the bridgehead in West China, and center in which western culture and eastern culture exchange. The ethnic groups which keep their special traditions make Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture a place which has heavy ethnic customs and places of colorful cultural interest.
Ili area is one of the three areas which under the administration of Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture. Yining is the capital city in Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture, and also the political and economic center in Ili area. Ili got its name because of the Ili River. This can be traced in the history of west Han dynasty, a book written by Bangu, a famous historian in east Han dynasty. Ili had been called Ilie, Ilii, Yini, and it got its present name in Qianlong period of Qing dynasty.
Administrative divisions: Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture is a prefecture at semi- provincial level. It is the only autonomous prefecture which can not only govern districts and but also govern counties and cities at county level.
It administers two districts, Tacheng District, and Aletay District, two cities at county level Yining city, and Kuntun city, seven counties, Nileke County, Xinyuan County, Gongliu County, Tekes County, Zhaosu County, Qapqal County, Huocheng County, and an autonomous county, Xibo autonomous county. Besides those, in Ili there troops Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps. Xinjiang Mining and Metallurgy Bureau, Tianxi Forestry Bureau, Ashan Forestry Bureau also situate in Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture. The people’s government of Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture lies in No. 60, Stalin Street, Yining City.
The prefecture enjoys a cool, temperate, semi-arid, continental climate. Owing to the vast expanse of land, there are also microclimate features in different regions. Generally, Ili's summers are short and the winters, long. The temperature varies greatly between day and night. The temperature in spring rises rapidly but unstably, while the autumn temperatures drop rapidly.
Summer and autumn are the best time in Ili. The pastures are verdant. Melons and fruits are ripe. Notable is the sunset in Ili River. It is the favorite of many photographers.
Kanas Lake: is a mysterious lake, attracting numerous visitors, not only for its enthralling scenery and clear water, but also for the enchanting legend about the monster in the lake.
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