Southern Xinjiang

Southern Xinjiang or Nanjiang (Chinese: 南疆; pinyin: Nánjiāng) is the southern half of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China. Its historical name was Altishahr (Chinese: 回部; pinyin: Huíbù), which also includes some territories in modern-day Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. The name "Chinese Turkestan" was commonly used by Europeans to refer to Southern Xinjiang or Xinjiang as a whole^[1] especially during the Qing dynasty.

Northern Xinjiang – Dzungaria (yellow)
Eastern Xinjiang – Turpan and Hami (red)
Southern Xinjiang – Tarim Basin (blue)

Northern Xinjiang – Dzungaria, Turpan, and Hami (red)
Southern Xinjiang – Tarim Basin (blue)

Southern Xinjiang includes the Tarim Basin and the adjacent mountainous area which includes Aksai Chin. Most of the inhabitants in Southern Xinjiang are Uyghurs.

See also

• Altishahr
• Chinese Turkestan
• Dzungaria
  • Junggar Basin
• Southern Xinjiang railway
• Tarim Basin
• Tunganistan

References

1. Share, Michael B. (2015). "The Great Game Revisited: Three Empires Collide in Chinese Turkestan (Xinjiang)". Europe-Asia Studies. 67 (7): 1102–1129. doi:10.1080/09668136.2015.1067075. JSTOR 24537108. Retrieved September 19, 2023.