Kuqa, Xinjiang

County-level city in Xinjiang, China From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Kuqa, Xinjiangmap

Kuqa[b] (/ˈkə/ KOO-chə) is a county-level city in Aksu Prefecture, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, China. It was once the homeland of the ancient Buddhist Kingdom of Kucha.

Quick Facts Kuchar, Kucha, Kuche, Qiuci, Country ...
Kuqa
Kuchar, Kucha, Kuche, Qiuci
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Location of Kuchar County (red) within Aksu Prefecture (yellow) and Xinjiang
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Kuqa
Location of the seat
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Kuqa
Kuqa (China)
Coordinates: 41°43′N 82°58′E
CountryChina
Autonomous regionXinjiang
PrefectureAksu
Municipal seatYengisheher Subdistrict (Xincheng Subdistrict)
Area
  Total
15,200 km2 (5,900 sq mi)
Elevation
1,072 m (3,517 ft)
Population
 (2020)[2]
  Total
530,328
  Density35/km2 (90/sq mi)
Ethnic groups
  Major ethnic groupsUyghur[3]
Time zoneUTC+8 (China Standard[a])
Postal code
842000
Websitewww.xjkc.gov.cn (in Chinese)
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Quick Facts Uyghur name, Uyghur ...
Kuqa, Xinjiang
Uyghur name
Uyghurكۇچار شەھىرى
Transcriptions
Latin YëziqiKucha
Yengi YeziⱪKuqa
SASM/GNCKuqa
Siril YëziqiКуча
Chinese name
Simplified Chinese库车
Traditional Chinese庫車
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinKùchē
Alternative Chinese name
Simplified Chinese龟兹
Traditional Chinese龜茲
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinQiūcí
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History

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Perspective

The archaeological excavation of Neolithic cultural sites, such as the Haradun site [zh] (Chinese: 龟兹故城), indicates that ancient human activity occurred in the land of Kuche as early as 12,000 years ago.[7][8]

According to the Book of Han (completed in 111 CE), Kucha was the largest of the "Thirty-six Kingdoms of the Western Regions", with a population of 81,317, including 21,076 persons able to bear arms.[9]:156

In 630, Xuanzang, a well-known Chinese Buddhist monk, scholar, traveler and translator visited Kucha during the Early Tang period.[10]

In the book "Hudud ul-'alam min al-mashriq ila al-maghrib", written in 982 by an unknown Arab or Persian writer, and presented to Abu'l Haret Muhammad, the ruler of Guzgan, the following is written regarding Kucha:

"Kucha is located on the Chinese border and belongs to China, but the indigenous people, Dokuzoguzes, at times are engaged in raids and looting. This city has many advantages."

Mirza Muhammad Haidar Dughlat, a military general, in his historical book Tarikh-i-Rashidi used the word "Kūsān" for Kucha.

Mahmud Kashgari, in his Compendium of Turkic Languages (Divân-ı Lügati't-Türk), wrote the following about Kucha: "It is one of the cities built by Zülqarnayin (Alexander the Macedonian).".[11] He also wrote that Kucha was a Uyghur town.[12]

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Kucha (庫車) delegates in Peking in 1761, 万国来朝图

In 1758, the Qing Dynasty took control of the area, and the Chinese character name 'Kuche' (庫車) was made the name of the area.[13] Kuqa was formed as a county in 1913,[14] inside the fourth administrative district of Xinjiang Province.[15][16] In 1930, Xinjiang was partitioned into 12 districts to establish Tokesu County.[17]

On December 20, 2019, Kuqa County was disestablished and Kuqa City was created.[18]

Ancient Buddhist kingdom in Kuqa

Monasteries

  • Ta-mu had 170 priests.
  • Around Che-hu-li, on a hill north of the city of Po-shan, there were 50 or 60 monks.
  • Another Monastery was founded by King Wen-Su (Uch-Turfan) and had 70 monks.

Convents

There were two convents in A-li (Avania).

  • Liun-jo-kan: 50 nuns
  • A-li-po: 30 nuns

Another monastery, Tsio-li, north of Kucha and a famous place where Kumārajīva's mother Jīva retreated.

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Buddhist caves near Kuqa

Priests

Po-Yen

Known as Po-Yen, a priest from the royal family who traveled to the Chinese capital Luoyang between 256 and 260 BC. He translated six Buddhist texts into Chinese within the year 258 BC.

Po-Po-Śrīmitra

Po-Po-Śrīmitra is another priest from Kuqa who traveled Southern China between 307 and 312 BC and translated three Buddhist texts.

Po-Yen

A second Buddhist priest from Kuqa, known as Po-Yen, also went to Liangzhou (present-day Wuwei district in Gansu). Although not so well known in China, he translated many texts.[19]

Climate

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Perspective

Geography

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Coinage of Rashidin Khoja. Kucha mint. Dually dated AH 1281 and RY 2 (AD 1864). Obverse legend: Said Ghazi Rashidin Khan. Ithneen in Arabic. Reverse: Zarb dar al-sultanat Kucha, 1281 in Arabic

The city is located at the southern periphery of the Tian Shan range, the northern portion of the Tarim Basin, and the centre of the autonomous region. It occupies part of the northeastern portion of Aksu Prefecture, bordering Xinhe County, Xayar County, and Luntai County, Heiing County, and Lopnur County in Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Region.

Kuqa has a continental desert climate (Köppen BWk), with an average annual precipitation of 74.6 millimetres (2.94 in), a majority of which occurs in summer. The monthly 24-hour average temperature ranges from −7.2 °C (19.0 °F) in January to 25.3 °C (77.5 °F) in July, and the annual mean is 11.29 °C (52.3 °F). The frost-free period lasts for 266 days on average.[citation needed] With monthly percent possible sunshine ranging from 54% in March to 69% in September and October, sunshine is abundant and the city receives 2,712 hours of bright sunshine annually.

More information Climate data for Kuqa, elevation 1,082 m (3,550 ft), (1991–2020 normals), Month ...
Climate data for Kuqa, elevation 1,082 m (3,550 ft), (1991–2020 normals)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 7.8
(46.0)
14.3
(57.7)
24.1
(75.4)
33.2
(91.8)
35.1
(95.2)
38.2
(100.8)
40.8
(105.4)
39.5
(103.1)
35.2
(95.4)
28.5
(83.3)
20.7
(69.3)
9.2
(48.6)
40.8
(105.4)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) −1.7
(28.9)
5.3
(41.5)
14.1
(57.4)
22.2
(72.0)
26.9
(80.4)
30.5
(86.9)
32.1
(89.8)
30.9
(87.6)
26.4
(79.5)
19.4
(66.9)
9.7
(49.5)
0.2
(32.4)
18.0
(64.4)
Daily mean °C (°F) −7.7
(18.1)
−0.9
(30.4)
7.7
(45.9)
15.4
(59.7)
19.9
(67.8)
23.4
(74.1)
24.9
(76.8)
23.7
(74.7)
18.8
(65.8)
10.9
(51.6)
2.7
(36.9)
−5.5
(22.1)
11.1
(52.0)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −12.8
(9.0)
−6.3
(20.7)
1.8
(35.2)
8.9
(48.0)
13.0
(55.4)
16.4
(61.5)
18.0
(64.4)
16.9
(62.4)
12.1
(53.8)
4.4
(39.9)
−2.6
(27.3)
−9.9
(14.2)
5.0
(41.0)
Record low °C (°F) −23.4
(−10.1)
−20.2
(−4.4)
−8.4
(16.9)
−2.0
(28.4)
0.7
(33.3)
7.5
(45.5)
10.4
(50.7)
7.6
(45.7)
3.2
(37.8)
−3.1
(26.4)
−16.3
(2.7)
−22.3
(−8.1)
−23.4
(−10.1)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 2.6
(0.10)
3.1
(0.12)
1.6
(0.06)
3.5
(0.14)
9.3
(0.37)
19.7
(0.78)
13.0
(0.51)
14.6
(0.57)
6.2
(0.24)
4.0
(0.16)
2.7
(0.11)
1.9
(0.07)
82.2
(3.23)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) 3.2 1.8 1.2 1.8 3.6 7.0 7.0 6.2 3.9 1.4 1.3 2.4 40.8
Average snowy days 5.2 2.5 0.5 0.2 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.3 4.5 14.2
Average relative humidity (%) 68 55 38 34 38 43 46 49 53 56 60 70 51
Mean monthly sunshine hours 186.9 198.4 231.4 245.1 278.5 280.6 291.9 277.1 255.7 247.4 204.4 166.3 2,863.7
Percentage possible sunshine 63 65 62 60 61 62 64 66 70 74 71 59 65
Source: China Meteorological Administration[20][21][22]
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Administrative divisions

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Perspective
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The "Kuqa" mosque

Kuqa has 4 subdistricts, 8 towns, 6 townships and one other area under its administration:[23][24][1][25]

More information Name, Simplified Chinese ...
Name Simplified Chinese Hanyu Pinyin Uyghur (UEY) Uyghur Latin (ULY) Administrative division code
Subdistricts
Reste Subdistrict 热斯坦街道 Rèsītǎn Jiēdào رەستە كوچا باشقارمىسى reste kocha bashqarmisi 652902001
Saqsaq Subdistrict 萨克萨克街道 Sàkèsàkè Jiēdào ساقساق كوچا باشقارمىسى saqsaq kocha bashqarmisi 652902002
Yengisheher Subdistrict
(Xincheng Subdistrict)
新城街道 Xīnchéng Jiēdào يېڭىشەھەر كوچا باشقارمىسى yëngisheher kocha bashqarmisi 652902003
Sherqiy Subdistrict
(Dongcheng Subdistrict)
东城街道 Dōngchéng Jiēdào شەرقىي شەھەر كوچا باشقارمىسى sherqiy sheher kocha bashqarmisi 652902004
Towns
Uchar Town 乌恰镇 Wūqià Zhèn ئۇچار بازىرى Uchar baziri 652902101
Alakaga Town 阿拉哈格镇 Ālāhāgé Zhèn ئالاقاغا بازىرى Alaqagha baziri 652902102
Chimen Town 齐满镇 Qímǎn Zhèn چىمەن بازىرى[26] chimen baziri 652902103
Dongqotan Town 墩阔坦镇 Dūnkuòtǎn Zhèn دۆڭقوتان بازىرى döngqotan baziri 652902104
Yaqa Town 牙哈镇 Yáhā Zhèn ياقا بازىرى[27] yaqa baziri 652902105
Uzun Town 乌尊镇 Wūzūn Zhèn ئۇزۇن بازىرى Uzun baziri 652902106
Ishxila Town 伊西哈拉镇 Yīxīhālā Zhèn ئىشخىلا بازىرى Ishxila baziri 652902107
Erbatey Town 二八台镇 Èrbātái Zhèn ئەرباتەي بازىرى[28] Erbatey baziri 652902108
Townships
Uchosteng Township 玉奇吾斯塘乡 Yùqíwúsītáng Xiāng ئۈچئۆستەڭ يېزىسى Üch'östeng yëzisi 652902201
Biyixbag Township[29] 比西巴格乡 Bǐxībāgé Xiāng بېھىشباغ يېزىسى bëhishbagh yëzisi 652902202
Xanqitam Township 哈尼喀塔木乡 Hāníkātǎmù Xiāng خانقىتام يېزىسى xanqitam yëzisi 652902203
Aqosteng Township 阿克吾斯塘乡 Ākèwúsītáng Xiāng ئاقئۆستەڭ يېزىسى Aq'östeng yëzisi 652902204
Aghi Township 阿格乡 Āgé Xiāng ئاغى يېزىسى Aghi yëzisi 652902205
Tarim Township 塔里木乡 Tǎlǐmù Xiāng تارىم يېزىسى tarim yëzisi 652902206
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Economy

Agricultural products include wheat, corn, rice, cotton as well as pears, apricots, melons, grapes, pomegranates, figs, etc. Specialty products include Sanbei Sheep (三北羊) lambskin, white apricots and thin-shelled walnuts. Mineral resources include oil and coal. Industries include coal mining, tractor manufacturing and repair, construction and processing for non-staple foods.[30]

As of 1885, there was about 99,200 acres (654,476 mu) of cultivated land in Kuqa.[31]

Demographics

More information Year, Pop. ...
Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
2000388,593    
2010462,588+1.76%
[24]
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As of 2015, 440,125 of the 492,535 residents of Kuqa County were Uyghur, 49,021 were Han Chinese and 3,389 were from other ethnic groups.[32]

As of 2002, the county had a population of 450,000.[citation needed]

As of 1999, 89.93% of the population of Kuqa County were Uyghur and 9.49% of the population was Han Chinese.[33]

Transportation

Kuqa is served by China National Highway 217, China National Highway 314,[30] the Southern Xinjiang Railway and Kuche Qiuci Airport.

Kuqa Town

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Royal temple located near Kuqa

Kuqa is also the name of the central town (Chinese: 库车镇), located in the easternmost area of Kuqa. It is the second largest town of Aksu Prefecture. Its area size is 14,528.74 square meters and population 470,600, composed of fourteen peoples including the Uyghurs, Hans, Huis, and Mongols. Kuqa is a thriving town of oil and natural gas development of the Tarim Basin, and of tourism, as it was once the homeland of the ancient Buddhist Kingdom of Kucha.[citation needed] Its tourist attractions are:

Notable persons

Historical maps

Historical English-language maps including Kuqa:

Notes

  1. Locals in Xinjiang frequently observe UTC+6 (Xinjiang Time), 2 hours behind Beijing.
  2. The official spelling is "Kuqa".[4][5] Alternate spellings and names include Kucha, Kuchar, Kuche, Kuchi, Kuchu, Kocha, Kuchel, and Kuga.[6]
  3. From map: "THE DELINEATION OF INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARIES ON THIS MAP MUST NOT BE CONSIDERED AUTHORITATIVE"
  4. From map: "The representation of international boundaries is not necessarily authoritative."

References

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