Yutian County, Xinjiang

Not to be confused with Hotan County.

Yutian County (Chinese: 于田县), also transliterated from Uyghur as Keriya County (Uyghur: كېرىيە ناھىيىسى; Chinese: 克里雅县), is a county in Hotan Prefecture, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, China. It is based at the Keriya Town, and is separate from Hotan County, which is another county in the same prefecture. The Yutian County has an area of 39,023 km² (15,067 sq mi). According to the 2002 census, it has a population of 220,000. The county is bounded on the north by Aksu Prefecture, on the east by Minfeng/Niya County, on the west by Qira County and on the south by the Rutog and Gertse counties of the Tibet Autonomous Region.

Yutian County كېرىيە ناھىيىسى (Uyghur) 于田县 (Chinese) Keriya County
County
Kereya International On Foot Street
Location of the county (red) within Hotan Prefecture (yellow) and Xinjiang
Yutian Location of the seat in Xinjiang Show map of Southern Xinjiang Yutian Yutian (Xinjiang) Show map of Xinjiang Yutian Yutian (China) Show map of China
Coordinates: 36°52′N 81°42′E
Country	China
Autonomous region	Xinjiang
Prefecture	Hotan
County seat	Mughalla (Keriya)
Area [1]
• Total	39,094.83 km2 (15,094.60 sq mi)
Population  (2020)[2]
• Total	257,038
• Density	6.6/km2 (17/sq mi)
Ethnic groups
• Major ethnic groups	Uyghur[3][4]
Time zone	UTC+8 (China Standard[a])
Postal code	848400
Website	www.xjyt.gov.cn (in Chinese)

Yutian County, Xinjiang
Chinese name
Simplified Chinese	于田县
Traditional Chinese	于田縣
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Yútián Xiàn Wade–Giles Yü2-tʻien2 Hsien4
Alternative Chinese name
Simplified Chinese	玉田县
Traditional Chinese	玉田縣
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Yùtián Xiàn
Second alternative Chinese name
Simplified Chinese	克里雅县
Traditional Chinese	克里雅縣
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Kèlǐyǎ Xiàn
Uyghur name
Uyghur	كېرىيە ناھىيىسى‎
Transcriptions Latin Yëziqi Këriye Nahiyisi Yengi Yeziⱪ Keriyə Nah̡iyisi SASM/GNC Keriya Nahiyisi Siril Yëziqi Керийә Наһийиси

Name

The county derives its Chinese name from the Kingdom of Khotan. The name was written as '于闐' at that time.^[5] This was later changed to '玉田' (literally, Jade Field) following the adoption of Simplified Chinese and eventually to '于田' in 1959.^[6][7] The three names have a similar pronunciation in Mandarin Chinese.

"Keriya", the Latin transliteration of the Uyghur name for the county, is derived from the name of the Keriya River.

Yutian County is dubbed the "Home of Jade".^[8]

History

The ancient name of Keriya was Yumi (扜彌, Gyuymi, Umi). The name Yumi was used by the Chinese envoy Zhang Qian in his 125 BCE report on his embassy's travels.

Yutian County (于阗县) was formed in 1882, its administrative center was Karakash, and Keriya was only a post station. In 1885, the administrative center of the county was moved to Keriya.

Aurel Stein travelled along the Keriya River in his early 20th century expeditions in the region.^[9]

In 1920, the area was part of Hotan Dao (和闐道).^[10]

In 1950, the area was part of Hotan Special Area (和闐專區).^[10]

In 1959, the Chinese character name for the county was set as '于田'.^[6][10]

In 1977, the area became part of Hotan Prefecture.^[10]

In November 1980, the Yutian hydroelectric plant, located on the Keriya River, went into operation.^[11]

On March 21, 2008, the county was at the epicenter of a 7.1/7.3 magnitude earthquake.^[12][13]

In February 2014, the county was at the epicenter of the 6.8 magnitude 2014 Yutian earthquake. No injuries or deaths were reported.^[14]

In 2018, the Financial Times reported that the Yutian county vocational training centre, among the largest of the Xinjiang internment camps, had opened a forced labour facility including eight factories spanning shoemaking, mobile phone assembly and tea packaging, giving a base monthly salary of ¥1,500 ($220). Between 2016 and 2018, the centre expanded 269 percent in total area.^[15]

In 2018, Regiment 225 (兵团二二五团, part of Kunyu,^[16] was listed as part of the county.^[17]

Administrative divisions

Yutian county includes two towns and thirteen townships:^[1][17][18]

Name	Simplified Chinese	Hanyu Pinyin	Uyghur (UEY)	Uyghur Latin (ULY)	Administrative division code
Towns
Mughalla Town	木尕拉镇	Mùgǎlā Zhèn	مۇغاللا بازىرى	mughalla baziri	653226100
Xambabazar Town	先拜巴扎镇	Xiānbàibāzhā Zhèn	شەنبە بازار بازىرى	shenbebazar baziri	653226101
Townships
Jay Township	加依乡	Jiāyī Xiāng	جاي يېزىسى	jay yëzisi	653226200
Kokyar Township	科克亚乡	Kēkèyà Xiāng	كۆكيار يېزىسى[19]	kökyar yëzisi	653226201
Aral Township	阿热勒乡	Ārèlè Xiāng	ئارال يېزىسى	Aral yëzisi	653226202
Arix Township	阿日希乡	Ārìxī Xiāng	ئارىش يېزىسى	Arish yëzisi	653226203
Lengger Township (Bogazlanggar)	兰干乡	Lángàn Xiāng	لەڭگەر يېزىسى	lengger yëzisi	653226204
Siyak Township[20]	斯也克乡	Sīyěkè Xiāng	سىيەك يېزىسى	siyek yëzisi	653226205
Togragaz Township (Tagdaxman)	托格日尕孜乡	Tuōgérìgǎzī Xiāng	توغراغاز يېزىسى	toghraghaz yëzisi	653226206
Karaki Township	喀拉克尔乡	Kālākè'ěr Xiāng	قارقى يېزىسى	qarqi yëzisi	653226207
Oytograk Township	奥依托格拉克乡	Àoyītuōgélākè Xiāng	ئويتوغراق يېزىسى	Oytoghraq yëzisi	653226208
Aqqan Township	阿羌乡	Āqiāng Xiāng	ئاچچان يېزىسى	Achchan yëzisi	653226209
Yengibag Township	英巴格乡	Yīngbāgé Xiāng	يېڭىباغ يېزىسى	yëngibagh yëzisi	653226210
Shiwol Township	希吾勒乡	Xīwúlè Xiāng	شىۋول يېزىسى	shiwol yëzisi	653226211
Darya Boyi Township	达里雅布依乡	Dálǐyǎbùyī Xiāng	دەريا بۇيى يېزىسى	deryabuyi yëzisi	653226212

Climate

Climate data for Yutian, elevation 1,422 m (4,665 ft), (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1981–2010)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	18.9 (66.0)	23.8 (74.8)	32.3 (90.1)	36.0 (96.8)	37.8 (100.0)	39.2 (102.6)	40.0 (104.0)	40.5 (104.9)	37.3 (99.1)	31.5 (88.7)	24.4 (75.9)	18.7 (65.7)	40.5 (104.9)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	1.7 (35.1)	7.7 (45.9)	17.2 (63.0)	24.5 (76.1)	28.3 (82.9)	31.2 (88.2)	32.7 (90.9)	31.5 (88.7)	28.0 (82.4)	21.6 (70.9)	12.5 (54.5)	3.9 (39.0)	20.1 (68.1)
Daily mean °C (°F)	−4.8 (23.4)	0.9 (33.6)	9.6 (49.3)	16.4 (61.5)	20.2 (68.4)	23.5 (74.3)	24.9 (76.8)	23.7 (74.7)	19.1 (66.4)	11.5 (52.7)	4.0 (39.2)	−2.8 (27.0)	12.2 (53.9)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	−10.2 (13.6)	−5.1 (22.8)	2.4 (36.3)	8.7 (47.7)	12.8 (55.0)	16.7 (62.1)	18.4 (65.1)	17.1 (62.8)	11.8 (53.2)	3.5 (38.3)	−2.6 (27.3)	−7.8 (18.0)	5.5 (41.9)
Record low °C (°F)	−21.7 (−7.1)	−22.8 (−9.0)	−9.3 (15.3)	−1.4 (29.5)	0.7 (33.3)	6.5 (43.7)	10.0 (50.0)	6.9 (44.4)	1.0 (33.8)	−4.2 (24.4)	−11.6 (11.1)	−22.6 (−8.7)	−22.8 (−9.0)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	1.8 (0.07)	1.7 (0.07)	1.9 (0.07)	4.2 (0.17)	5.9 (0.23)	14.5 (0.57)	11.8 (0.46)	7.0 (0.28)	8.3 (0.33)	0.8 (0.03)	0.4 (0.02)	0.7 (0.03)	59 (2.33)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm)	2.3	1.4	0.7	1.0	2.3	4.3	3.5	2.4	1.7	0.4	0.3	1.1	21.4
Average snowy days	4.7	2.2	0.7	0.1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.7	3.2	11.6
Average relative humidity (%)	55	46	32	31	39	44	50	53	53	49	46	55	46
Mean monthly sunshine hours	206.0	203.8	234.8	240.9	264.7	260.0	254.8	240.6	256.0	279.9	239.2	212.8	2,893.5
Percent possible sunshine	66	66	63	60	60	59	58	58	70	82	79	71	66
Source: China Meteorological Administration[21][22]

Economy

The county is known for its production of jade. Agriculture and livestock farming in the county produces corn, wheat, rice, cotton, grapes and melons. Industries in the county include jade mining, cotton ginning, tractor repair and preserved fruit processing.^[6]

Demographics

As of 2015, 277,206 of the 282,182 residents of the county were Uyghur, 4,678 were Han Chinese and 298 were from other ethnic groups.^[23]

In the late 2010s, Uyghurs made up 98.3% of the population of the county.^[3]

As of 1999, 98.56% of the population of Keriya (Yutian) County was Uyghur and 1.37% of the population was Han Chinese.^[24]

Transportation

• China National Highway 315
• Yutian Wanfang Airport
• Yutian railway station on Hotan–Ruoqiang railway

Notable persons

• Kurban Tulum, promoted by the Chinese Communist Party as a symbol of unity with the Uyghurs

Gallery

• 
  Map including Kiriá (1865)
• 
  Map including Yutian (labeled as YÜ-TIEN (KERIYA) (YÜ-T'IEN)) and surrounding region in the International Map of the World (USATC, 1971)^[b]
• 
  Map including Keriya (labeled as YÜ-TIEN (YUT'IEN) (ATC, 1971)
• 
  Map including the southern part of Yutian/Keriya County and the county's border with Tibet (AMS, 1950)
• 
  Map including Yutian (labeled as YUTIAN (YÜ-T'IEN)) and surrounding region (DMA, 1980)^[c]

Notes

1. Locals in Xinjiang frequently observe UTC+6 (Xinjiang Time), 2 hours behind Beijing.
2. (from map: "DELINEATION OF INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARIES MUST NOT BE CONSIDERED AUTHORITATIVE")
3. From map: "The representation of international boundaries is not necessarily authoritative."

References

1. 于田县历史沿革 [Yutian County Historical Development] (in Simplified Chinese). XZQH.org. 2 December 2014. Retrieved 11 December 2019. 2003年，于田县总面积39094.83平方千米，{...}2010年第六次人口普查，于田县常住总人口249899人，其中：木尕拉镇30179人，先拜巴扎镇19796人，加依乡17612人，科克亚乡18582人，阿热勒乡17941人，阿日希乡7664人，兰干乡19524人，斯也克乡21862人，托格日尕孜乡14573人，喀拉克尔乡14294人，奥依托格拉克乡18271人，阿羌乡8494人，英巴格乡9070人，希吾勒乡4312人，达里亚博依乡1281人，拉依苏良种场2489人，国营(昆仑)种羊场1580人，新城区街道13687人，老城区街道6159人，兰干博孜亚农场2529人。
2. Xinjiang: Prefectures, Cities, Districts and Counties
3. 于田县概况. 于田政府网 (in Simplified Chinese). Retrieved 22 January 2020. 于田县位于新疆维吾尔自治区南部，塔克拉玛干沙漠南缘，距首府1300公里，距和田180公里，全县总面积4.032万平方公里，总人口28.95万人，其中维吾尔族人口占全县总人口的98.3%，辖13个乡、2个镇、3个场、2个街道办事处，205个行政村，766个村民小组。
4. 1997年于田县行政区划 [1997 Keriya County Administrative Divisions]. XZQH.org. 6 January 2011. Retrieved 4 April 2020. 和田地区辖县。位于塔里木盆地南缘，南依昆仑山与西藏自治区接界。面积4万平方千米，人口19.4万，其中维吾尔族占98.6%。
5. "新疆于田县人民欢迎您！". Archived from the original on March 31, 2015. Retrieved April 21, 2015.
6. 夏征农; 陈至立, eds. (September 2009). 辞海：第六版彩图本 [Cihai (Sixth Edition in Color)] (in Chinese). 上海. Shanghai: 上海辞书出版社. Shanghai Lexicographical Publishing House. p. 2781. ISBN 9787532628599. 1959年改于田县。{...}农、牧业发达，产玉米、小麦、稻、棉花、葡萄、瓜果等。以产玉著名。工业有玉石开采、轧棉、农机修理、果脯加工等。
7. "于田县历史沿革_区划人口_于田概况_走进于田_新疆于田县人民政府". Archived from the original on March 6, 2016. Retrieved April 21, 2015.
8. "于田县概况_历史沿革_于田概况_走进于田_新疆于田县人民政府". Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved April 21, 2015.
9. "NJ 44 Ho-tien". Washington, D. C.: U.S. Army Topographic Command. 1971 – via Perry–Castañeda Library Map Collection. STEIN 1906-08{...}K'o-lo-ya Ho
10. 于田县 - 历史. 于田政府网 (in Simplified Chinese). 15 January 2018. Retrieved 14 December 2019. 1920年隶和阗道。1950年属和阗专区。1959年县名简写为于田。1977年属和田地区。
11. "China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region: Cornucopia or Achilles Heel?". June 1981. p. 98 – via Internet Archive.
12. 新疆于田县今晨发生7.3级地震(图). Sina (in Simplified Chinese). 21 March 2008. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
13. Xiwei Xu; Xibin Tan; Guihua Yu; Guodong Wu; Wei Fang; Jianbo Chen; Heping Song; Jun Shen (22 January 2013). "Normal- and oblique-slip of the 2008 Yutian earthquake: Evidence for eastward block motion, northern Tibetan Plateau". Tectonophysics. 584: 152–165. Bibcode:2013Tectp.584..152X. doi:10.1016/j.tecto.2012.08.007.
14. Chris Buckley (12 February 2014). "Earthquake Strikes Remote Area of China". New York Times. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
15. Feng, Emily (16 December 2018). "Forced labour being used in China's 're-education' camps". Financial Times. Retrieved 13 December 2019. Two of Xinjiang's largest internment camps — the Kashgar city and Yutian county vocational training centres — have opened forced labour facilities this year. Yutian's detention centre boasts eight factories specialising in vocations such as shoemaking, mobile phone assembly and tea packaging, offering a base monthly salary of Rmb1,500 ($220), according to Chinese state media reports. Satellite images show that Kashgar's internment centre has more than doubled in size since 2016 and Yutian's grew 269 per cent over the same period, according to a report compiled by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, a think-tank.
16. 兵团第十四师昆玉市225团成立. خوتەن 和田政府网 (in Simplified Chinese). 9 May 2016. Retrieved 24 December 2019. 新疆生产建设兵团第十四师昆玉市225团成立暨新城区建设奠基仪式在这里举行。{...}于田县"两场一区"兵地共建筹备领导小组与兵团第十四师昆玉市225团筹备工作领导小组共同签署移交接管协议
17. 2018年统计用区划代码和城乡划分代码：于田县 [2018 Statistical Area Numbers and Rural-Urban Area Numbers: Yutian County] (in Simplified Chinese). National Bureau of Statistics of the People's Republic of China. 2018. Retrieved 11 December 2019. 统计用区划代码 名称 653226100000 木尕拉镇 653226101000 先拜巴扎镇 653226200000 加依乡 653226201000 科克亚乡 653226202000 阿热勒乡 653226203000 阿日希乡 653226204000 兰干乡 653226205000 斯也克乡 653226206000 托格日尕孜乡 653226207000 喀拉克尔乡 653226208000 奥依托格拉克乡 653226209000 阿羌乡 653226210000 英巴格乡 653226211000 希吾勒乡 653226212000 达里雅布依乡 653226401000 国营（昆仑）种羊场 653226402000 于田监狱 653226500000 兵团二二五团
18. 于田县行政区. 于田政府网 (in Simplified Chinese). 22 March 2018. Archived from the original on 11 December 2019. Retrieved 11 December 2019. 于田县辖2个镇、13个乡：木尕拉镇、先拜巴扎镇、加依乡、科克亚乡、阿热勒乡、阿日希乡、兰干乡、斯也克乡、托格日尕孜乡、喀拉克尔乡、奥依托格拉克乡、阿羌乡、英巴格乡、希吾勒乡、达里雅布依乡。县人民政府驻木尕拉镇。
19. قۇربانجان قېيۇم, ed. (28 February 2019). ۋۇ گاڭ: ۋەزىپە، مەسئۇلىيىتىمنى تولۇق ئادا قىلىپ، جەمئىيەت كۆڭۈل بۆلۈۋاتقان مەسىلىلەرنى ئىنكاس قىلىمەن. Tianshannet (in Uyghur). Retrieved 13 May 2020. كېرىيە ناھىيەسىنىڭ كۆكيار يېزىسى
20. huaxia, ed. (17 September 2020). "Full Text: Employment and Labor Rights in Xinjiang". Xinhua News Agency. Retrieved 20 September 2020. Amina Obul from Siyak Township, Yutian (Keriya) County, Hotan Prefecture
21. 中国气象数据网 – WeatherBk Data (in Simplified Chinese). China Meteorological Administration. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
22. "Experience Template" 中国气象数据网 (in Simplified Chinese). China Meteorological Administration. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
23. 3-7 各地、州、市、县(市)分民族人口数 (in Simplified Chinese). شىنجاڭ ئۇيغۇر ئاپتونوم رايونى 新疆维吾尔自治区统计局 Statistic Bureau of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. 15 March 2017. Archived from the original on 11 October 2017. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
24. Morris Rossabi, ed. (2004). Governing China's Multiethnic Frontiers (PDF). University of Washington Press. p. 180. ISBN 0-295-98390-6.

See also