Xinjiang
Xinjiang is an autonomous region in northwestern China and the country’s largest provincial-level division by area.
Xinjiang is an autonomous region in northwestern China and the country’s largest provincial-level division by area. Its capital is Ürümqi, and the region is home to a large, ethnically diverse population, including Uyghurs, Han Chinese, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, Hui and others. Xinjiang lies at the crossroads of Central and East Asia and borders several countries in Central and South Asia.
Geography
Xinjiang occupies China’s far northwest and covers roughly 1.65 million square kilometres, making it the country’s largest region by area. It shares borders with several Central and South Asian countries and has major deserts, mountains and oasis settlements.
Population and ethnic groups
Xinjiang is home to many ethnic groups, including Uyghurs, Han Chinese, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, Hui, Mongols and others. Sources differ on exact population totals by year, but recent figures place the population at about 25 to 26 million.
Administrative status
Xinjiang is one of China’s five autonomous regions, a province-level division with formal minority autonomy arrangements. Its full name is the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.
Modern history
Modern Xinjiang came under Qing rule and was later incorporated into the People’s Republic of China after 1949. Its recent history has drawn extensive international attention because of political, security and human rights controversies.
Key facts
- Xinjiang is China’s largest provincial-level division by area.
- It is an autonomous region, officially the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.
- The region’s capital is Ürümqi.
- Xinjiang has a large ethnically diverse population, including Uyghurs and Han Chinese.
- It borders eight countries or disputed areas, giving it major strategic significance.
Xinjiang is relevant to Canadian readers through Canada’s foreign policy, global human rights reporting and trade discussions involving China. Canadian media and public debate have also covered the region’s human rights situation and its wider geopolitical importance.
Frequently asked questions
What is Xinjiang?
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References
- Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/place/XinjiangSupports: Area, status as China’s largest political unit, capital, geography, and population estimate.
- Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XinjiangSupports: Official name, status as autonomous region, size and population overview.
- BBC News — https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-pacific-16860974Supports: Border countries, ethnic composition, capital, history, and contemporary significance.
- Facts and Details — https://factsanddetails.com/china/cat5/sub89/item167.html/1000/Supports: Geography, resources, border count, and area-related descriptions.
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China — https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/xw/zwbd/202405/t20240530_11362886.htmlSupports: Area, population, and ethnic-groups figure cited by the Chinese government.
- Human Rights Watch — https://www.hrw.org/legacy/campaigns/china-98/sj_xnj2.htmSupports: Historical context and human-rights-related international attention.
- Indiana University Asian Studies / regional resource — https://iaunrc.indiana.edu/about/our-region/countries/xinjiang.htmlSupports: Capital, administrative status, borders, and ethnic diversity.
- Britannica Kids — https://kids.britannica.com/students/article/Xinjiang/277821Supports: Autonomous-region status, area, capital, and ethnic composition.