Kuqa, Xinjiang

Kuqa
Kucha, Kuche, Kuchar, Qiuci
County-level city
Kuqa Royal Palace
Kizilgaha Caves
Kuqa Grand Mosque [zh]
Ruins of Subashi Temple
Location of Kuqa City (red) within Aksu Prefecture (yellow) in Xinjiang
Location of Kuqa City (red) within Aksu Prefecture (yellow) in Xinjiang
Kuqa is located in Xinjiang
Kuqa
Kuqa
Location of the seat
Kuqa is located in China
Kuqa
Kuqa
Kuqa (China)
Coordinates: 41°43′N 82°58′E / 41.717°N 82.967°E / 41.717; 82.967
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)
 • Total
530,328
 • Density34.9/km2 (90.4/sq mi)
Ethnic groups
 • Major ethnic groupsUyghur
Time zoneUTC+8 (China Standard)
Postal code
842000
Websitewww.xjkc.gov.cn (in Chinese)
Kuqa
Uyghur name
Uyghurكۇچار‎
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

Kuqa (/ˈkuːtʃə/ KOO-chə) is a county-level city in Aksu Prefecture, Xinjiang, China. It is located in the center of Xinjiang, where the northern limit of the Tarim Basin meets the southern foot of the Tian Shan mountains. The area was once the site of the ancient Buddhist kingdom of Kucha, an important Central Asian state during the height of the Silk Road. The Uyghur-majority city is known for its Buddhist caves and temple ruins which predate the arrival of Islam.

History

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 area of present-day city as early as 12,000 years ago.

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.: 156 

In 630, Xuanzang, a well-known Chinese Buddhist monk, scholar, traveller and translator, visited Kucha during the early Tang dynasty.

In the book Hudud al-'Alam, written in 982 by an unknown Arab or Persian writer and presented to Abu'l Haret Muhammad of Guzgan (present-day northern Afghanistan), 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 book Tarikh-i-Rashidi used the name Kūsān for Kucha.

Mahmud Kashgari, in his Compendium of Turkic Languages (Dīwān Lughāt al-Turk), wrote the following about Kucha: "It is one of the cities built by Zülqarnayin" (Alexander the Great). He also wrote that Kucha was a Uyghur town.

Kucha (庫車) delegates in Beijing, from the painting Ten Thousand Nations Coming to Pay Tribute (1761)

In 1758, the Qing dynasty took control of the area, and the Chinese transliteration Kuche (庫車) was made the name of the area. Kucha was made a county in 1913, within the fourth district[specify] of Xinjiang Province. In 1930, Xinjiang was partitioned into 12 districts to establish Tokesu County.[clarification needed]

On 20 December 2019, Kuqa County was disestablished and Kuqa City was created in its place.

Climate

Geography

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.

Kuqa is located at the southern periphery of the Tian Shan range, the northern portion of the Tarim Basin, and the centre of Xinjiang. It occupies part of the northeastern portion of Aksu Prefecture, bordering Xinhe County and Xayar County, as well as Luntai County and Heiing County in the Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture.

The city 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. With monthly per cent 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.

Climate data for Kuqa, elevation 1,082 m (3,550 ft), (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1951–present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 7.8
(46.0)		 16.4
(61.5)		 24.1
(75.4)		 33.2
(91.8)		 35.1
(95.2)		 38.2
(100.8)		 40.8
(105.4)		 39.5
(103.1)		 35.7
(96.3)		 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 all-time February highall-time September high

Administrative divisions

Kuqa has 4 subdistricts, 8 towns, 6 townships, and 1 other area[specify] under its administration:

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 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 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 Erbatey baziri 652902108
Townships
Uchosteng Township 玉奇吾斯塘乡 Yùqíwúsītáng Xiāng ئۈچئۆستەڭ يېزىسى Üch'östeng yëzisi 652902201
Biyixbag Township 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

Economy

Agricultural products include wheat, corn, rice, cotton as well as pears, apricots, melons, grapes, pomegranates, and figs. 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.

In 1885, there was about 99,200 acres (654,476 mu) of cultivated land in what is now Kuqa City.

Demographics

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
2000388,593—    
2010462,588+1.76%

Uyghurs constitute a supermajority of Kuqa's population, while the Han Chinese form a significant minority. In 1999, 89.93% of the population of Kuqa County was Uyghur and 9.49% was Han Chinese. The ethnic composition was almost the same in 2015, with 440,125 of the 492,535 residents (89.3%) of Kuqa being Uyghur, 49,021 (9.9%) Han Chinese, and 3,389 from other ethnic groups.

Transportation

Kuqa Railway Station

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

Kuqa Town

Kuqa is also the name of the central town (Chinese: 库车镇), located in the easternmost area of Kuqa City. It is the second largest town of Aksu Prefecture. It has an area of 14,528.74 square meters and a population of 470,600 people, composed of fourteen ethnic groups, including Uyghurs, Han, Hui, and Mongols. Kuqa is a thriving town of oil and natural gas development in the Tarim Basin, as well as tourism, as it was once the site of the ancient Buddhist kingdom of Kucha.[citation needed] Tourist attractions include the Kumtura Caves, Subashi Temple Ruins, and Kizilgaha Caves.

Notable people

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". Alternate spellings and names include Kucha, Kuchar, Kuche, Kuchi, Kuchu, Kocha, Kuchel, and Kuga.
  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

  1. 1 2 库车市 [Kuqa City] (in Simplified Chinese). 库车市人民政府. 22 January 2019. Archived from the original on 9 June 2020. Retrieved 9 June 2020. 总面积1.52万平方公里，辖8镇、6乡、4个街道办事处，
  2. ↑ Xinjiang: Prefectures, Cities, Districts and Counties
  3. ↑ 民族人口 (in Simplified Chinese). 库车市人民政府. 22 March 2019. Archived from the original on 11 June 2020. Retrieved 11 June 2020. 库车县是以维吾尔族为主体的多民族聚居区。
  4. ↑ Zhōngguó dìmínglù 中国地名录 (Beijing, SinoMaps Press 中国地图出版社 1997); ISBN 7-5031-1718-4; p. 306.
  5. ↑ Complete Atlas Of The World (3 ed.). Penguin Random House. 2016. p. 238 – via Internet Archive. Kuqa
  6. ↑ Kuqa, China Page (in English)
  7. ↑ 新疆各族历史文化词典 (in Chinese). 中华书局. 1996. p. 285. ISBN 978-7-101-01176-0. Retrieved 8 January 2025.
  8. ↑ 中国社会科学院. 边疆考古研究中心 (2008). 新疆石器时代与青铜时代. 中国边疆民族考古文库 (in Chinese). 文物出版社. p. 344. ISBN 978-7-5010-2330-1. Retrieved 8 January 2025.
  9. ↑ Hulsewé, Anthony François Paulus Hulsewé (1979). China in Central Asia: The Early Stage: 125 BC – AD 23; an Annotated Transl. of Chapters 61 and 96 of the History of the Former Han Dynasty. With an Introd. by M.A.N.Loewe. Brill Archive. ISBN 90-04-05884-2.
  10. ↑ 玄奘传 (in Chinese). 中国旅游出版社. 1992. p. 154. ISBN 978-7-5032-0513-2. Retrieved 8 January 2025.
  11. ↑ Atalay, Besim (2006). Divanü Lügati't – Türk. Ankara: Türk Tarih Kurumu Basımevi. ISBN 975-16-0405-2, Cilt I, sayfa 113, Cilt III, sayfa 219 ve 238
  12. ↑ Atalay, Besim (2006). Divanü Lügati't – Türk. Ankara: Türk Tarih Kurumu Basımevi. ISBN 975-16-0405-2, Cilt III, sayfa 219
  13. ↑ 西域历史中的龟兹. 龟兹网. 15 January 2017. Archived from the original on 11 June 2020. Retrieved 11 June 2020. 乾隆二十三年(1758)，龟兹归入清朝版图，定名库车。
  14. ↑ 新疆与祖国关系史论 (in Chinese). Xinjiang People's Press. 2008. p. 223. ISBN 978-7-228-12092-5. Retrieved 8 January 2025.
  15. ↑ 新疆地名与建制沿革. 居上图书 (in Chinese). Xinjiang People's Press. 2005. p. 67. ISBN 978-7-228-09431-8. Retrieved 8 January 2025.
  16. ↑ 《"庫车县志》编纂委员会 (1993). 庫车县志. 新疆维吾尔自治区地方志丛书 (in Chinese). 新疆大学出版社. p. 72. ISBN 978-7-5631-0401-7. Retrieved 8 January 2025.
  17. ↑ 歷史民族文化 (in Chinese). Xinjiang People's Press. 2006. p. 215. ISBN 978-7-228-09995-5. Retrieved 8 January 2025.
  18. ↑ Chen Xinhui (陈新辉), Han Ting (韩婷), ed. (21 December 2019). 国务院批准撤销库车县设立县级库车市. People's Daily Online (in Simplified Chinese). Archived from the original on 14 July 2020. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  19. ↑ 中国气象数据网 – WeatherBk Data (in Simplified Chinese). China Meteorological Administration. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  20. ↑ "Experience Template" 中国气象数据网 (in Simplified Chinese). China Meteorological Administration. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  21. ↑ 中国地面国际交换站气候标准值月值数据集（1971－2000年） (in Chinese). China Meteorological Administration. Archived from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 4 May 2010.
  22. ↑ "Sina Visitor System" 【寒潮来袭 冷暖反转】今天截至17时最高，有河北河南山西陕西宁夏甘肃青海新疆云南，共63站打破2月最高纪录。今天有16个省会首府直辖市气温创今年新高，北方15个除了济南，14个都创新高了，另外加上成都和重庆，2个南方站点。长春、呼和浩特为今年首次上10℃，天津、西安泾河、兰州、银川、成都温江，为今年首次上20℃，郑州为今年首次上25℃。 明天气温走势分化，东北中东部、华北南部到江南华南多地气温还会继续维持高位或上升。内蒙古宁夏甘肃等地出现明显降温。由于明天内蒙古中东部有降水，气温会出现倒降走势，因此图4-5看似降温分了两天，其实一天基本就到位，明天内蒙古局地可能看到24小时降温20℃的情况。这次冷空气的影响，重点在长江以北，过长江后的威力会减弱。 今晚中央气象台发布寒潮蓝色预警：受冷空气影响，预计，2月20日20时至2月23日08时，新疆北疆北部、内蒙古、西北地区中北部、东北地区大部、华北大部、黄淮东部等地将先后降温6～10℃，其中，内蒙古、吉林大部、黑龙江西北部等地部分地区降温12～16℃，局地降温可达16℃以上。2月23日最低温度0℃线将南压到华北南部至陕西中南部一带。 今年春节假期，一头一尾，各有一次寒潮，中间天气回暖，气温波动巨大。而且最高气温比平均气温和最低气温降幅更大。明天长春最高13℃，23日最高零下6℃，24日最高零下8℃，过程降温超20℃。哈尔滨明天最高9℃，23日最高零下9℃，2天降18℃。郑州明天27℃，23日10℃，2天降17℃。石家庄明天最高25℃、23日最高9℃，两天降16℃。需要注意及时增减衣物。 (in Simplified Chinese). weatherman_信欣 on Weibo. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  23. ↑ Jim Yang [@yangyubin1998] (2 September 2026). "22 weather stations in Northwest China broke their September hottest records today! In addition, six stations broke their September hottest Tmin records. Heatwave is expected to move towards the Mongolian Plateau over the next three days! @extremetemps" (Tweet). Retrieved 2 September 2026 – via X (formerly Twitter).
  24. ↑ 2019年统计用区划代码和城乡划分代码：库车县 [2019 Statistical Area Numbers and Rural-Urban Area Numbers: Kuqa County] (in Simplified Chinese). National Bureau of Statistics of the People's Republic of China. 2019. Retrieved 9 June 2019. 统计用区划代码 名称 652923001000 热斯坦街道 652923002000 萨克萨克街道 652923003000 新城街道 652923004000 东城街道 652923101000 乌恰镇 652923102000 阿拉哈格镇 652923103000 齐满镇 652923104000 墩阔坦镇 652923105000 牙哈镇 652923106000 乌尊镇 652923107000 伊西哈拉镇 652923108000 二八台镇 652923201000 玉奇吾斯塘乡 652923202000 比西巴格乡 652923203000 哈尼喀塔木乡 652923204000 阿克吾斯塘乡 652923205000 阿格乡 652923206000 塔里木乡 652923500000 库车经济技术开发区
  25. 1 2 库车县历史沿革 [Kuqa County Historical Development] (in Simplified Chinese). XZQH.org. 30 January 2015. Retrieved 9 June 2020. 2010年第六次人口普查，库车县常住总人口462588人，其中：热斯坦街道13298人，萨克萨克街道18156人，新城街道44184人，东城街道27114人，乌恰镇41557人，阿拉哈格镇38197人，齐满镇35871人，墩阔坦镇17965人，牙哈镇31856人，乌尊镇29243人，依西哈拉镇32132人，雅克拉镇1029人，玉奇吾斯塘乡27355人，比西巴格乡26131人，哈尼喀塔木乡35430人，阿克吾斯塘乡16027人，阿格乡6960人，塔里木乡3877人，水电二处2260人，二八台农场4413人，良种繁胄场2678人，库孜翁牧场1551人，草湖牧场1136人，库车种羊场3008人，库车监狱360人，克其力克农场800人。
  26. ↑ Communication Construction Administration Bureau of Xinjiang Uigur Autonomous Region (September 2007). "PRC: Xinjiang Regional Road Improvement Project (Korla-Kuqa Section)" (PDF). Asian Development Bank. p. 76. Retrieved 10 July 2020. Distribution of Rural Poor Population in Kuche County{...}No. Town（ship）{...}1 Hanikatamu{...}2 Talimu{...}3 Akewusitang{...}4 Age{...}5 Yuqiwusitang{...}6 Bixibage{...}7 Wuqia{...}8 Yixihala{...}9 Yaha{...}10 Wuzun{...}11 Qiman{...}12 Dunkuotan{...}13 Alahage{...}
  27. ↑ چىمەن (Variant Non-Roman Script – VS) at GEOnet Names Server, United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
  28. ↑ ياقا (Variant Non-Roman Script – VS) at GEOnet Names Server, United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
  29. ↑ ئەرباتەي (Variant Non-Roman Script – VS) at GEOnet Names Server, United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
  30. ↑ Biyixbag (Approved – N) at GEOnet Names Server, United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
  31. 1 2 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. 1264. ISBN 978-7-5326-2859-9.
  32. ↑ Herold J. Wiens (November 1966). "Cultivation Development and Expansion in China's Colonial Realm in Central Asia". The Journal of Asian Studies. 26 (1): 75. doi:10.2307/2051832. JSTOR 2051832. S2CID 162339064.
  33. ↑ Morris Rossabi, ed. (2004). Governing China's Multiethnic Frontiers (PDF). University of Washington Press. p. 179. ISBN 0-295-98390-6.
  34. ↑ 3–7 各地、州、市、县(市)分民族人口数 (in Simplified Chinese). Statistic Bureau of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Archived from the original on 11 October 2017. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
  35. ↑ Shohret Hoshur, Joshua Lipes (9 June 2020). "Prominent Uyghur Journalist Confirmed Detained After Nearly Three Years". Radio Free Asia. Translated by Elise Anderson. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  36. ↑ Austin Ramzy (5 January 2019). "China Targets Prominent Uighur Intellectuals to Erase an Ethnic Identity". New York Times. Archived from the original on 12 April 2020. Retrieved 11 June 2020.