¡¡¡¡Ningxia
Hui Autonomous Region, ¡°Ning¡± for short, founded
on October 25th, 1958, is the one and only
Hui autonomous region in China. Ningxia is
located in the middle reaches of the Yellow
River in northwest China, and lies between
north latitude 34°14£39°23 and east
longitude 104°17¡ª107°39. It is bordered
on Shaanxi Province to the east, Inner Mongolia
Autonomous Region to the north and Gansu Province
to the west and the south, with the total
area of 66 400 sq. km. With a population of
5.95 million and 2.02 million, it
is inhabited by 35 peoples.
Hui
who takes up over 1/3 of the population. The whole
area is a stretch of south-north narrow land, with
the high south and the low north. The average elevation
is 1 100¡ª2 000 meters. The highest part in the region
is Helan Mountain with the elevation of 3 556 meters,
which serves as a natural shield for Yinchuan Plains.
The Yellow River runs through the central and northern
parts of the region, spanning 397 km.
¡¡¡¡ As early as 30 000 years ago in the Paleolithic
Age, human beings began to settle here. Since Emperor
Qinshihuang unified China and sent troops to garrison
Hetao Plain, the world-famous Qin Channel started
the irrigation
from the Yellow River. After ¡°Revolt of An-Lushan
and Shi-Siming¡± in 765 AD, Prince Li Heng was enthroned
in Lingwu, known as Tangsuzong in history. From
1038 to 1227, in Ningxia and Gansu, an ethnic minority
named Dangxiang founded Western Xia Kingdom centering
around Ningxia and the capital was Yinchuan today.
In Yuan Dynasty, Ningxia prefecture was set up in
the original site of Western Xia, which was later
changed as Ningxia Road, hence initiating the title
of the region.The Ming and Qing Dynasty likewise
established administrative
offices
in Ningxia. In the early years of the Republic
of China, the name of Ningxia was changed
into Shuofang Prefecture. In 1929, Ningxia
Province was founded.
¡¡¡¡ On September, 23, 1949, Ningxia was liberated.
It was not until 1954 that Ningxia Province
was dissolved, with a number of localities
such as Alashan Left Banner, Alashan Right
Banner, Ejina Banner and Dengkou County transferred
to Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region and the
rest to Gansu Province. On October 25, 1958,
Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region was proclaimed,
administering Yinchuan District, Wuzhong Hui
Autonomous Prefecture, Xi(ji)-Hai(yuan)-Gu(yuan)
Hui Autonomous Prefecture and two counties¡ªJingyuan
and Longde. In 1969, 5 communes of Alashan
Left Banner and Alashan Right Banner which
originally belonged to Inner Mongolia were
transferred to Ningxia. In 1979, what were
originally parts of Inner Mongolia were transferred
back to Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region.
¡¡ Yinchuan, capital of the Region, one of the most
well-known beautiful historical cities in China,
is 500 km away to the neighboring provinces, with
a total population of 928.3 thousand. Besides, it
is also the key central city in northwest China.
With broad roads, beautiful squares and bustling
markets, the high buildings with different architect
style, and the sharp differences between unique
scenery in west regions and the big desert around,
Yinchuan is a place for people to settle and enjoy
themselves. At present, Yinchuan is applying for
UN Friendly Living Environment Award
