Dongxiang Autonomous County

Dongxiang Autonomous County
东乡族自治县
Autonomous county
Dongxiang Autonomous County, as seen from across the Daxia River in neighboring Linxia County
Dongxiang Autonomous County, as seen from across the Daxia River in neighboring Linxia County
Dongxiang in Linxia
Dongxiang in Linxia
Linxia in Gansu
Linxia in Gansu
Dongxiang Autonomous County is located in Gansu
Dongxiang Autonomous County
Dongxiang Autonomous County
Location in Gansu
Dongxiang Autonomous County is located in China
Dongxiang Autonomous County
Dongxiang Autonomous County
Location in China
Coordinates: 35°39′50″N 103°23′21″E / 35.6638°N 103.3893°E / 35.6638; 103.3893
CountryChina
ProvinceGansu
Autonomous prefectureLinxia
County seatSuonan
Area
 • Total
1,510 km2 (580 sq mi)
Elevation
[1]
2,000 m (7,000 ft)
Highest elevation
2,664 m (8,740 ft)
Lowest elevation
1,736 m (5,696 ft)
Population
 (2020)[2]
 • Total
290,034
 • Density190/km2 (500/sq mi)
 • Dongxiang people
335,500 (87.9%)
Time zoneUTC+8 (China Standard)
Postal code
731400
Websitewww.dxzzzx.gov.cn

Dongxiang Autonomous County (simplified Chinese: 东乡族自治县; traditional Chinese: 東鄉族自治縣; pinyin: Dōngxiāngzú Zìzhìxiàn; Santa: Dunxianzu Zizhixien) is an autonomous county in the Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture, province of Gansu of the People's Republic of China. It was established as a Dongxiang ethnic autonomous area in 1950.[3] Historically, Dongxiang has long been directly under the jurisdiction of Linxia. During the Republic of China (1912–1949) period, its area was divided between the surrounding counties.[4]

Neolithic bronze knife of the Majiayao Culture (3200-2000 BC), found in Dongxiang in 1978

Its population in 2020 was 381,700, 88% of whom belonging to the Dongxiang minority group. As of 1993, half of the total Dongxiang minority population lived in the county.[5][6]

At least until the end of the 20th century, Dongxiang County was very impoverished and undeveloped, having a literacy rate of just 15%, the lowest in China.[7] In 2017, it had the highest poverty rate of Gansu, already the poorest province in China.[4]

Dongxiang County has a typical Loess Plateau landscape, with numerous gullies and mountains and a dry climate.

  1. ^ Weixian, Yin (1998). "Dongxiang Autonomous County (Gansu Province)". Chinese Education & Society. 31 (3): 53–76. doi:10.2753/CED1061-1932310353.
  2. ^ "临夏州第七次全国人口普查公报" (in Chinese). Government of Linxia Prefecture. 2021-06-08.
  3. ^ Schwarz, Henry G. (1984). The Minorities of Northern China: A Survey. Bellingham, Washington: Western Washington. ISBN 0-914584-17-0.
  4. ^ a b 县情概况. 东乡族自治县人民政府门户网站 (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 2020-09-27. Retrieved 2021-03-26.
  5. ^ Chuluu, Üjiyediin (1994). Introduction, Grammar and Sample Sentences for Dongxiang. University of Pennsylvania, Department of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies.
  6. ^ Du, Ruofu; Yip, Vincent F. (1993). Ethnic Groups in China. Beijing: Science Press. ISBN 7-03-003325-6.
  7. ^ Goldstein, Alice; Feng, Wang, eds. (1996). China: The Many Facets of Demographic Change. Boulder, CO: Westview Press. ISBN 0-8133-9002-8.