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Qilian Mountains

December 18, 2023

39°12′N 98°32′E / 39.200°N 98.533°E / 39.200; 98.533

Qilian Mountains
祁連山
Qilian Mountains in Qilian County, Qinghai
Highest point
PeakKangze'gyai
Elevation5,808 m (19,055 ft)
Geography
LocationGansu and Qinghai provinces, China

The Qilian Mountains (simplified Chinese: 祁连山; traditional Chinese: 祁連山; pinyin: Qílián Shān; Wade–Giles: Ch'i2-lien2 Shan1, also romanized as Tsilien; Mongghul: Chileb), together with the Altyn-Tagh (Altun Shan) also known as Nan Shan (Chinese: 南山, literally "Southern Mountains"), as it is to the south of Hexi Corridor, is a northern outlier of the Kunlun Mountains, forming the border between Qinghai and the Gansu provinces of northern China.[1]

Geography edit

The range stretches from the south of Dunhuang some 800 km to the southeast, forming the northeastern escarpment of the Tibetan Plateau and the southwestern border of the Hexi Corridor.

The eponymous Qilian Shan peak, situated some 60 km south of Jiuquan, at 39°12′N 98°32′E / 39.200°N 98.533°E / 39.200; 98.533, rises to 5,547 m. It is the highest peak of the main range, but there are two higher peaks further south, Kangze'gyai at 38°30′N 97°43′E / 38.500°N 97.717°E / 38.500; 97.717 with 5,808 m and Qaidam Shan peak at 38°2′N 95°19′E / 38.033°N 95.317°E / 38.033; 95.317 with 5,759 m. Other major peaks include Gangshiqia Peak in the east.

The Nan-Shan range continues to the west as Yema Shan (5,250 m) and Altun Shan (Altyn Tagh) (5,798 m). To the east, it passes north of Qinghai Lake, terminating as Daban Shan and Xinglong Shan near Lanzhou, with Maoma Shan peak (4,070 m) an eastern outlier. Sections of the Ming Dynasty's Great Wall pass along its northern slopes, and south of northern outlier Longshou Shan (3,616 m).

The Qilian mountains are the source of numerous, mostly small, rivers and creeks that flow northeast, enabling irrigated agriculture in the Hexi Corridor (Gansu Corridor) communities, and eventually disappearing in the Alashan Desert. The best known of these streams is the Ejin (Heihe) River. The region has many glaciers, the largest of which is the Touming Mengke.[2] These glaciers have undergone acceleration in their melting in recent decades.[3]

Lake Hala is a large brackish lake, located within the Qilian mountains.

The characteristic ecosystem of the Qilian Mountains has been described by the World Wildlife Fund as the Qilian Mountains conifer forests.[4]

Biandukou (扁都口), with an altitude of over 3500 m, is a pass in the Qilian Mountains. It links Minle County of Gansu in the north and Qilian County of Qinghai in the south.[5]

History edit

 
View of Qilian Mountains

The Shiji mentions the name "Qilian mountains" together with Dunhuang in relation to the homeland of the Yuezhi.[6] These Qilian Mountains however, has been suggested to be the mountains now known as Tian Shan, 1,500 km to the west.[7] Dunhuang has also been argued to be the Dunhong mountain.[8] Qilian (祁连) is said to be a Xiongnu word meaning "sky" (Chinese: 天) according to Yan Shigu, a Tang Dynasty commentator on the Hanshu.[9] Sanping Chen (1998) suggested that 天 tiān, 昊天 hàotiān, 祁連 qílián, and 赫連 Hèlián were all cognates and descended from multisyllabic Proto-Sinitic *gh?klien.[10] Schessler (2014) objects to Yan Shigu's statement that 祁連 was a Xiongnu word; he reconstructs 祁連's pronunciation in around 121 BCE as *gɨ-lian, apparently the same etymon as 乾 (☰) the Trigram for "Heaven", in standard Chinese qián < Middle Chinese QYS *gjän < Eastern Han Chinese gɨan < Old Chinese *gran, which Schuessler etymologizes as from Proto-Sino-Tibetan and related to Proto-Tibeto-Burman *m-ka-n, cognate with Written Tibetan མཁའ (Wylie transliteration: mkha') “heaven”.[11][12]

The Tuyuhun were based around the Qilian mountains.

The mountain range was formerly known in European languages as Richthofen Range after Ferdinand von Richthofen, who was the Red Baron's explorer-geologist uncle.[13]

The mountain range gives its name to Qinghai's Qilian County.

References edit

  1. ^ The Journal of Asian studies. Vol. 62. Association for Asian Studies. 2003. p. 262. ISBN 0-691-09676-7. Retrieved 2010-06-28.
  2. ^ "Top 6 most beautiful glaciers in China". China Daily. 2012-07-15. Retrieved 2017-04-18. It can be found in Laohu Valley on the northern slope of Daxue Mountain in Subei County.
  3. ^ Wong, Edward (2015-12-08). "Chinese Glacier's Retreat Signals Trouble for Asian Water Supply". New York Times. p. A4. Retrieved 2017-04-18.
  4. ^ "Qilian Mountains conifer forests". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund.
  5. ^ [Flat mouth tourist area development project] (in Chinese). Xinhua. 2005-12-20. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2017-04-18.
  6. ^ Sima Qian et al., Shiji vol 123: "Account of Dayuan" quote: "始月氏居敦煌、祁連閒". translation: "Initially the Yuezhi dwelt between Dunhuang and Qilian."
  7. ^ Mallory, J. P. & Mair, Victor H. (2000). The Tarim Mummies: Ancient China and the Mystery of the Earliest Peoples from the West. Thames & Hudson. London. p. 58. ISBN 0-500-05101-1.
  8. ^ Liu, Xinru, Migration and Settlement of the Yuezhi-Kushan: Interaction and Interdependence of Nomadic and Sedentary Societies (2001) [1]
  9. ^ 班固 (20 August 2015). 漢書: 顏師古註. 祁連山即天山也,匈奴呼天為祁連 (translation: Qilian Mountain is the Tian Shan, the Xiongnu called the sky qilian)
  10. ^ Chen, Sanping. "Sino-Tokharico-Altaica — Two Linguistic Notes". Central Asiatic Journal. 42 (1): 33-37.
  11. ^ Schuessler, Axel (2014). "Phonological Notes on Hàn Period Transcriptions of Foreign Names and Words". Studies in Chinese and Sino-Tibetan Linguistics: Dialect, Phonology, Transcription and Text - Language and Linguistics Monograph Series. Taipei, Taiwan: Institute of Linguistics, Academia Sinica (53). p. 274 of 249-292. from original
  12. ^ Schuessler, Axel. 2007. An Etymological Dictionary of Old Chinese. University of Hawaii Press. p. 425
  13. ^ Winchester, Simon. (2008). The Man Who Loved China: the Fantastic Story of the Eccentric Scientist Who Unlocked the Mysteries of the Middle Kingdom, p. 126.

External links edit

  • Winchester, Simon. (2008). The Man Who Loved China: the Fantastic Story of the Eccentric Scientist Who Unlocked the Mysteries of the Middle Kingdom. New York: Harper. ISBN 978-0-06-088459-8
  •   Media related to Qilian Mountains at Wikimedia Commons
  • peakbagger.com
  • Climatological Information (Reference) for Qilian Shan

December 18, 2023
qilian, mountains, 祁連山, qilian, county, qinghaihighest, pointpeakkangze, gyaielevation5, geographylocationgansu, qinghai, provinces, chinathe, simplified, chinese, 祁连山, traditional, chinese, 祁連山, pinyin, qílián, shān, wade, giles, lien2, shan1, also, romanized. 39 12 N 98 32 E 39 200 N 98 533 E 39 200 98 533 Qilian Mountains祁連山Qilian Mountains in Qilian County QinghaiHighest pointPeakKangze gyaiElevation5 808 m 19 055 ft GeographyLocationGansu and Qinghai provinces ChinaThe Qilian Mountains simplified Chinese 祁连山 traditional Chinese 祁連山 pinyin Qilian Shan Wade Giles Ch i2 lien2 Shan1 also romanized as Tsilien Mongghul Chileb together with the Altyn Tagh Altun Shan also known as Nan Shan Chinese 南山 literally Southern Mountains as it is to the south of Hexi Corridor is a northern outlier of the Kunlun Mountains forming the border between Qinghai and the Gansu provinces of northern China 1 Contents 1 Geography 2 History 3 References 4 External linksGeography editThe range stretches from the south of Dunhuang some 800 km to the southeast forming the northeastern escarpment of the Tibetan Plateau and the southwestern border of the Hexi Corridor The eponymous Qilian Shan peak situated some 60 km south of Jiuquan at 39 12 N 98 32 E 39 200 N 98 533 E 39 200 98 533 rises to 5 547 m It is the highest peak of the main range but there are two higher peaks further south Kangze gyai at 38 30 N 97 43 E 38 500 N 97 717 E 38 500 97 717 with 5 808 m and Qaidam Shan peak at 38 2 N 95 19 E 38 033 N 95 317 E 38 033 95 317 with 5 759 m Other major peaks include Gangshiqia Peak in the east The Nan Shan range continues to the west as Yema Shan 5 250 m and Altun Shan Altyn Tagh 5 798 m To the east it passes north of Qinghai Lake terminating as Daban Shan and Xinglong Shan near Lanzhou with Maoma Shan peak 4 070 m an eastern outlier Sections of the Ming Dynasty s Great Wall pass along its northern slopes and south of northern outlier Longshou Shan 3 616 m The Qilian mountains are the source of numerous mostly small rivers and creeks that flow northeast enabling irrigated agriculture in the Hexi Corridor Gansu Corridor communities and eventually disappearing in the Alashan Desert The best known of these streams is the Ejin Heihe River The region has many glaciers the largest of which is the Touming Mengke 2 These glaciers have undergone acceleration in their melting in recent decades 3 Lake Hala is a large brackish lake located within the Qilian mountains The characteristic ecosystem of the Qilian Mountains has been described by the World Wildlife Fund as the Qilian Mountains conifer forests 4 Biandukou 扁都口 with an altitude of over 3500 m is a pass in the Qilian Mountains It links Minle County of Gansu in the north and Qilian County of Qinghai in the south 5 History edit nbsp View of Qilian MountainsThe Shiji mentions the name Qilian mountains together with Dunhuang in relation to the homeland of the Yuezhi 6 These Qilian Mountains however has been suggested to be the mountains now known as Tian Shan 1 500 km to the west 7 Dunhuang has also been argued to be the Dunhong mountain 8 Qilian 祁连 is said to be a Xiongnu word meaning sky Chinese 天 according to Yan Shigu a Tang Dynasty commentator on the Hanshu 9 Sanping Chen 1998 suggested that 天 tian 昊天 haotian 祁連 qilian and 赫連 Helian were all cognates and descended from multisyllabic Proto Sinitic gh klien 10 Schessler 2014 objects to Yan Shigu s statement that 祁連 was a Xiongnu word he reconstructs 祁連 s pronunciation in around 121 BCE as gɨ lian apparently the same etymon as 乾 the Trigram for Heaven in standard Chinese qian lt Middle Chinese QYS gjan lt Eastern Han Chinese gɨan lt Old Chinese gran which Schuessler etymologizes as from Proto Sino Tibetan and related to Proto Tibeto Burman m ka n cognate with Written Tibetan མཁའ Wylie transliteration mkha heaven 11 12 The Tuyuhun were based around the Qilian mountains The mountain range was formerly known in European languages as Richthofen Range after Ferdinand von Richthofen who was the Red Baron s explorer geologist uncle 13 The mountain range gives its name to Qinghai s Qilian County References edit The Journal of Asian studies Vol 62 Association for Asian Studies 2003 p 262 ISBN 0 691 09676 7 Retrieved 2010 06 28 Top 6 most beautiful glaciers in China China Daily 2012 07 15 Retrieved 2017 04 18 It can be found in Laohu Valley on the northern slope of Daxue Mountain in Subei County Wong Edward 2015 12 08 Chinese Glacier s Retreat Signals Trouble for Asian Water Supply New York Times p A4 Retrieved 2017 04 18 Qilian Mountains conifer forests Terrestrial Ecoregions World Wildlife Fund 扁都口旅游景区开发项目 Flat mouth tourist area development project in Chinese Xinhua 2005 12 20 Archived from the original on 2016 03 04 Retrieved 2017 04 18 Sima Qian et al Shiji vol 123 Account of Dayuan quote 始月氏居敦煌 祁連閒 translation Initially the Yuezhi dwelt between Dunhuang and Qilian Mallory J P amp Mair Victor H 2000 The Tarim Mummies Ancient China and the Mystery of the Earliest Peoples from the West Thames amp Hudson London p 58 ISBN 0 500 05101 1 Liu Xinru Migration and Settlement of the Yuezhi Kushan Interaction and Interdependence of Nomadic and Sedentary Societies 2001 1 班固 20 August 2015 漢書 顏師古註 祁連山即天山也 匈奴呼天為祁連 translation Qilian Mountain is the Tian Shan the Xiongnu called the sky qilian Chen Sanping Sino Tokharico Altaica Two Linguistic Notes Central Asiatic Journal 42 1 33 37 Schuessler Axel 2014 Phonological Notes on Han Period Transcriptions of Foreign Names and Words Studies in Chinese and Sino Tibetan Linguistics Dialect Phonology Transcription and Text Language and Linguistics Monograph Series Taipei Taiwan Institute of Linguistics Academia Sinica 53 p 274 of 249 292 archived from original Schuessler Axel 2007 An Etymological Dictionary of Old Chinese University of Hawaii Press p 425 Winchester Simon 2008 The Man Who Loved China the Fantastic Story of the Eccentric Scientist Who Unlocked the Mysteries of the Middle Kingdom p 126 External links editWinchester Simon 2008 The Man Who Loved China the Fantastic Story of the Eccentric Scientist Who Unlocked the Mysteries of the Middle Kingdom New York Harper ISBN 978 0 06 088459 8 nbsp Media related to Qilian Mountains at Wikimedia Commons peakbagger com Climatological Information Reference for Qilian Shan Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Qilian Mountains amp oldid 1167468218, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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