Western China
Western China (simplified Chinese: 中国西部; traditional Chinese: 中國西部; pinyin: Zhōngguó Xībù; lit. 'China-west', or rarely simplified Chinese: 华西; traditional Chinese: 華西; pinyin: Huáxī; lit. 'Huaxia-west') is the west of China. In the definition of the Chinese government, Western China covers one municipality (Chongqing), six provinces (Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan, Shaanxi, Gansu, and Qinghai), and three autonomous regions (Tibet, Ningxia, and Xinjiang).
History
The term Xiyu (meaning "Western regions") is a historical label applied to western China.[1] The geography encompassed with the phrase Xiyu changed over time based on political conditions, but one constant is that it includes the area of present day Xinjiang and the area now described as Central Asia.[1] The earliest Chinese political control of the region began in 60 BCE, when China established a military and administrative office which was responsible for what would be present day Xinjiang and parts of Central Asia.[1]
Administrative divisions
| GB[2] | ISO №[3] | Province | Chinese Name | Capital | Population | Density | Area | Abbreviation/Symbol | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yú | 50 | Chongqing Municipality | 重庆市 Chóngqìng Shì | Chongqing | 28,846,170 | 350.50 | 82,300 | CQ | 渝 |
| Chuān (Shǔ) | 51 | Sichuan Province | 四川省 Sìchuān Shěng | Chengdu | 80,418,200 | 165.81 | 485,000 | SC | 川(蜀) |
| Guì (Qián) | 52 | Guizhou Province | 贵州省 Gùizhōu Shěng | Guiyang | 34,746,468 | 197.42 | 176,000 | GZ | 贵(黔) |
| Yún (Diān) | 53 | Yunnan Province | 云南省 Yúnnán Shěng | Kunming | 45,966,239 | 116.66 | 394,000 | YN | 云(滇) |
| Zàng | 54 | Tibet Autonomous Region | 西藏自治区 Xīzàng Zìzhìqū | Lhasa | 3,002,166 | 2.44 | 1,228,400 | XZ | 藏 |
| Shǎn (Qín) | 61 | Shaanxi Province | 陕西省 Shǎnxī Shěng | Xi'an | 37,327,378 | 181.55 | 205,600 | SN | 陕(秦) |
| Gān (Lǒng) | 62 | Gansu Province | 甘肃省 Gānsù Shěng | Lanzhou | 25,575,254 | 56.29 | 454,300 | GS | 甘(陇) |
| Qīng | 63 | Qinghai Province | 青海省 Qīnghǎi Shěng | Xining | 5,626,722 | 7.80 | 721,200 | QH | 青 |
| Níng | 64 | Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region | 宁夏回族自治区 Níngxià Huízú Zìzhìqū | Yinchuan | 6,301,350 | 94.89 | 66,400 | NX | 宁 |
| Xīn | 65 | Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region | 新疆维吾尔自治区 Xīnjiāng Wéiwú'ěr Zìzhìqū | Ürümqi | 21,813,334 | 13.13 | 1,660,400 | XJ | 新 |
Cities with urban area over one million in population
Provincial capitals in bold.
| # | City | Urban area[4] | District area[4] | City proper[4] | Prov. | Census date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chongqing[a] | 8,894,757 | 12,084,385 | 16,044,027 | CQ | 2010-11-01 |
| 2 | Chengdu | 6,316,922 | 7,415,590 | 14,047,625 | SC | 2010-11-01 |
| 3 | Xi'an | 5,206,253 | 6,501,190 | 8,467,838 | SN | 2010-11-01 |
| 4 | Kunming[b] | 3,140,777 | 3,272,586 | 6,432,209 | YN | 2010-11-01 |
| 5 | Ürümqi | 2,853,398 | 3,029,372 | 3,112,559 | XJ | 2010-11-01 |
| 6 | Guiyang | 2,520,061 | 3,034,750 | 4,322,611 | GZ | 2010-11-01 |
| 7 | Lanzhou | 2,438,595 | 2,628,426 | 3,616,163 | GS | 2010-11-01 |
| 8 | Yinchuan | 1,159,457 | 1,290,170 | 1,993,088 | NX | 2010-11-01 |
| 9 | Xining | 1,153,417 | 1,198,304 | 2,208,708 | QH | 2010-11-01 |
| 10 | Mianyang | 967,007 | 1,355,331 | 4,613,871 | SC | 2010-11-01 |
| 11 | Nanchong | 890,402 | 1,858,875 | 6,278,614 | SC | 2010-11-01 |
| 12 | Baoji | 871,940 | 1,437,802 | 3,716,737 | SN | 2010-11-01 |
| 13 | Wanzhou | 859,662 | 1,563,050 | see Chongqing | CQ | 2010-11-01 |
| 14 | Luzhou | 742,274 | 1,371,233 | 4,218,427 | SC | 2010-11-01 |
| 15 | Xianyang[c] | 730,704 | 945,420 | 5,096,001 | SN | 2010-11-01 |
| 16 | Hechuan | 721,753 | 1,293,028 | see Chongqing | CQ | 2010-11-01 |
| 17 | Zunyi | 715,148 | 1,094,871 | 6,127,082 | GZ | 2010-11-01 |
| 18 | Nanchong | 890,402 | 1,858,875 | 6,278,614 | SC | 2010-11-01 |
| 19 | Luzhou | 742,274 | 1,371,233 | 4,218,427 | SC | 2010-11-01 |
| 20 | Jiangjin | 686,189 | 1,233,149 | see Chongqing | CQ | 2010-11-01 |
| 21 | Leshan | 678,752 | 1,211,237 | 3,235,759 | SC | 2010-11-01 |
| 22 | Zigong | 666,204 | 1,262,064 | 2,678,899 | SC | 2010-11-01 |
| 23 | Panzhihua | 631,258 | 787,177 | 1,214,121 | SC | 2010-11-01 |
| 24 | Fuling | 595,224 | 1,066,714 | see Chongqing | CQ | 2010-11-01 |
| 25 | Neijiang | 586,445 | 1,251,095 | 3,702,847 | SC | 2010-11-01 |
| 26 | Xuanwei | 584,076 | 1,302,891 | see Qujing | YN | 2010-11-01 |
| 27 | Yongchuan | 582,769 | 1,024,708 | see Chongqing | CQ | 2010-11-01 |
| 28 | Suining | 549,826 | 1,295,885 | 3,252,619 | SC | 2010-11-01 |
| 29 | Yibin | 549,650 | 836,340 | 4,471,896 | SC | 2010-11-01 |
| 30 | Tianshui | 544,441 | 1,197,174 | 3,262,549 | GS | 2010-11-01 |
| 31 | Deyang | 530,122 | 735,070 | 3,615,758 | SC | 2010-11-01 |
| * | Lhasa | 199,159 | 279,074 | 559,423 | XZ | 2010-11-01 |
- ^ Chongqing core area only, satellite urban areas separated from Chongqing core area is not included. Chongqing core districts are consist of nine districts: Yuzhong, Dadukou, Jiangbei, Shapingba, Jiulongpo, Nan'an, Beibei, Yubei, & Banan.
- ^ Dongchuan is a satellite urban area separated from Kunming and it is not included.
- ^ Yangling is a satellite urban area separated from Xianyang and it is not included.
See also
- China Western Development
- Northwest China
- Southwest China
- West China Union College
- West China Union University
- Other regions
References
- ^ a b c Zhao, Huasheng (2016). "Central Asia in Chinese Strategic Thinking". The new great game : China and South and Central Asia in the era of reform. Thomas Fingar. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press. p. 171. ISBN 978-0-8047-9764-1. OCLC 939553543.
- ^ GB/T 2260 codes for the provinces of China
- ^ ISO 3166-2:CN (ISO 3166-2 codes for the provinces of China)
- ^ a b c 国务院人口普查办公室、国家统计局人口和社会科技统计司编 (2012). 中国2010年人口普查分县资料. Beijing: 中国统计出版社 [China Statistics Press]. ISBN 978-7-5037-6659-6.
External links
- Western Regional Development (in English)