Chinese Turkestan orChinese Turkistan,^[1] is a geographical term orhistorical region corresponding to the region of theTarim Basin inSouthern Xinjiang (south of theTian Shan mountain range) orXinjiang as a whole^[2][3] which was under the rule of theQing dynasty of China. It is considered a part of theChinese Tartary that covered theInner Asian regions ruled by the Qing dynasty. The Europeans commonly used this term especially during the period of the Qing dynasty to denote the division ofTurkestan into territories controlled by the Chinese and the Russians, with the latter controllingRussian Turkestan in the west.

EasternCentral Asia was historically referred to as theWestern Regions under the control of theHan dynasty andTang dynasty of China. Over the course of the history the Turkic people conquered thePersian-speaking people in the region and established several small principalities in Central Asia. They then ruled over the region (later fell under the overlordship of theMongols including theChagatai Khanate and theDzungar Khanate) until they were subjugated by the ChineseQing dynasty during the final phase of theDzungar–Qing Wars in the 1750s. Thence the European name of Chinese Turkestan (or Chinese Turkistan),^[4] similar to the nameRussian Turkestan which was controlled by theRussian Empire andAfghan Turkestan in northernAfghanistan.^[5][6]

The term "Chinese Turkestan" or "Chinese Turkistan" was commonly used by Europeans during the period of the Qing dynasty to specifically refer to the region (as a part ofChinese Tartary that was ruled by Qing China), while the Chinese often called this regionTian Shan Nan Lu (Chinese: 天山南路), meaning the area inXinjiang south of the Tian Shan Mountains. The term "Chinese Turkestan" (or "Chinese Turkistan") can also refer to Xinjiang as a whole in some sources,^[2][3] and the term was also sometimes used by Qing officials in English-language writings. It gradually lost popularity in the 20th century worldwide after the fall of the Qing dynasty, although it was still being used in various publications during the eras when theRepublic of China and thePeople's Republic of China ruled the region.^[7][8] During the 20th century, Uyghur separatists and their supporters usedEast Turkestan as an appellation for the whole of Xinjiang (Dzungaria andSouthern Xinjiang) or for a future independent state in present-dayXinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, whereas others typically use the name "Xinjiang" to refer to theautonomous region of China. As a result, the term "Chinese Turkestan" (or "Chinese Turkistan") has largely been replaced by other terms nowadays, although it retains a certain degree of relevance.^[9]

• Altishahr
• China proper
• Chinese Tartary
• Chinese Empire
• East Turkestan
• Protectorate General to Pacify the West
• Protectorate of the Western Regions
• Western Regions
• Xinjiang under Qing rule

• Geography of Xinjiang
• Historical regions of China
• Turkestan

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• Short description matches Wikidata