Korla Kurla, Kuerle | |
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.png) Location of Korla City (pink) in Bayingolin Prefecture (yellow) and Xinjiang | |
  Korla Location of the city centre in Xinjiang Show map of Bayingolin Korla Korla (Xinjiang) Show map of Xinjiang Korla Korla (China) Show map of China | |
| Coordinates (Korla municipal government):41°43′33″N86°10′29″E / 41.7259°N 86.1746°E /41.7259; 86.1746 | |
| Country | China |
| Autonomous region | Xinjiang |
| Autonomous prefecture | Bayingolin |
| Municipal seat | Xincheng Subdistrict |
| Area | |
| 7,219.48 km2 (2,787.46 sq mi) | |
| • Urban | 246 km2 (95 sq mi) |
| Population (2020)[2] | |
| 779,352 | |
| • Density | 107.951/km2 (279.592/sq mi) |
| • Urban (2018)[1] | 770,000 |
| • Urban density | 3,100/km2 (8,100/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+8 (China Standard[a]) |
| Postal code | 841000[3] |
| Area code | 0996 |
| Website | www |
| Korla | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chinese name | |||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 库尔勒 | ||||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 庫爾勒 | ||||||||||
| Literal meaning | Krorain | ||||||||||
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| Mongolian name | |||||||||||
| Mongolian script | ᠺᠦᠷᠡᠯᠡ | ||||||||||
| Uyghur name | |||||||||||
| Uyghur | كورلا | ||||||||||
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Korla,[4][5] also known asKurla[6][7][8][9][10] orKuerle,[5] is the second largest city by population inXinjiang, China. It is acounty-level city and the seat ofBayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture, the largestprefecture of China.
Korla has existed since at least theHan dynasty. Korla is known for its production of fragrant pears and is a production center for theTarim oil fields.
Korla was known as Yuli (尉犁) (reconstructed pronunciation of first character: *i̯wəd)[11] during theHan dynasty. Yuli is said in theHanshu or 'History of the Former Han' (covering the period 125 BCE to 23 CE), to have had 1,200 households, 9,600 individuals and 2,000 people able to bear arms. It also mentions that it adjoinedShanshan and Qiemo (Charchan) to the south.[12]
In 61 CE, theXiongnu led some 30,000 troops from 15 kingdoms including Korla,Karashahr, andKucha in a successful attack onKhotan.
In 94 CE, the Chinese generalBan Chao sent soldiers to punish the kingdoms of Yanqi (Karashahr), Weixu (Hoxud), Yuli (Korla), and Shanguo (in the westernKuruk mountains).
After the rebellion of the "Western Regions" (106−125 CE), only the kings of Korla and Hoxud refused to submit to the Chinese.Ban Yong, the son ofBan Chao, along with the Governor ofDunhuang, attacked and defeated them.[14]
The 3rd centuryWeilüe records that Korla, Hoxud and Shanwang (Shanguo) were all dependencies of Karashahr.[15]
The contemporaneous historianMusa Sayrami (1836–1917) stated that rulerYaqub Beg ofYettishar was poisoned on May 30, 1877, in Korla by the formerhakim (local city ruler) Niyaz Hakim Beg ofYarkand,[16] although Niyaz Hakim Beg and other sources stated that his death was by suicide or in battle against the Qing dynasty.[16][17]
Francis Younghusband, passed through "Korlia" in 1887 on his overland journey fromBeijing toIndia. He described it as being prosperous and the country round about well-cultivated, with more land under cultivation than any other town he had passed.Maize seemed to be the major crop but rice was also grown. There was a small Chinese town, about 400 yards (370 m) square with mud walls about 35 feet (11 m) high and with a ditch. There were round bastions at the angles, but none at the gateway. A mile (1.6 km) south was the Turk town, but its walls were in ruins. It had one main street about 700 yards (640 m) long. "The shops are somewhat better than atKarashar, but not so good as atTurfan."[18]
Korla was incorporated as a city on September 30, 1979.[19]
On January 8, 1965, more than 170 Chinese Communist cadres were immolated by Mongols during an anti-Communist riot at a state farm in Korla (Kurla).[9]
In September 2019, drone video appeared which ASPI (a defense industries funded Australian think tank)[20][21] alleged as showing the mass transfer of hundreds of ethnic minority prisoners, which drew the comment "deeply disturbing" from Australian Foreign MinisterMarise Payne in describing the video.[22]
Korla is approximately 200 kilometres (120 mi) southwest fromÜrümqi, although, due to the interveningTian Shan, the road distance is considerably greater.
TheIron Gate Pass (Tiemen Pass) leading toKarasahr is about 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) north of the city and, as it was easily defended, playing an important part in protecting the ancientSilk Roads from raiding nomads from the north.
TheKaidu River, also known as theKonqi River orKongque River, flows through the center of Korla, a unique feature amongst cities in Xinjiang. While the literal meaning of the Chinese name "Kongque River" is "Peacock River", the name originates from a semantically distorted transliteration of theUyghur name "Konqi Darya" which means "Tanner's River".[23]
Korla has acold desert climate (Köppen climate classificationBWk) with extreme seasonal variation in temperature. The monthly 24-hour average temperature ranges from −6.6 °C (20.1 °F) in January to 26.8 °C (80.2 °F), and the annual mean is 12.0 °C (53.6 °F), which is still warmer than most locales at the same latitude further east in the country. Precipitation totals only 59.2 millimetres (2.33 in) annually, and mostly falls in summer, as compared to an annual evaporation rate of about 2,800 mm (110 in); there are about 3,000 hours of bright sunshine annually. The frost-free period averages 210 days. The period between April and October closely resembles subtropical climates, but the continental nature is facilitated by the rapid drop of temperatures going into winter.
| Climate data for Korla, elevation 900 m (3,000 ft), (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1971–2020) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 8.6 (47.5) | 16.5 (61.7) | 26.8 (80.2) | 35.3 (95.5) | 36.5 (97.7) | 38.3 (100.9) | 40.5 (104.9) | 40.0 (104.0) | 36.2 (97.2) | 30.9 (87.6) | 20.6 (69.1) | 11.1 (52.0) | 40.5 (104.9) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | −1.9 (28.6) | 5.5 (41.9) | 14.6 (58.3) | 22.9 (73.2) | 28.0 (82.4) | 31.8 (89.2) | 33.3 (91.9) | 32.2 (90.0) | 27.4 (81.3) | 19.6 (67.3) | 9.4 (48.9) | −0.1 (31.8) | 18.6 (65.4) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −7.1 (19.2) | −0.4 (31.3) | 8.4 (47.1) | 16.3 (61.3) | 21.4 (70.5) | 25.5 (77.9) | 27.0 (80.6) | 25.7 (78.3) | 20.2 (68.4) | 11.6 (52.9) | 2.6 (36.7) | −5.2 (22.6) | 12.2 (53.9) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −11.8 (10.8) | −5.8 (21.6) | 2.3 (36.1) | 9.8 (49.6) | 14.6 (58.3) | 19.1 (66.4) | 20.7 (69.3) | 19.3 (66.7) | 13.7 (56.7) | 5.0 (41.0) | −2.7 (27.1) | −9.3 (15.3) | 6.2 (43.2) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −25.3 (−13.5) | −23.4 (−10.1) | −10.4 (13.3) | −3.0 (26.6) | 1.6 (34.9) | 6.2 (43.2) | 10.6 (51.1) | 7.9 (46.2) | 1.9 (35.4) | −4.4 (24.1) | −16.6 (2.1) | −24.4 (−11.9) | −25.3 (−13.5) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 1.5 (0.06) | 1.3 (0.05) | 1.3 (0.05) | 2.7 (0.11) | 8.5 (0.33) | 12.7 (0.50) | 12.4 (0.49) | 9.8 (0.39) | 4.6 (0.18) | 3.1 (0.12) | 1.0 (0.04) | 2.3 (0.09) | 61.2 (2.41) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.1 mm) | 2.4 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 1.3 | 2.9 | 4.6 | 5.8 | 4.6 | 2.6 | 1.4 | 0.9 | 2.6 | 30.9 |
| Average snowy days | 6.7 | 2.4 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.2 | 1.3 | 6.2 | 17.7 |
| Averagerelative humidity (%) | 65 | 50 | 34 | 30 | 33 | 37 | 41 | 42 | 46 | 51 | 58 | 68 | 46 |
| Mean monthlysunshine hours | 170.5 | 192.6 | 232 | 249.3 | 280.1 | 274.4 | 287.3 | 278.3 | 267.8 | 256.8 | 201.6 | 154.5 | 2,845.2 |
| Percentagepossible sunshine | 57 | 63 | 62 | 62 | 62 | 60 | 63 | 66 | 73 | 76 | 70 | 55 | 64 |
| Source 1:China Meteorological Administration[24][25]NOAA[26] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: Weather China[27] | |||||||||||||
Korla administers 7subdistricts, 3towns and 9townships.[28]
| Name | Simplified Chinese | Hanyu Pinyin | Uyghur (UEY) | Uyghur Latin (ULY) | Mongolian (traditional) | Mongolian (Cyrillic) | Administrative division code | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subdistricts | ||||||||
| Tuanjie Subdistrict | 团结街道 | Tuánjié Jiēdào | ئىتتىپاق كوچا باشقارمىسى | Ittipaq kocha bashqarmisi | 652801001 | |||
| Saybagh Subdistrict | 萨依巴格街道 | Sàyībāgé Jiēdào | سايباغ كوچا باشقارمىسى | saybagh kocha bashqarmisi | 652801002 | |||
| Tianshan Subdistrict | 天山街道 | Tiānshān Jiēdào | تەڭرىتاغ كوچا باشقارمىسى | tengritagh kocha bashqarmisi | 652801003 | |||
| Xincheng Subdistrict | 新城街道 | Xīnchéng Jiēdào | يېڭىشەھەر كوچا باشقارمىسى | yëngisheher kocha bashqarmisi | ᠰᠢᠨ ᠴᠧᠩ ᠵᠡᠭᠡᠯᠢ ᠭᠤᠳᠤᠮᠵᠢ | Шин цэн зээл гудамж | 652801004 | |
| Jianshe Subdistrict | 建设街道 | Jiànshè Jiēdào | بەشيۈتلۈك كوچا باشقارمىسى | beshyütlük kocha bashqarmisi | 652801005 | |||
| Chaoyang Subdistrict | 朝阳街道 | Chāoyáng Jiēdào | چاۋياڭ كوچا باشقارمىسى | chawyang kocha bashqarmisi | 652801006 | |||
| Lixiang Subdistrict | 梨香街道 | Líxiāng Jiēdào | نەشپۇتزار كوچا باشقارمىسى | neshputzar kocha bashqarmisi | 652801007 | |||
| Towns | ||||||||
| Tashidian Town | 塔什店镇 | Tǎshídiàn Zhèn | تاشدەن بازىرى | tashden baziri | ᠲᠠᠱᠠᠳᠢᠶᠠᠨ ᠪᠠᠯᠭᠠᠰᠤ | Ташадиан балгас | 652801100 | |
| Shanghu Town | 上户镇 | Shànghù Zhèn | شاڭخۇ بازىرى | shangxu baziri | 652801101 | |||
| Shinigha Town | 西尼尔镇 | Xīní'ěr Zhèn | شىنىغا بازىرى | shinigha baziri | 652801102 | |||
| Townships | ||||||||
| Tëkichi Township | 铁克其乡 | Tiěkèqí Xiāng | تېكىچى يېزىسى | tëkichi yëzisi | 652801200 | |||
| Charibagh Township | 恰尔巴格乡 | Qiǎ'ěrbāgé Xiāng | چارباغ يېزىسى | charbagh yëzisi | 652801201 | |||
| Yëngisheher Township | 英下乡 | Yīngxià Xiāng | يېڭىشەھەر يېزىسى | yëngisheher yëzisi | 652801202 | |||
| Lengger Township | 兰干乡 | Lángàn Xiāng | لەڭگەر يېزىسى | lengger yëzisi | 652801203 | |||
| Qosh'ëriq Township | 和什力克乡 | Héshílìkè Xiāng | قوشئېرىق يېزىسى | qosh'ëriq yëzisi | 652801204 | |||
| Qarayulghun Township | 哈拉玉宫乡 | Hālāyùgōng Xiāng | قارايۇلغۇن يېزىسى | qarayulghun yëzisi | 652801205 | |||
| Awat Township | 阿瓦提乡 | Āwǎtí Xiāng | ئاۋات يېزىسى | Awat yëzisi | 652801206 | |||
| Towurchi Township | 托布力其乡 | Tuōbùlìqí Xiāng | توۋۇرچى يېزىسى | towurchi yëzisi | 652801207 | |||
| Puhui Township | 普惠乡 | Pǔhuì Xiāng | پۇخۇي يېزىسى | puxuy yëzisi | 652801208 | |||
Others:
In the 2010 Chinese census, the city had a total population of 549,324 people, a significant increase from the 381,943 recorded in the 2000 census.[29] The city is home to 23 ethnic groups.[19]
The city had 430,000 inhabitants in 2007, increasing with 20,000 people every year, majority of whom wereHan Chinese, with a large minority ofUyghurs (about 100,000) and smaller numbers ofMongols andHuis.[citation needed]
| Nationality | Percentage | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Han | 66.7% | |||
| Uyghurs | 28.9% | |||
| Hui | 2.4% | |||
| Mongols | 1.2% | |||
| Manchus | 0.2% | |||
| Others | 0.6% | |||
| Source of the population statistics :[30] | ||||
Korla has long been the biggest centre in the region after Karashahr/Yanqi itself, having abundant water and extensive farmlands, as well as controlling the main routes to the south and west of Karashahr/Yanqi.[citation needed] Due to the discovery of oil in theTaklamakan Desert, Korla is now both more populous and developed than Karashar/Yanqi.[citation needed]PetroChina'sTarim oil fields operations are headquartered in Korla.[19][31]
The city reported a fiscal revenue of 4.572 billionYuan in 2019.[19] In the same year, the city'sGDP grew 5.6%,fixed asset investment grew 10%, thepublic budget grew 5%, retail sales grew 8%, and the city'sCPI grew 2.3%.[19]
Korla is known for its production of fragrantpears (库尔勒香梨).[32]
Korla is a regional transportation hub, served by thenational highwaysG218,G314, theSouthern Xinjiang Railway,Golmud–Korla railway,Hotan–Ruoqiang railway and theKu'erle Licheng Airport.[32]
The city's main attractions include theIron Gate Pass, Lotus Pond (莲花池), Sun Island (太阳岛), Princess Peak (公主峰), Yuzigan Old City (玉子干旧城), Tuowuqi Ancient City (托务其古城), Airlike Ancient City (爱力克古城), Ku'erchu Mound (库尔楚土墩), Jiamai Mosque (加麦清真寺), and Yeyungou Ruins (野云沟遗址).[32]
According to theSeventh National Census in 2020, the city's Permanent Population (hukou) was 1,613,979.[33]Compared with 21,813,334 people in theSixth National Census in 2010, the number increased by 4,039,011, representing a growth of 18.52%, with an average annual growth rate of 1.71%. They are respectively 13.14 percentage points and 1.18 percentage points higher than the national average level.[33]
Most recently, Hapiz had been conducting business between Kashgar and Korla (Kuerle)—a county-level city in Bayin'gholin Mongol (Bayinguoleng Menggu) Autonomous Prefecture and the XUAR's second-largest city—several prefectures away.
Large-scale works were undertaken at the site of Šikšin, half-way between the towns of Qara Šahr and Kurla, which occupies a plateau of about 15 hectares.
Kurla 庫爾勒
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