Xinjiang, China.(officially known as “Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region”) is located on the northwestern frontier of China. It is centrally located on the Eurasian continent. It contains more than 18% of China’s land area. Xinjiang has the largest administrative unit within the People’s Republic of China. Its capital is Urumchi. Covering over 1,600,000 square kilometers, Xinjiang is approximately three times the size of France. The name Xinjiang literally means “new frontier” or “new territory” in Chinese and is known by geographers as “the dead heart of Asia.” Xinjiang borders many countries including Mongolia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. It also has 16 Class A land ports along its 5,600 kilometer boundary. As China’s Wild West, it is so isolated from the rest of the country that it is able to operate two hours behind Beijing.

Xinjiang's geography is mainly comprised of mountains, basins, steppes, and oases. Its geography plays an important role in its political-economic control as most of development in the region depends on water.

Regions in Xinjiang

Xinjiang has three main geographic regions: the south, center, and north.

Xinjiang’s three regions have distinct ecological characteristics. The physical landscape of each region has a significant influence on the areas that surround it. The location of farming and large settlements is generally situated near various water sources. This is due to the practicality of the town’s water source obtained through Xinjiang’s many rivers and oases. Each region is home to distinct industries, agriculture, access to transportation, and population particular to the area.

South:

The southern region of Xinjiang is located around the Tarim basin and is approximately half of Xinjiang's total area. This region includes the Taklimakan Desert (located at the center of the Tarim basin), the Pamirs, and the KunlinMountains. A number of significant oases are located in this region including Kashghar, Kargalik, Hotan, and Yarkant. Hotan, with a population of about 150,000, has an 85% Uyghur population.Hotan is a significant source of human settlements in Xinjiang’s south due to the large Hotan oasis (water source from the Kunlun mountain range), the source of the region’s agriculture. The oases in the southern region have provided the area's agriculture of fruits, vegetables, and cotton. Southern Xinjiang has also been a significant new source of oil and gas for China. On the whole, Xinjiang's southern region is the Ugyhur heartland and has minimal outside influence, as it relies on traditional oasis agriculture.

Center:

The central region of Xinjiang is located in the fork of the Tian Shan mountain range. The Turpan depression is the second-lowest point on earth and extends 154 meters below the sea level. This region is known for its agriculture, such as grapes and cotton, and natural resources including oil and other minerals. Oases around the central area depend from the runoffs from the Tian Shan mountain range. It has a prominent oasis located in Turpan (population of 242,000) with 71% Uyghur population. It was once a location of importance during the Silk Road era, but in recent days the political and economic prominence has been shifted to Urumchi, the capital of Xinjiang.

North:

Xinjiang's northern region has been traditionally home to nomadic herdsmen as well as nomad empires. This northern area borders Kazakstan, Kyrgystan, and Uzbekistan. It contains the Zungharian basin, the Gurbantangut Desert (located in the middle of the basin), the Ili River valley, and the Altay Shan. To the west of the Zungharian basin is the Ili valley. The Ili valley is well watered and is home to Yining, a northern settlement in Xinjiang that has recently become an economic center to the entire valley due to its agricultural and animal products. The northern region's source of water has provided the area with a source of farming and agriculture. Today, this area is industrialized with large cities and has many modern industries including oil refining.