Dongxiang Autonomous County
Dongxiang Autonomous County (simplified Chinese: 东乡族自治县; traditional Chinese: 東鄉族自治縣; pinyin: Dōngxiāngzú Zìzhìxiàn; Santa: Dunxianzu Zizhixien) is an autonomous county in the Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture, province of Gansu of the People's Republic of China. It was established as a Dongxiang ethnic autonomous area in 1950. Historically, Dongxiang has long been directly under the jurisdiction of Linxia. During the Republic of China (1912–1949) period, its area was divided between the surrounding counties.
Dongxiang Autonomous County
东乡族自治县 | |
|---|---|
Dongxiang Autonomous County, as seen from across the Daxia River in neighboring Linxia County | |
Dongxiang in Linxia | |
Linxia in Gansu | |
Dongxiang Autonomous County Location in Gansu Dongxiang Autonomous County Location in China | |
| Coordinates: 35°39′50″N 103°23′21″E | |
| Country | China |
| Province | Gansu |
| Autonomous prefecture | Linxia |
| County seat | Suonan |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1,510 km2 (580 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 2,000 m (7,000 ft) |
| Highest elevation | 2,664 m (8,740 ft) |
| Lowest elevation | 1,736 m (5,696 ft) |
| Population (2020) | |
| • Total | 290,034 |
| • Density | 190/km2 (500/sq mi) |
| • Dongxiang people | 335,500 (87.9%) |
| Time zone | UTC+8 (China Standard) |
| Postal code | 731400 |
| Website | www |
Its population in 2020 was 381,700, 88% of whom belonging to the Dongxiang minority group. As of 1993, half of the total Dongxiang minority population lived in the county.
At least until the end of the 20th century, Dongxiang County was very impoverished and undeveloped, having a literacy rate of just 15%, the lowest in China. In 2017, it had the highest poverty rate of Gansu, already the poorest province in China.
Dongxiang County has a typical Loess Plateau landscape, with numerous gullies and mountains and a dry climate.