Qapqal Xibe Autonomous County

Qapqal Xibe Autonomous County^[2] (Chinese: 察布查尔锡伯自治县; pinyin: Chábùchá'ěr Xībó Zìzhìxiàn; Xibe: ᠴᠠᠪᠴᠠᠯ ᠰᡞᠪᡝ ᠪᡝᠶᡝ ᡩᠠᠰᠠᡢᡤᠠ ᠰᡞᠶᠠᠨ, Cabcal Sibe beye dasangga siyan, also transliterated as Chapchal, Uyghur: چاپچال شىبە ئاپتونوم ناھىيىسى; Kazakh: شاپشال سىبە اۆتونوميالىق اۋدانى) in Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture in Northern Xinjiang, is the only Xibe autonomous county of China, bordering Kazakhstan's Almaty Region to the west. It has an area of 4,430 square kilometers and a population 160,000 (2000). Qapqal means "the granary" in the Xibe language.

Qapqal County 察布查尔县 • ᠴᠠᠪᠴᠠᠯ ᠰᡳᠶᠠᠨ چاپچال ناھىيىسى شاپشال اۋدانى
Autonomous county
Qapqal Xibe Autonomous County 察布查尔锡伯自治县 ᠴᠠᠪᠴᠠᠯ ᠰᡞᠪᡝ ᠪᡝᠶᡝ ᡩᠠᠰᠠᡢᡤᠠ ᠰᡞᠶᠠᠨ چاپچال شىبە ئاپتونوم ناھىيىسى شاپشال سىبە اۆتونوميالىق اۋدانى
"Sibo military colonists", picture drawn during Henry Lansdell visit to today's Qapqal County in 1882
Location of Qapqal Xibe Autonomous County (pink) in Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture
Qapqal Location of the seat in Xinjiang Show map of Dzungaria Qapqal Qapqal (Xinjiang) Show map of Xinjiang Qapqal Qapqal (China) Show map of China
Coordinates (Qapqal County government): 43°50′27″N 81°09′05″E
Country	China
Autonomous region	Xinjiang
Autonomous prefecture	Ili
County seat	Cabcal Town
Area
• Total	4,469.36 km2 (1,725.63 sq mi)
Population  (2020)[1]
• Total	157,764
• Density	35/km2 (91/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+8 (CST[a])
Website	www.xjcbcr.gov.cn

Qapqal Xibe Autonomous County
Chinese name
Simplified Chinese	察布查尔锡伯自治县
Traditional Chinese	察布查爾錫伯自治縣
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Chábùchá'ěr Xībó Zìzhìxiàn Wade–Giles Chʻa2-pu4-chʻa2-êrh3 Hsi1-po2 Tzŭ4-chih4-hsien4
Alternative Chinese name
Simplified Chinese	宁西县
Traditional Chinese	寧西縣
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Níngxī Xiàn Wade–Giles Ning2-hsi1 Hsien4
Uyghur name
Uyghur	چاپچال شىبە ئاپتونوم ناھىيىسى‎
Transcriptions Latin Yëziqi Chapchal Shibe Aptonom Nahiyisi
Kazakh name
Kazakh	شاپشال سىبە اۆتونوميالىق اۋدانى Шапшал сібе автономиялық ауданы Şapşal Sıbe avtonomialyq audany
Xibe name
Xibe	ᠴᠠᠪᠴᠠᠯ ᠰᡞᠪᡝ ᠪᡝᠶᡝ ᡩᠠᠰᠠᡢᡤᠠ ᠰᡞᠶᠠᠨ Cabcal Sibe beye dasangga siyan

History

The Xibe, sent to garrison the area by the Qing dynasty, were divided into eight niru (companies); each niru established a settlement. The settlements are thus simply referred to as "First Niru" through "Eighth Niru", with the exception of the settlement established by the Sixth, which came to be known as Qapqal, thus giving the county its name.^[3]

Subdivisions

Qapqal administered 7 towns, 5 townships, and 1 ethnic township.^[4]

Name	Simplified Chinese	Hanyu Pinyin	Xibe	Möllendorff transliteration	Uyghur (UEY)	Uyghur Latin (ULY)	Kazakh (Arabic script)	Kazakh (Cyrillic script)	Administrative division code
Towns
Cabcal Town	察布查尔镇	Chábùchá'ěr Zhèn	ᠴᠠᠪᠴᠠᠯ ᡪᡝᠨ	cabcal jen	چاپچال بازىرى	chapchal baziri	شاپشال قالاشىعى	Шапшал қалашығы	654022100
Aisin Šeri Town	爱新色里镇	Àixīnsèlǐ Zhèn	ᠠᡞᠰᡞᠨ ᡧᡝᠷᡞ ᡪᡝᠨ	aisin šeri jen	ئايشىن سىرى بازىرى	Ayshin siri baziri	ءايشىنى سىرى قالاشىعى	Әйшіні Сыры қалашығы	654022101
Sunjaci Niru Town	孙扎齐牛录镇	Sūnzhāqíniúlù Zhèn	ᠰᡠᠨᡪᠠᠴᡞ ᠨᡞᠷᡠ ᡪᡝᠨ	sunjaci niru jen	سۇنجاچىنىرۇ بازىرى	sunjachiniru baziri	بەسسۇمىن قالاشىعى	Бессүмін қалашығы	654022102
Cohor Town	绰霍尔镇	Chuòhuò'ěr Zhèn	ᠴᠣᡥᠣᠷ ᡪᡝᠨ	cohor jen	چوقۇر بازىرى	choqur baziri	شوعىر قالاشىعى	Шоғыр қалашығы	654022103
Jahūstai Town	加尕斯台镇	Jiāgǎsītái Zhèn	ᡪᠠᡥᡡᠰᡨᠠᡞ ᡪᡝᠨ	jahūstai jen	جاغىستاي بازىرى	jaghistay baziri	جاعىستاي قالاشىعى	Жағыстай қалашығы	654022104
Amba Boro Town	琼博拉镇	Qióngbólā Zhèn	ᠠᠮᠪᠠ ᠪᠣᠷᠣ ᡪᡝᠨ	amba boro jen	چوڭ بۇغرا بازىرى	chong bughra baziri	ۇلكەن بۋرا قالاشىعى	Үлкен Бура қалашығы	654022105
Hainuk Town	海努克镇	Hǎinǔkè Zhèn	ᡥᠠᡞᠨᡠᡣ ᡪᡝᠨ	hainuk jen	قاينۇق بازىرى	qaynuq baziri	قاينۇق قالاشىعى	Қайнұқ қалашығы	654022106
Townships
Dūici Niru Township	堆齐牛录乡	Duīqíniúlù Xiāng	ᡩᡡᡞᠴᡞ ᠨᡞᠷᡠ ᡤᡡᠰᠠ	dūici niru gūsa	دۇيچىنىرۇ يېزىسى	duychiniru yëzisi	‌ءتورتسۇمىن اۋىلى	Төртсүмін ауылы	654022200
Nadaci Niru Township	纳达齐牛录乡	Nàdáqíniúlù Xiāng	ᠨᠠᡩᠠᠴᡞ ᠨᡞᠷᡠ ᡤᡡᠰᠠ	nadaci niru gūsa	ناداچىنىرۇ يېزىسى	nadachiniru yëzisi	سەگىزسۇمىن اۋىلى	Сегізсүмін ауылы	654022203
Jakūci Niru Township	扎库齐牛录乡	Zhākùqíniúlù Xiāng	ᡪᠠᡣᡡᠴᡞ ᠨᡞᠷᡠ ᡤᡡᠰᠠ	jakūci niru gūsa	جاقۇچىنىرۇ يېزىسى	jaquchiniru yëzisi	جاقۇشنىرۇ اۋىلى	Жақұшнырұ ауылы	654022204
Kan Township	坎乡	Kǎn Xiāng	ᠺᠠᠨ ᡤᡡᠰᠠ	kʹan gūsa	كان يېزىسى	kan yëzisi	كان اۋىلى	Кән ауылы	654022206
Gohūnci Township	阔洪奇乡	Kuòhóngqí Xiāng	ᡤᠣᡥᡡᠨᠴᡞ ᡤᡡᠰᠠ	gohūnci gūsa	قوغۇنچى يېزىسى	qoghunchi yëzisi	قوعۇنچى اۋىلى	Қоғұнчы ауылы	654022207
Ethnic Townships
Miliangquan Hui Township	米粮泉回族乡	Mǐliángquán huízú xiāng	ᠮᡞ ᠯᡞᠶᠠᡢ ᠴᡞᠣᠸᠠᠨ ᡥᡡᡞᡥᡡᡞ ᡠᡴᠰᡠᡵᠠᡞ ᡤᡡᠰᠠ	mi liyaŋ ciowan hūihūi uksurai gūsa	مىلياڭچۈەن خۇيزۇ يېزىسى	qoghunchi yëzisi	مىلەڭچۇەن حۇيزۋ ۇلتتىق اۋىلى	Мілеңчүен хуйзу ұлттық ауылы	654022205

• 169th Regiment of the XPCC (兵团六十九团) (69-تۇەن مەيدانى) (69-تۋان الاڭىنداعى) (69 ᠴᡞ ᡨᠣᠸᠠᠨ ᠴᠠᡢ)
• Ambanbaq Breeding grounds (安班巴格良繁场) (ئامبانباغ نەسىللىك كۆپەيتىش مەيدانى) (امبانباق سورتتى تۇقىم جەتىلدىرۋ الاڭىنداعى) (ᠠᠮᠪᠠᠨ ᠪᠠᡤᡝ ᠰᠠᡞ᠋ᠨ ᡠᠰᡝ ᡫᡠᠰᡝᠮᠪᡠᠷᡝ ᡫᠠᠯᡝᠨ)
• Dolat Port of Entry (都拉塔口岸) (دولات پورتى) (دۋلاتى وتكەلى)
• Ili Prefectural Forestry Field (伊犁州平原林场) (ئىلى ۋىلايەتلىك تۈزلەڭلىك ئورمانچىلىق مەيدانى) (ىلە ايماقتىق ورمان شارۋاشىلىعى الاڭىنداعى)
• Mountain Area Forest Farm (山区林场) (تاغ رايونى ئورمانچىلىق مەيدانى) (تاۋلى ولكەسى ورمان الاڭىنداعى) (ᠠᠯᡞᠨ ᠪᠠᡞ ᠪᡠᡪᠠᠨ ᡥᡝᠷᡝ)

Demographics

Demographics per niru (2000)

Number[3]	Xibe name[3]	Chinese name	% Xibe[3]	% Han[3]	% Other[3]	Population	Number of villages	Source
1	Uju Niru	乌珠牛录乡	61.8	20.9	17.3
2	Jai Niru	扎依牛录乡	72.2	15.5	12.3
3	Ilaci Niru	依拉齐牛录乡	73.2	12.3	14.5
4	Duici Niru	堆依齐牛录乡	32.9	28.4	38.7
5	Sunjaci Niru	孙扎齐牛录镇	38.2	15	46.8	8033	4	[5]
6	Ningguci Niru or Capcal	察布查尔镇	29	32	39
7	Nadaci Niru	纳达齐牛录乡	41.6	32	24.6
8	Jakûci Niru	扎库齐牛录乡	72.2	15.5	12.3	13,000	5	[6]

Climate

Climate data for Qapqal, elevation 603 m (1,978 ft), (1991–2020 normals)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	−2.5 (27.5)	1.1 (34.0)	11.9 (53.4)	21.6 (70.9)	26.4 (79.5)	30.3 (86.5)	32.2 (90.0)	31.1 (88.0)	26.5 (79.7)	18.8 (65.8)	8.8 (47.8)	0.1 (32.2)	17.2 (62.9)
Daily mean °C (°F)	−9.2 (15.4)	−5.0 (23.0)	5.0 (41.0)	13.5 (56.3)	18.5 (65.3)	22.6 (72.7)	24.1 (75.4)	22.7 (72.9)	17.5 (63.5)	9.9 (49.8)	2.0 (35.6)	−5.6 (21.9)	9.7 (49.4)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	−14.5 (5.9)	−10.3 (13.5)	−0.7 (30.7)	6.6 (43.9)	11.6 (52.9)	15.9 (60.6)	17.4 (63.3)	15.6 (60.1)	10.1 (50.2)	3.4 (38.1)	−2.5 (27.5)	−10.0 (14.0)	3.6 (38.4)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	18.2 (0.72)	17.7 (0.70)	14.5 (0.57)	23.7 (0.93)	23.3 (0.92)	22.5 (0.89)	24.3 (0.96)	17.3 (0.68)	11.8 (0.46)	19.3 (0.76)	26.5 (1.04)	22.2 (0.87)	241.3 (9.5)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm)	7.6	6.8	6.1	7.5	7.6	8.4	7.9	5.5	4.8	5.4	7.0	8.2	82.8
Average snowy days	9.4	8.2	3.0	0.6	0.1	0	0	0	0	0.4	3.9	9.4	35
Average relative humidity (%)	80	79	69	57	54	56	58	59	60	69	78	82	67
Mean monthly sunshine hours	142.2	162.2	227.7	257.5	304.1	310.1	327.3	310.7	269.7	222.3	143.2	123.6	2,800.6
Percentage possible sunshine	49	54	61	63	66	67	71	73	74	67	50	45	62
Source: China Meteorological Administration[7][8]

Media

A ca. 1809 map of the Ili Region (the map is drawn "upside down": the south is on top) showing the Xibo Eight Banners (锡伯八旗) stationed across the Ili River from the Manchu Fort Huiyuan (惠远城), exactly where Qapqal Xibe Autonomous County is nowadays. There is a place - or perhaps a river - named "察布察儿" (Chabucha'er, Chinese: 察布查爾) in that area as well.

The county has one Xibe language newspaper, the Qapqal News. A television station broadcasts a few programmes in Xibe as well each month, with Mandarin, Uyghur and Kazakh language content for the rest of the time.^[9]

Notes

1. Locals in Xinjiang frequently observe UTC+6 (Xinjiang Time), 2 hours behind Beijing.