Qipanjing, Inner Mongolia

Qipanjing (simplified Chinese: 棋盘井镇; traditional Chinese: 棋盤井鎮; pinyin: Qípánjǐng Zhèn) is a town in Otog Banner, Ordos City, Inner Mongolia, China.

Qipanjing 棋盘井镇
Town
Qipanjing Show map of Inner Mongolia Qipanjing Show map of China
Coordinates: 39°22′48″N 107°0′56″E
Country	China
Province	Inner Mongolia
Prefecture	Ordos City
County	Otog Banner
Area [1]
• Total	3,614 km2 (1,395 sq mi)
Population [1]
• Estimate  (2018)	82,000
Postal code	014300
Area code	0477

Climate

Qipanjing has an average annual temperature of 6.4 °C (43.5 °F), an annual precipitation of about 250 millimetres (9.8 in), and approximately 3,000 annual hours of sunshine.^[1] Most of the town's precipitation occurs from July to September.^[1]

Environment

The town of Qipanjing suffers from high levels of air pollution due to the presence of numerous coal mines in the area.^[1] Large amounts of coal are also burned for heating purposes in the spring and winter, which, combined with meteorological factors, lead to high levels of air contaminants.^[1]

The area is home to a number of nationally-protected rare flora, including Tetraena, Cistaceae, and the Mongolian almond.^[2] It is also the natural habitat of the A'erbasi White Goat (Chinese: 阿尔巴斯白山羊; pinyin: Ā'ěrbāsī Bái Shānyáng).^[2]

Administrative divisions

Qipanjing administers ten residential communities, five administrative villages, and five gachas (Chinese: 嘎查; pinyin: Gāchá).^[3]

Residential communities

Qipanjing administers the following ten residential communities:^[3]

• Qipan Community (Chinese: 棋盘社区; pinyin: Qípán Shèqū)
• Guye Community (Chinese: 固业社区; pinyin: Gùyè Shèqū)
• Mengxiang Community (Chinese: 梦翔社区; pinyin: Mèngxiáng Shèqū)
• Wuzhu'er Community (Chinese: 乌珠尔社区; pinyin: Wūzhū'ěr Shèqū)
• Jing'an Community (Chinese: 靖安社区; pinyin: Jìng'ān Shèqū)
• Aili Community (Chinese: 艾力社区; pinyin: Àilì Shèqū)
• Xinxin Community (Chinese: 新欣社区; pinyin: Xīnxīn Shèqū)
• Caozichang Community (Chinese: 草籽场社区; pinyin: Cǎozǐchǎng Shèqū)
• Sanbeiyangchang Community (Chinese: 三北羊场社区; pinyin: Sānběiyángchǎng Shèqū)
• Qixiang Community (Chinese: 祺祥社区; pinyin: Qíxiáng Shèqū)

Villages

Qipanjing administers the following five villages:^[3]

• Shenjing Village (Chinese: 深井村; pinyin: Shēnjǐng Cūn)
• Baiyanjing Village (Chinese: 百眼井村; pinyin: Bǎiyǎnjǐng Cūn)
• Aruqiriga Village (Chinese: 阿如其日嘎村; pinyin: Ārúqírìgā Cūn)
• Shileikai Village (Chinese: 石勒凯村; pinyin: Shílēikǎi Cūn)
• Sumitu Village (Chinese: 苏米图村; pinyin: Sūmǐtú Cūn)

Gachas

Qipanjing administers the following five gachas:^[3]

• Wurenduxi Gacha (Chinese: 乌仁都喜嘎查; pinyin: Wūréndūxǐ Gāchá)
• Huji Gacha (Chinese: 呼吉嘎查; pinyin: Hūjí Gāchá)
• Yikedalai Gacha (Chinese: 伊克达赖嘎查; pinyin: Yīkèdálài Gāchá)
• Chulubai Gacha (Chinese: 楚鲁拜嘎查; pinyin: Chǔlǔbài Gāchá)
• E'erhetu Gacha (Chinese: 额尔和图嘎查; pinyin: É'ěrhétú Gāchá)

Demographics

Per a 2023 publication by the government of Otog Banner, Qipanjing has an estimated population of 98,000.^[2] A 2021 research paper estimated the town's population at 82,000.^[1] Qipanjing had an estimated population growth of 50,000 between 2013 and 2018.^{[citation needed]}

The town is largely urbanized, with an urbanization rate of approximately 79.18% as of 2023.^[2]

Economy

The town is home to two sizable industrial zones: Mengxi Industrial Park and Qipanjing Economic Development Zone.^[1] Coal mining has a significant presence in the area, and the town has multiple power plants.^[1] Qipanjing is an important regional transportation hub, connecting major cities in nearby regions.^[1][2]

Culture

Major cultural sites in Qipanjing include the A'erzhai Grottoes (Chinese: 阿尔寨石窟; pinyin: Ā'ěrzhài Shíkū), Diyan'agui Temple [zh], and the Baiyan Well (Chinese: 百眼井; pinyin: Bǎiyǎn Jǐng; lit. 'Hundred Eyes Well').^[2]