Altay or Aletai is a county-level city in Altay Prefecture within Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture, in far Northern Xinjiang, China. The city centre is located on the banks of Kelan River.

Altay
阿勒泰市 (Chinese)
ئالتاي شەھىرى (Uyghur)
التاي قالاسى (Kazakh)
ᠠᠯᠲᠠᠢ ᠬᠣᠲᠠ (Mongolian)
Location of Altay
Altay is located in Dzungaria
Altay
Altay
Location of the city center in Xinjiang
Altay is located in Xinjiang
Altay
Altay
Altay (Xinjiang)
Altay is located in China
Altay
Altay
Altay (China)
Coordinates (Altay City government): 47°49′37″N 88°07′51″E / 47.82694°N 88.13083°E / 47.82694; 88.13083
CountryChina
Autonomous regionXinjiang
PrefectureAltay
Municipal seatTuanjie Road Subdistrict
Area
11,400 km2 (4,400 sq mi)
Elevation
887 m (2,910 ft)
Population
 (2020)[1]
221,454
 • Density19/km2 (50/sq mi)
 • Urban
 (2016)[2]
114,995
 • Rural
 (2016)[2]
83,945
Time zoneUTC+8 (China Standard[a])
Postal code
836500
Area code0906
GDP (Nominal)2016[2]
 - Total¥6.483 billion
US$1.007 billion
 - per capita¥32.574
US$5.060
WebsiteAltay City Government Website
Altay City
Chinese name
Chinese阿勒泰
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinĀlètài
other Mandarin
DunganАләтэ (Aləte, اَلْتَىْ)
Alternative Chinese name
Chinese承化寺
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinChénghuà Sì
Mongolian name
Mongolian CyrillicАлтай хот
Mongolian scriptᠠᠯᠲᠠᠢ ᠬᠣᠲᠠ
Transcriptions
SASM/GNCaltai ꭓota
Uyghur name
Uyghurئالتاي
Transcriptions
Latin YëziqiAltay
Yengi YeziⱪAltay
SASM/GNCAltay
Siril YëziqiАлтай
Kazakh name
Kazakhالتاي قالاسى
Altai qalası
Алтай қаласы

Administrative divisions

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Altay City is divided into four subdistricts, five towns, five townships, and one ethnic township.

Name Simplified Chinese Hanyu Pinyin Uyghur (UEY) Uyghur Latin (ULY) Kazakh Arabic Kazakh Cyrillic Kazakh Latin Administrative division code Notes
Subdistricts
Jinshan Road Subdistrict
(Altin Taw Road Subdistrict)
金山路街道 Jīnshānlù Jiēdào ئالتۇنتاغ يولى كوچا باشقارمىسى Altuntagh yoli kocha bashqarmisi التىن تاۋ جولى ءمالى باسقارماسى Алтын Тау жолы мәлі басқармасы Alty Tau joly mälı basqarmasy 654301001
Jiefang Road Subdistrict
(Azad Road Subdistrict)
解放路街道 Jiěfànglù Jiēdào ئازاد يولى كوچا باشقارمىسى Azad yoli kocha bashqarmisi ازات جولى ءمالى باسقارماسى Азат жолы мәлі басқармасы Azat joly mälı basqarmasy 654301002
Tuanjie Road Subdistrict
(Ittipaq Road Subdistrict)
(Intimaq Road Subdistrict)
团结路街道 Tuánjiélù Jiēdào ئىتتىپاق يولى كوچا باشقارمىسى Ittipaq yoli kocha bashqarmisi ىنتىماق جولى ءمالى باسقارماسى Ынтымақ жолы мәлі басқармасы Yntymaq joly mälı basqarmasy 654301003
Qiaxiu Road Subdistrict 恰秀路街道 Qiàxiùlù Jiēdào چاشيۇ يولى كوچا باشقارمىسى chashyu yoli kocha bashqarmisi شاشۋ جولى ءمالى باسقارماسى Шашу жолы мәлі басқармасы Şaşu joly mälı basqarmasy 654301004
Towns
Beitun Town 北屯镇 Běitún Zhèn بېيتۈن بازىرى bëytün baziri بەيتۇن قالاشىعى Бейтұң қалашығы Beitūñ qalaşyğy 654301100
Aweitan Town 阿苇滩镇 Āwěitān Zhèn ئاۋىيتان بازىرى Awiytan baziri ءابيتان قالاشىعى Әбитән қалашығы Äbitän qalaşyğy 654301101
Qizil Tash Town
(Hongdun Town)
红墩镇 Hóngdūn Zhèn قىزىل تاش بازىرى qizil tash baziri قىزىلتاس قالاشىعى Қызылтас қалашығы Qyzyltas qalaşyğy 654301102
Shemirshek Town 切木尔切克镇 Qièmù'ěrqièkè Zhèn شەمىرشەك بازىرى
(چېمىرچەك بازىرى)
shemirshek baziri
(chëmirchek baziri)
شەمىرشەك قالاشىعى Шеміршек қалашығы Şemırşek qalaşyğy 654301103
Alaqaq Town 阿拉哈克镇 Ālāhākè Zhèn ئالاقاق بازىرى Alaqaq baziri الاعاق قالاشىعى Алағақ қалашығы Alağaq qalaşyğy 654301104
Townships
Lasti Township 拉斯特乡 Lāsītè Xiāng لاستى يېزىسى lasti yëzisi لاستى اۋىلى Ласты ауылы Lasty auyly 654301203
Qarashilik Township 喀拉希力克乡 Kālāxīlìkè Xiāng قارا شىلىك يېزىسى qara shilik yëzisi قارا شىلىك اۋىلى Қара шілік ауылы Qara şılık auyly 654301204
Sarxolsun Township 萨尔胡松乡 Sà'ěrhúsōng Xiāng سارخولسۇن يېزىسى sarxolsun yëzisi سارعۋسىن اۋىلى Сарғусын ауылы Sarğusyn auyly 654301205
Balbaghay Township 巴里巴盖乡 Bālǐbāgài Xiāng بالباغاي يېزىسى balbaghay yëzisi بالباعاي اۋىلى Балбағай ауылы Balbaşai

auyly

654301206
Shirikshiy Township 切尔克齐乡 Qiè'ěrkèqí Xiāng چېرىكچى يېزىسى chërikchi yëzisi شىرىكشي اۋىلى Шірікши ауылы Şırıkşi auyly 654301207
Ethnic Township
Xandighati Mongol Ethnic Township 汗德尕特蒙古族乡 Hàndégǎtè Ménggǔzú Xiāng خاندىغاتى موڭغۇل يېزىسى xandighati mongghul yëzisi حاندىعاتى موڭعۇل ۇلتتىق اۋىلى Хандығаты Моңғұл Ұлттық ауылы Handyğaty Moñğūl Ūlttyq auyly 654301202 (Mongolian)
ᠬᠠᠨᠳᠠᠭᠠᠢᠲᠤ ᠮᠣᠩᠭᠣᠯ ᠦᠨᠳᠦᠰᠦᠲᠡᠨ ᠦ ᠰᠢᠶᠠᠩ
Хандгайт монгол үндэстэний шиян

Others

  • Qaraghash Ranch (Chinese: 喀拉尕什牧场, Uyghur: قاراغاش چارۋىچىلىق مەيدانى, Kazakh: قاراعاش مال شارۋاشىلىعى الاڭىنداعى)
  • Aqtumsiq Ranch (Chinese: 阿克吐木斯克牧场, Uyghur: ئاقتۇمسىق چارۋىچىلىق مەيدانى, Kazakh: اقتۇمسىق مال شارۋاشىلىعى الاڭىنداعى)
  • XPCC 181st Regiment (兵团一八一团, Uyghur: 181-تۇەن مەيدانى, Kazakh: 181-تۋان الاڭىنداعى)

Geography

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Map of Altay (labeled as CH'ENG-HUA) and surrounding region from the International Map of the World (1961)

Climate

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Altay has a cold semi-arid climate (Köppen BSk), with an annual precipitation total of only 213 mm (8.4 in). Winters are long, bitterly cold and dry, with a January 24-hour average of −15.3 °C (4.5 °F); however, the presence of the Altay Mountains to the north helps moderate the severity of winter cold as compared to locations further to the east. Spring and autumn are short but mild. Summers are very warm, but dry, with a July 24-hour average of 21.7 °C (71.1 °F). The annual mean is 4.75 °C (40.5 °F). With monthly percent possible sunshine ranging from 50% in December to 74% in August and September, sunshine is abundant and the city receives 2,993 hours of bright sunshine annually.

Climate data for Altay City, elevation 735 m (2,411 ft), (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1938-present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 5.3
(41.5)
6.5
(43.7)
23.1
(73.6)
31.4
(88.5)
34.1
(93.4)
37.0
(98.6)
37.5
(99.5)
37.5
(99.5)
35.0
(95.0)
27.8
(82.0)
17.6
(63.7)
6.6
(43.9)
37.5
(99.5)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) −9.3
(15.3)
−5.7
(21.7)
2.5
(36.5)
15.3
(59.5)
22.1
(71.8)
27.2
(81.0)
28.5
(83.3)
27.2
(81.0)
21.1
(70.0)
12.6
(54.7)
1.4
(34.5)
−7.0
(19.4)
11.3
(52.4)
Daily mean °C (°F) −15.8
(3.6)
−12.4
(9.7)
−3.5
(25.7)
9.0
(48.2)
15.7
(60.3)
20.7
(69.3)
21.9
(71.4)
20.1
(68.2)
14.0
(57.2)
6.4
(43.5)
−3.9
(25.0)
−12.8
(9.0)
4.9
(40.9)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −20.9
(−5.6)
−17.8
(0.0)
−8.8
(16.2)
3.2
(37.8)
9.1
(48.4)
13.8
(56.8)
15.1
(59.2)
13.3
(55.9)
7.6
(45.7)
1.4
(34.5)
−8.2
(17.2)
−17.7
(0.1)
−0.8
(30.5)
Record low °C (°F) −40.0
(−40.0)
−36.9
(−34.4)
−32.2
(−26.0)
−17.3
(0.9)
−3.2
(26.2)
2.2
(36.0)
7.4
(45.3)
2.3
(36.1)
−6.1
(21.0)
−15.6
(3.9)
−41.2
(−42.2)
−41.7
(−43.1)
−41.7
(−43.1)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 18.0
(0.71)
10.4
(0.41)
10.9
(0.43)
15.3
(0.60)
17.2
(0.68)
19.0
(0.75)
27.8
(1.09)
21.5
(0.85)
17.3
(0.68)
15.9
(0.63)
25.4
(1.00)
23.8
(0.94)
222.5
(8.77)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) 8.1 6.9 5.8 6.3 7.1 7.4 7.9 7.0 6.5 6.3 8.6 10.1 88
Average snowy days 10.2 9.6 6.3 1.7 0.3 0 0 0 0.1 1.5 9.4 12.4 51.5
Average relative humidity (%) 72 72 68 48 42 48 56 53 51 56 69 74 59
Mean monthly sunshine hours 164.9 184.1 247.5 282.0 328.1 334.6 335.8 323.1 277.3 219.9 150.8 137.2 2,985.3
Percent possible sunshine 59 62 66 68 69 70 71 75 75 67 56 53 66
Source: China Meteorological Administration[3][4][5][6]

Demographics

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The proportion of nationalities in Altay City, 2018
Nationality Percentage
Han People
57.7%
Kazakhs
34.5%
Hui People
3.1%
Uyghurs
2.1%
Mongols
1.2%
Others
1.4%
Source of the population statistics :[7]

Transport

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Aletai railway station

From Ürümqi (capital of Xinjiang Province) to Altay, it takes about one hour by plane, nine hours by day bus, 12 hours by night bus and about 9.5 hours by train.

Culture

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Like other cities in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, there are many minorities in Altay, in particular Uyghurs and Kazakhs.

The Dundbulag rock carvings (敦德布拉克岩画) in the Xandighati Mongol Ethnic Township (A.K.A. Handagaitu, Handgait; tyv. Handagaity; uyg. Handigati; cmn. Handegate) under this city is a very early evidence of skiing. The term Mongol here partially refers to ethnic Tuvans of the Mongol nation under Chinese designation.

Education

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In schools, students are taught mainly in Chinese (Mandarin) and there are courses for Uyghur and Kazakh languages.

Tourism

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The most important tourist site is Kanas Lake where there is a legend of a large creature.

Economy

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Notable people

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Explanatory notes

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

References

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  1. ^ "Xinjiang: Prefectures, Cities, Districts and Counties". Archived from the original on 2023-08-21. Retrieved 2023-08-22.
  2. ^ a b c "2016 Altay City National Economic and Social Development Statistical Communique". Retrieved 17 June 2018.[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ 中国气象数据网 – WeatherBk Data (in Simplified Chinese). China Meteorological Administration. Archived from the original on 5 September 2018. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  4. ^ "Experience Template" 中国气象数据网 (in Simplified Chinese). China Meteorological Administration. Archived from the original on 4 April 2023. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  5. ^ 中国地面国际交换站气候标准值月值数据集(1971-2000年). China Meteorological Administration. Archived from the original on 2013-09-21. Retrieved 2010-05-25.
  6. ^ "Weather and Climate – The Climate of Altay" (in Russian). Weather and Climate (Погода и климат). Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  7. ^ 3-7 各地、州、市、县(市)分民族人口数 [3-7 Population by Nationality by Prefecture, State, City and County (City)]. tjj.xinjiang.gov.cn (in Chinese). Statistical Bureau of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. 2020-06-10. Archived from the original on 2020-11-01. Retrieved 2021-06-11.
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