Altay City

Altay (also spelled Altai 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.

Administrative divisions

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

Others

• Qaraghash Ranch (, Uyghur: قاراغاش چارۋىچىلىق مەيدانى, Kazakh: قاراعاش مال شارۋاشىلىعى الاڭىنداعى)
• Aqtumsiq Ranch (, 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

Climate

Altay has a cold semi-arid climate (Köppen BSk), with an annual precipitation total of only 222.5 mm (8.76 in). Winters are long, bitterly cold and dry, with a January 24-hour average of −15.8 °C (3.6 °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 21.9 °C (71.4 °F). The annual mean is 4.9 °C (40.8 °F). With monthly percent possible sunshine ranging from 53% in December to 75% in August and September, sunshine is abundant and the city receives 2,985.3 hours of bright sunshine annually.

Transport

• China National Highway 216
• China National Highway 217
• Aletai Xuedu Airport
• Altay 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

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

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

Tourism

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

Notable people

• Ma Fuxiang (1876–1932), military governor of Altay
• Kanat Islam (born 1984), boxer
• Rebiya Kadeer (born 1947), secessionist and political activist
• Dinigeer Yilamujiang (born 2001), skier

Explanatory notes

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

References

1. ^ "2016 Altay City National Economic and Social Development Statistical Communique". Retrieved 17 June 2018.^{[dead link]}