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.
Name Simplified Chinese Hanyu Pinyin Uyghur (UEY) Uyghur Latin (ULY) Kazakh Arabic Kazakh CyrillicKazakh Latin Administrative division code NotesSubdistricts Jinshan Road Subdistrict(Altin Taw Road Subdistrict) Alty Tau joly mälı basqarmasy 654301001 Jiefang Road Subdistrict(Azad Road Subdistrict) Azat joly mälı basqarmasy 654301002 Tuanjie Road Subdistrict(Ittipaq Road Subdistrict)(Intimaq Road Subdistrict) Yntymaq joly mälı basqarmasy 654301003 Qiaxiu Road Subdistrict Şaşu joly mälı basqarmasy 654301004Towns Beitun Town Beitūñ qalaşyğy 654301100 Aweitan Town Äbitän qalaşyğy 654301101 Qizil Tash Town(Hongdun Town) Qyzyltas qalaşyğy 654301102 Shemirshek Town () () Şemırşek qalaşyğy 654301103 Alaqaq Town Alağaq qalaşyğy 654301104Townships Lasti Township Lasty auyly 654301203 Qarashilik Township Qara şılık auyly 654301204 Sarxolsun Township Sarğusyn auyly 654301205 Balbaghay Township Balbaşai auyly 654301206 Shirikshiy Township Şırıkşi auyly 654301207Ethnic Township Xandighati Mongol Ethnic Township Handyğaty Moñğūl Ūlttyq auyly 654301202 (Mongolian)
Others Qaraghash Ranch (, , ) Aqtumsiq Ranch (, , ) XPCC 181st Regiment (, , )
Geography
Climate Altay has a cold semi-arid climate (Köppen BSk), with an annual precipitation total of only . Winters are long, bitterly cold and dry, with a January 24-hour average of ; 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 . The annual mean is . 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.
Demographics
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 () in the Xandighati Mongol Ethnic Township (; ; ; ) 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.
Economy
Notable people Ma Fuxiang (1876–1932), military governor of Altay Kanat Islam (born 1984), boxer Rebiya Kadeer (born 1947), secessionist and political activist Dilnigar Ilhamjan (born 2001), skier
Explanatory notes
References
External links