Yanqi Hui Autonomous County

The ancient Buddhist city-state of Karashar (which means "black city") or Yanqi (焉耆) - stood at the northern edge of the Takla-Makan desert , 24 km from Lake Bagrashköl , between the oases of Gaochan (east), Kucha (west) and Korla ( south). The capital was considered the city of Yuanqui (員 渠). According to the census conducted by the Chinese, there were 4,000 households in the principality, 32,100 people, of which 6,000 were soldiers. The Chinese administration consisted of 17 officials, led by Hou and 3 translators. In the north it was bordered by Usuns . In the nearest lake - now Bagrasköl , they caught a lot of fish.

In the 1st century BC e. a blow to Karashar was inflicted by the Han warlord Ban Chao . All R. In the 5th century, the Chinese opposed to Buddhism delivered a new blow to the principality of Karashara, as L. N. Gumilyov tells us:

In that era, Karashar was a princedom that included nine oases. His master bore the title of moons. Karashars were not averse to rob Chinese embassies, but, most importantly, they were real Buddhists. The appearance of the troops of the sworn enemy of Buddhism threatened them with very serious consequences, and they decided to resist. First, Wang Du-gui took the fortresses of Zuho and Halgaaman and besieged Yuankyu. Lun Gyuhubina gathered 50 thousand people (a clear exaggeration) and tried to organize a defense. Wang Du-gui decided on a frontal blow. In melee tobacco, they won a complete victory. The Karashars scattered, the capital surrendered, and the moons of Gyuhubin rode off to Kucha. [one]

Karashar rulers tried to maintain friendly relations with neighboring oases in order to confront both the steppes and the Chinese. The northern route of the Great Silk Road passed through their city, bringing significant economic benefits. In the VII century. The Karashar principality became part of the Tangan Empire , and the locals ( Indo-Europeans - Yuezhi ) were dissolved among the Turkic-speaking neighbors.

In 1913, Yanqi County (焉耆 县) was formed. On April 12, 1950, the Yanqi Special Region (焉耆 专区) was created, and the county became part of it. On June 23, 1954, it was disbanded, and the county became part of the Bayan-Gol-Mongol Autonomous Region as the Yanqi Hui Autonomous Region (焉耆 回族 自治区). In 1955, the autonomous region was transformed into an autonomous county.

The county is divided into 4 villages and 4 volosts .

• Godao 218

• Yanqi Hui Autonomous County - information about the territory, population, and history of changes in the administrative-territorial division on the website 行政 区划 网(Chinese)