Aksay Kazakh Autonomous County is an autonomous county under the prefecture-level city of Jiuquan in Gansu Province, China. The county borders Qinghai Province to the south and Xinjiang to the west. The westernmost county-level division of Gansu, the county has an area of 32374 km2 and a population of 10,545 as of 2010. The postal code is 736400.

History

The Aksai Kazakh Autonomous Region Preparatory Committee was set up in 1953, south of Dunhuang. On April 26, 1954, the Aksai Kazak Autonomous Region was established. In 1955, it was renamed Aksai Kazakh Autonomous County.

Geography

The county lies on the northern edge of the Tibetan Plateau and has an average elevation of about 3,200 meters. The county is bordered by the city of Dunhuang to the north, Qinghai to the south, Subei Mongol Autonomous County to the east, and Xinjiang to the west. The Big Harteng River and the Little Harteng River both flow through the southern portion of the county. The, which actually comprises the Big Sugan Lake and the Little Sugan Lake is located in the county.

Climate

The county experiences an average annual rainfall of 100 mm, an average annual temperature of 5.4 °C and an annual frost-free period of 90 days.

Administrative divisions

The county governs one town, three townships, and one other township-level division.

Demographics

As of 2010, the county had a permanent population of 10,545, of which, 10,079 lived in Hongliuwan. The county is the only Kazakh autonomous county in the province of Gansu. As of 2005, 41.3% of the county's population were ethnic Kazakhs, up slightly from the 40.7% recorded in 1996. Other ethnic groups in the county include the Han, the Hui, the Uighur, the Tibetans and 6 other ethnic minorities.

Transport

China National Highway 215 passes through the county, as does Gansu Provincial Highway 314. Golmud–Dunhuang Railway also passes through the county.