The Subei Mongol Autonomous County is an autonomous county within the prefecture-level city of Jiuquan in the northwest of Gansu Province, China, bordering Xinjiang to the west, Qinghai Province to the southeast and Mongolia's Govi-Altai Province to the north. Containing the northernmost point in Gansu, Subei is split into two non-contiguous sections and has an area of 66748 km2 and had approximately 13,046 inhabitants in 2000. To the east it shares a border with Ejin Banner, Alxa League, Inner Mongolia.

History

In the early 1930s, Birger Bohlin studied the paleontology of the region (then called Taban Buluk). In 1937, Subei Administrate Bureau (肅北設治局) was established. On July 22, 1950, PLA forces entered the Subei area. The county-level Subei Autonomous District (肅北自治區), predecessor of the Subei Mongol Autonomous County, was established on July 29, 1950. The area became county-level Subei Mongol Autonomous District (肃北蒙古族自治区) in 1953. In 1955, the area became Subei Mongol Autonomous County. In September 1992, with the approval of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, the only international border crossing in Gansu Province was opened in the Mazongshan area of Subei Mongol Autonomous County. Horse shows and races are held periodically in the county.

Climate

A large part of Subei is in the Gobi Desert. The county has been subject to large dust storms with noted incidents in May 2011 and June 2016. There are glaciers in some parts of the county.

Administrative divisions

Subei Mongol Autonomous County is divided into two towns and two townships. The county's administrative seat ("capital") is the town of Dangchengwan.

Demographics

Subei is home to Deed Mongols (Upper Mongols) who migrated to the area. In 1996, the Mongol ethnicity population was 37.5% of the county's total population.

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