Xayar County,, United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency also Shayar CountyThe official spelling is "Shayar" according to or, from Mandarin Chinese, Shaya, is a county in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region and is under the administration of the Aqsu Prefecture. It contains an area of . According to the 2004 census it has a population of 210,000.
History In 1902, Xayar County was established.
In March 1964, Tarim Farm () was founded. In 1970, Tarim Farm was renamed Nong Yi Shi 15th Regiment (). In 1973, Nong Yi Shi 15th Regiment was renamed Third Laogai Detachment (). As of 1982, the prison had a cotton processing factory. In 1985, Third Laogai Detachment was renamed Tarim Laogai Detachment (). In 1994, Tarim Laogai Detachment was renamed Tarim Prison ().
On July 15, 1996, a prison rebellion in Xayar County led to the deaths of fifteen.
In 1998, Tarim Prison was renamed Xayar Prison ().
In June 2008, Gezqum Township (Gaizikumu) was established. On December 30, 2008, the township's government started operation.
In 2011, Yantaqsheher Township (Yangtakexiehai'er) was established.
In 2012, Xadadong (Hadedun) was established. On February 25, 2013, the town's government started operation.
On May 26, 2014, Gulbagh (Gulebage), then a township, was made a town.
Administrative divisions Xayar County included seven towns, four townships and four other areas:
Name Simplified Chinese Hanyu Pinyin Uyghur (UEY) Uyghur Latin (ULY) Administrative division code NotesTowns Xayar Town 652924100 Toyboldi Town 652924101 formerly Toyboldi Township () Qizilbayraq Town 652924102 formerly Toyboldi Township () Yengimehelle Town 652924103 formerly Yengimehelle Township () Xadadong Town 652924104 Gülbag Town 652924105 formerly Gülbag Township () Qaylor 652924106 formerly Qaylor Township ()Townships Nurbagh Township 652924205 Tarim Township 652924206 Gezqum Township 652924207 Yantaqsheher Township 652924208
Other areas: Xinken Farm (), No. 2 Pasture (), Xayar Prison (Xinjiang Shaya Prison, ), Xayar County Industrial Zone ().
Climate
Economy Agriculture and animal husbandry are equally strong in the county. Agricultural products include wheat, corn and cotton as well as melons, yema (), walnut, velvet antler, muskrat, and licorice root. The county is the main location for Sanbei Sheep () lambskin production. Industries include knitting, leather making, food processing and others.
The seven major speciality products of the county include Tarim Huyang, cotton, red deer, dates, Karakul sheep, salt cedar, and sword-leaf dogbane.
, there was about 45,900 acres (303,747 mu) of cultivated land in Xayar.
Demographics
As of 2015, 230,129 of the 274,382 residents of the county were Uyghur, 41,463 were Han Chinese and 2,790 were from other ethnic groups.
Most residents of Xayar are Muslim Uyghurs.
As of 1999, 84.05% of the population of Xayar (Shaya) County was Uyghur and 14.6% of the population was Han Chinese.
Transportation China National Highway 217
Historical maps Historical English-language maps including Xayar:
Notes
References