Niya County (transliterated from the Uyghur ; ), also from Mandarin Chinese as Minfeng County (), is a county within the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region and is under the administration of the Hotan Prefecture. It contains an area of . According to the 2002 census, it has a population of 30,000.The Silk Road - China and the Karakorum Highway: A Travel Companion 1780763565 Jonathan Tucker - 2015 - Niya, north of Minfeng, Xinjiang province (photograph by Antonia Tozer) Wooden tablet written in Kharosthi (Spink and Son Ltd.) The Shanpula cemetery, Luopu county, near Khotan, Xinjiang province (photograph by Antonia Tozer) Remains. The county is bordered to the north by Xayar County, to the east by Qiemo/Qarqan County, to the west by Yutian / Keriya County and to the south by Ngari Prefecture in Tibet.

The county seat is in the town of Niya, which is often referred to by the county name (Minfeng) as well. The Niya ruins are located 115 km north of Niya.

History The earliest known political entities within the territory of the present-day county can be traced back to the ancient kingdoms of Jingjue and Ronglu during the Western Han dynasty. In 59 BCE, during the third year of the Shenjue era of the Western Han, the area was incorporated into the jurisdiction of the Protectorate of the Western Regions. During the Eastern Han dynasty, it was absorbed into the Shanshan kingdom and administered by the Chief Official of the Western Regions. During the Three Kingdoms period, the area became part of the Kingdom of Khotan.

It subsequently came under the control of the Western Jin, Former Liang, and Northern Liang regimes. In 649 CE, during the twenty-third year of the Zhenguan era of the Tang dynasty, the Pisha Dudufu (Protectorate Command) was established to govern the region. During the Northern Song dynasty, the area belonged to the Kingdom of Dabao Khotan before later coming under the rule of the Kara-Khanid Khanate.

During the Yuan dynasty, the area was initially administered by the Marshal Office of the Khotan Pacification Commission () and was later incorporated into Beshbalik. During the Ming dynasty, the city of Niyang gradually declined, and residents moved upstream along the river, establishing a new settlement in the area of present-day Niya Town. The modern Uyghur name “Niya” is derived from this settlement. In 1757 in Qing dynasty, an aqsaqal administration was established in Kingdom of Khotan, and the settlement was officially named Niya Zhuang (). The area later came under the administration of Hotan County.

In the early 20th century, Aurel Stein carried out several expeditions in the area including exploration of the ancient Niya ruins. Following the establishment of the Republic of China, the area became the Eighth District of Hotan County in 1943, with two subordinate townships. In November 1943, the Eighth District was separated from Hotan County and reorganized as the Niya Administrative Bureau, directly subordinate to the Hotan Administrative Inspectorate. In April 1944, the Niya Administrative Bureau () was abolished and upgraded to county status under the name Minfeng County, meaning “prosperous people and abundant resources,” while the Uyghur name “Niya” continued in local usage. The county was placed under the jurisdiction of the Seventh Administrative Inspectorate of Xinjiang Province.

After the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949, the county came under the administration of the Hotan Prefectural Commissioner's Office () in 1950. In 1953, the Andir Ranch () was established. Since 1979, the county has remained under the administration of Hotan Prefecture ().

In 2012, the township of Yawatongguz (Yawatongguzi) was established.

Geography The northern part of the county is located in the Taklamakan Desert and consists of large areas of sand dunes. The population centers on oases around rivers flowing down from the mountains in the southern part of the county.

Climate Minfeng has a typical Xinjiang cool arid climate (Köppen BWk), featuring hot summers, freezing winters, substantial diurnal temperature ranges and minimal precipitation year-round. , on average, Minfeng experienced blowing dust or sand on 189 days in a year and visibility below for more than half of winter and summer as well as for thirty to forty percent of spring. The lowest spring time temperature recorded in Minfeng was .

Administrative divisions The county includes one town and six townships:

Name Simplified Chinese Hanyu Pinyin Uyghur (UEY) Uyghur Latin (ULY) Administrative division code NotesTown Niya Town 653227100Township Niya Township 653227200 Rokiya Township 653227201 Salgozak Township , United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency 653227202 Yeyik Township 653227203 Andir Township 653227204 Yawatongguz Township(area of Yawatongguzlangar) 653227205

Economy The economy is primarily based on agriculture and livestock farming. Products of the county include corn, wheat, cotton and sheep wool. Industries in the county include electronics, agriculture technology, food processing, carpets and construction.

Demographics As of 2015, out of the 38,492 residents, 34,900 of the county were Uyghur, 3,509 were Han Chinese and 83 were from other ethnic groups.

As of 1999, 90.94% of the population of Niya (Minfeng) County was Uyghur and 8.91% of the population was Han Chinese. By the end of 2020, the results of China's Seventh National Population Census showed that the county had a permanent resident population of 42,649.

Transportation China National Highway 315 Tarim Desert Highway Minfeng railway station serving Hotan–Ruoqiang railway

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《农广天地》昆仑山下鸡羊鲜 20190218 | CCTV农业