Hotan Prefecture

The prefecture spans 248,059 square kilometers between the Taklamakan Desert and Kunlun Mountains, incorporating eight counties and numerous oasis settlements.

The region formed the center of the ancient Saka Buddhist Kingdom of Khotan before becoming part of successive empires including the Kara-Khanid Khanate and Qing dynasty.

The population of 2.5 million inhabitants includes 96 percent Uyghur people who maintain traditional practices of silk production, jade carving, and carpet weaving.

The prefecture connects to major Xinjiang cities through an extensive network of highways and railways, facilitating transportation and trade throughout the region.

The territory contains 36 rivers, with the Karakash River contributing over 7.3 million cubic meters of annual water flow to the regional ecosystem.

Location: Xinjiang

Website: http://xjht.gov.cn

GPS coordinates: 37.10913,79.92484

Latest update: May 27, 2025 13:25