Tongliao[a] is a prefecture-level city in eastern Inner Mongolia, People's Republic of China. The area is 59,535 square kilometres (22,987 sq mi) and as of the 2020 census, its population was 2,873,168 (3,139,153 in 2010). However, the city proper made of Horqin district, had 921,808 inhabitants.[3] The city was the administrative centre of the defunct Jirem League.[b]

Tongliao
通辽市
ᠲᠦᠩᠯᠢᠶᠣᠤ ᠬᠣᠲᠠ
Zhelimu Bridge
Zhelimu Bridge
Location of Tongliao City jurisdiction in Inner Mongolia
Location of Tongliao City jurisdiction in Inner Mongolia
Tongliao is located in Inner Mongolia
Tongliao
Tongliao
Location of the city centre in Inner Mongolia
Coordinates (Tongliao municipal government): 43°39′14″N 122°14′35″E / 43.654°N 122.243°E / 43.654; 122.243
CountryPeople's Republic of China
Autonomous regionInner Mongolia
Municipal seatHorqin District
Area
58,862 km2 (22,727 sq mi)
 • Metro
3,516 km2 (1,358 sq mi)
Elevation179 m (587 ft)
Highest elevation
1,444.2 m (4,738.2 ft)
Population
 (2020 census)[3]
2,873,168
 • Density49/km2 (130/sq mi)
 • Urban
1,437,489
 • Metro
921,808
 • Metro density260/km2 (680/sq mi)
GDP[4]
 • Prefecture-level cityCN¥ 187.7 billion
US$ 30.1 billion
 • Per capitaCN¥ 60,128
US$ 9,654
Time zoneUTC+8 (China Standard)
ISO 3166 codeCN-NM-05
Websitetongliao.gov.cn
Tongliao
Chinese name
Simplified Chinese通辽
Traditional Chinese通遼
Literal meaning"Through Liao"
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinTōngliáo
Bopomofoㄊㄨㄥ ㄌㄧㄠˊ
Wade–GilesT'ung1-liao2
IPA[tʰʊ́ŋ.ljǎʊ]
Mongolian name
Mongolian CyrillicТонляо хот
Mongolian scriptᠲᠦᠩᠯᠢᠶᠣᠤ ᠬᠣᠲᠠ
Transcriptions
SASM/GNCTüŋliyou qota

The original Mongolian name for Tongliao city proper (i.e. Horqin District) is Bayisingtu (Chinese: 白音泰赉; pinyin: Báiyīntàilài; lit. 'having buildings'), while the original name of the prefecture-level city is Jirem. The Mongolian dialect spoken in this area is Khorchin Mongolian.

History

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Human settlement in Tongliao and the surrounding Khorchin area dates from at least 1000 BC. The Donghu people, a tribe who spoke a proto-Mongolian language, settled in today's Tongliao area, north of Yan during the Warring States period.[5] their culture was associated with the Upper Xiajiadian culture, characterized by the practice of agriculture and animal husbandry supplemented by handicrafts and bronze art.[6] Later, the Tongliao area was controlled by Xiongnu, Xianbei, and Khitan tribes.

After the Mongolian Khanate had established the Yuan Dynasty in Chinese territory, Tongliao was put under the jurisdiction of Liaoyang province, whose provincial capital was in today's Liaoning Province. In the early Qing period, Khorchin, Dörbod, Jalaid and Gorlos tribes met in Jirem to establish an alliance, and the Jirem League was founded in 1636 to administer Khorchin territory. The Jirem League had jurisdiction over six Khorchin banners, two Gorlos banners, one Dorbod banner and one Jalaid banner. During the Republican period, the Jirem League and the surrounding Khorchin area was controlled by the Fengtian and Liaoning provinces.

In 1918, Tongliao County was first established under the administration of the Jirem League and Fengtian province. After the Japanese Kwantung Army invaded Manchuria in 1931, a Japanese-controlled puppet state Manchukuo was established in Xinjing, 280 kilometers away from today's Tongliao urban area. The Manchukuo government set up Xing'an Province and soon divided it into four parts, in order to govern the western part of former Heilongjiang, Jilin and Fengtian provinces. These Xing'an provinces roughly overlap today's eastern part of Inner Mongolia, including today's Hulunbuir League, Xingan League, Chifeng and Tongliao. After the dissolution of the Manchukuo state, the Jirem League was governed by Liaoning and Liaobei provinces until Ulanhu established Inner Mongolia in Ulanhot, governing eastern Mongolian areas including the Hulunbuir, Jirem and Ju Ud leagues. After 1969, the Jirem League was put under the administration of Jilin province administration for 10 years until 1979. In 1999, the Jirem League became defunct and changed its name to Tongliao city, which was set up a prefecture-level city.

In 1924, Oomoto leader Onisaburo Deguchi, Aikido founder Morihei Ueshiba, and Lu Zhankui were arrested by Chinese authorities in Tongliao. Lu and his men were executed by firing squad, but Deguchi and Ueshiba were released into the customer of the Japanese consul.

Geography and climate

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Tongliao spans latitude 42°15' – 45°41' and longitude 119°15' – 123°43',[7] and borders Jilin province to the east, Liaoning to the south, Chifeng to the southwest, the Xilin Gol League to the west, and the Hinggan League to the north. Not far from Tongliao are silica sands. Tongliao has a total area of 59,535 square kilometres (22,987 sq mi), accounting for 5.4% of Inner Mongolia's total.[8]

Tongliao's topography primarily consists of plains,[7] though the northern stretch of the prefecture extends into the eastern foothills of the southern Greater Khingan.[7] The central and eastern parts of the prefecture are marked by the plains of the Xiliao, Xinkai River (新开河), and Jiaolai rivers (教来河), collectively forming the Sanhe Plain (三河平原; 'three rivers' plain').[7] The highest point in the prefecture is Tunte'er Peak (吞特尔峰), at 1,444.2 m (4,738 ft).[1][2]

Tongliao has a four-season, monsoon-influenced, continental steppe climate (Köppen BSk), with long, cold, windy, but dry winters, and hot, humid summers. Monthly mean temperatures range from −13.0 °C (8.6 °F) in January to 24.2 °C (75.6 °F) in July, with an annual mean of 7.11 °C (44.8 °F). Much of the year's rainfall occurs from June to August, and even then dry and sunny weather dominates in the city. With monthly percent possible sunshine ranging from 57% in July to 78% in January, sunshine is abundant year-round, with 3,054 hours of bright sunshine annually.

Climate data for Tongliao (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1936-present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 9.7
(49.5)
19.0
(66.2)
25.7
(78.3)
35.5
(95.9)
41.5
(106.7)
39.7
(103.5)
38.7
(101.7)
38.5
(101.3)
33.5
(92.3)
30.2
(86.4)
21.1
(70.0)
14.6
(58.3)
41.5
(106.7)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) −6.4
(20.5)
−1.0
(30.2)
6.8
(44.2)
16.4
(61.5)
23.8
(74.8)
28.2
(82.8)
29.9
(85.8)
28.6
(83.5)
24.0
(75.2)
15.2
(59.4)
3.7
(38.7)
−4.8
(23.4)
13.7
(56.7)
Daily mean °C (°F) −12.5
(9.5)
−7.6
(18.3)
0.2
(32.4)
9.8
(49.6)
17.4
(63.3)
22.3
(72.1)
24.7
(76.5)
23.1
(73.6)
17.2
(63.0)
8.5
(47.3)
−2.2
(28.0)
−10.5
(13.1)
7.5
(45.6)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −17.4
(0.7)
−13.2
(8.2)
−5.7
(21.7)
3.4
(38.1)
11.0
(51.8)
16.5
(61.7)
19.9
(67.8)
18.1
(64.6)
11.2
(52.2)
2.8
(37.0)
−7.0
(19.4)
−15.1
(4.8)
2.0
(35.7)
Record low °C (°F) −33.9
(−29.0)
−28.7
(−19.7)
−22.8
(−9.0)
−13.9
(7.0)
−2.2
(28.0)
3.5
(38.3)
10.8
(51.4)
5.9
(42.6)
−2.2
(28.0)
−11.2
(11.8)
−23.0
(−9.4)
−31.6
(−24.9)
−33.9
(−29.0)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 1.4
(0.06)
1.6
(0.06)
6.3
(0.25)
15.2
(0.60)
37.0
(1.46)
75.3
(2.96)
101.7
(4.00)
91.7
(3.61)
23.8
(0.94)
18.5
(0.73)
7.3
(0.29)
2.2
(0.09)
382
(15.05)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) 1.8 1.5 2.8 4.4 7.3 10.8 10.9 9.0 6.0 3.6 2.5 2.7 63.3
Average snowy days 3.3 2.7 3.7 1.5 0.1 0.1 0 0 0 0.9 3.4 4.5 20.2
Average relative humidity (%) 52 43 39 39 45 59 71 71 60 53 51 54 53
Mean monthly sunshine hours 219.5 228.6 269.8 265.0 279.2 259.4 240.9 251.2 256.6 240.9 201.6 198.8 2,911.5
Percent possible sunshine 76 77 73 65 61 56 52 59 69 72 70 72 67
Source 1: China Meteorological Administration[9][10][11]
Source 2: Weather China[12]

Subdivisions

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Map
Name Mongolian Hanzi Hanyu Pinyin Population
(2020)
Area (km2) Density
(/km2)
Horqin District ᠬᠣᠷᠴᠢᠨ ᠲᠣᠭᠣᠷᠢᠭ
(Qorčin toɣoriɣ)
科尔沁区 Kē'ěrqìn Qū 921,808 3,515.69 262
Holingol city ᠬᠣᠣᠯᠢᠨ ᠭᠣᠣᠯ ᠬᠣᠲᠠ
(Qoolin Ɣool qota)
霍林郭勒市 Huòlínguōlè Shì 138,676 584.65 237
Kailu County ᠺᠠᠶᠢᠯᠦ ᠰᠢᠶᠠᠨ
(Ḵayilü siyan)
开鲁县 Kāilǔ Xiàn 313,364 4,353.20 72
Hure Banner ᠬᠦᠷᠢᠶ᠎ᠡ ᠬᠣᠰᠢᠭᠤ
(Küriy-e qosiɣu)
库伦旗 Kùlún Qí 151,133 4,709 32
Naiman Banner ᠨᠠᠢᠮᠠᠨ ᠬᠣᠰᠢᠭᠤ
(Naiman qosiɣu)
奈曼旗 Nàimàn Qí 375,312 8,135.22 46
Jarud Banner ᠵᠠᠷᠤᠳ ᠬᠣᠰᠢᠭᠤ
(Jarud qosiɣu)
扎鲁特旗 Zālǔtè Qí 251,806 16,491.6 15
Horqin Left Middle Banner
(Horqin Jun Garun Dundad Banner)
ᠬᠣᠷᠴᠢᠨ ᠵᠡᠭᠦᠨ ᠭᠠᠷᠤᠨ ᠳᠤᠮᠳᠠᠳᠤ ᠬᠣᠰᠢᠭᠤ
(Qorčin Jegün Ɣarun Dumdadu qosiɣu)
科尔沁左翼中旗 Kē'ěrqìn Zuǒyì
Zhōng Qí
399,631 9,572.54 42
Horqin Left Back Banner
(Horqin Jun Garun Hoit Banner)
ᠬᠣᠷᠴᠢᠨ ᠵᠡᠭᠦᠨ ᠭᠠᠷᠤᠨ ᠬᠣᠶᠢᠲᠤ ᠬᠣᠰᠢᠭᠤ
(Qorčin Jegün Ɣarun Qoyitu qosiɣu)
科尔沁左翼后旗 Kē'ěrqìn Zuǒyì
Hòu Qí
321,438 11,499.64 28

Demographics

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Ethnic groups in Tongliao, 2010 census.

Ethnicity Population Percentage
Han 1,592,279 50.72%
Mongol 1,441,275 45.91%
Manchu 88,316 2.81%
Hui 12,462 0.4%
Korean 2,421 0.08%
Xibe 890 0.03%
Daur 548 0.02%

Transport

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Local train from Dalian to Tongliao (2002)

Tongliao railway station is a railway hub in both Inner Mongolia and Northeast China. Tongliao-Beijing Railway conveniently connects the city with Beijing. Jining–Tongliao railway connects Inner Mongolia. There are also railways connecting Tongliao with Shenyang and Daqing. State Highway 111, State Highway 303, State Highway 304 and State Highway 204 run through the city and extend to harbor cities such as Tianjin, Dalian, and Qinhuangdao. The city is served by Tongliao Airport.[13]

Education

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The Inner Mongolia University for Nationalities (内蒙古民族大学)and Inner Mongolia College of Farming and Animal Husbandry (merged into the Inner Mongolia University for Nationalities) are among the educational institutions of Tongliao.

Additionally Tongliao Mongolian Middle School (通辽蒙古族中学) is there.[14]

Points of interest

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  • Zhurihe Ranch (珠日河牧場)
  • Daqinggou (大青溝)

Every summer, the Naadam festival is held at Tongliao's Zhurihe Ranch.[15][better source needed]

Notable people

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Notes

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  1. ^ Chinese: 通辽市; Mongolian: ᠲᠦᠩᠯᠢᠶᠣᠤ ᠬᠣᠲᠠ Tüŋliyou qota, Mongolian Cyrillic: Тонляо хот
  2. ^ 哲里木盟; ᠵᠢᠷᠢᠮ ᠠᠶᠢᠮᠠᠭ Jirim ayimaɣ

References

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  1. ^ a b 秋天的特金罕山,美的像幅油画,值得一游!. 通辽旅游 [Tongliao Tourism]. 2017-10-20. Retrieved 2020-05-10 – via Sohu.
  2. ^ a b 建置沿革. CASS Nationalities Studies Research Institute (中国社会科学院民族文学研究所).
  3. ^ a b "China: Inner Mongolia (Prefectures, Leagues, Cities, Districts, Banners and Counties) - Population Statistics, Charts and Map".
  4. ^ 内蒙古自治区统计局、国家统计局内蒙古调查总队 (2016). 《内蒙古统计年鉴-2016》. 中国统计出版社. ISBN 978-7-5037-7901-5.
  5. ^ Watson (1993), p. 132.
  6. ^ Lin (2007)[page needed]
  7. ^ a b c d 通辽概览概况地图_行政区划网(区划地名网) www.xzqh.org. XZQH.org. 2013-05-08. Retrieved 2020-05-10.
  8. ^ "HKTDC Research". research.hktdc.com.
  9. ^ 中国气象数据网 – WeatherBk Data (in Simplified Chinese). China Meteorological Administration. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  10. ^ 中国气象数据网 (in Simplified Chinese). China Meteorological Administration. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  11. ^ 中国地面国际交换站气候标准值月值数据集(1971-2000年). China Meteorological Administration. Archived from the original on 2013-09-21. Retrieved 2010-05-25.
  12. ^ 呼和浩特城市介绍以及气候背景分析. Weather China (in Chinese (China)). Retrieved 27 July 2015.
  13. ^ "Tongliao | China | Britannica".
  14. ^ "Culture war: Inner Mongolia seethes as China presses Mandarin at school". Bangkok Post. 2020-09-15. Retrieved 2020-09-22.
  15. ^ Naadam on sand kicks off in China's Inner Mongolia (Xinhua Net
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