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Qinghai Province

青海省
Name transcription(s)
 • Chinese 青海省 (Qīnghǎi Shěng)
 • Abbreviation QH / (pinyin: Qīng)
The region of Hoh Xil, a World Heritage Site
The region of Hoh Xil, a World Heritage Site
Map showing the location of Qinghai Province
Map showing the location of Qinghai Province
Named for Derived from the name of Qinghai Lake ("blue/green lake").
Capital
(and largest city)
Xining
Divisions 8 prefectures, 43 counties, 429 townships
Area
 • Total 720,000 km2 (280,000 sq mi)
Area rank 4th
Highest elevation
6,860 m (22,510 ft)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total 5,626,722
 • Rank 30th
 • Density 7.81/km2 (20.24/sq mi)
 • Density rank 30th
Demographics
 • Ethnic composition Han - 54%
Tibetan - 21%
Hui - 16%
Tu - 4%
Mongol - 1.8%
Salar - 1.8%
 • Languages and dialects Zhongyuan Mandarin Chinese, Amdo Tibetan, Monguor, Oirat Mongolian, Salar and Western Yugur
ISO 3166 code CN-QH
GDP (2017 ) CNY 264.28 billion
USD 39.14 billion (30th)
 • per capita CNY 44,348
USD 6,568 (23rd)
HDI (2017) 0.680 (medium) (27th)
Website http://www.qh.gov.cn/
(Simplified Chinese)
Qinghai
Qinghai (Chinese characters).svg
"Qinghai" in Chinese characters
Chinese name
Chinese 青海
Postal Tsinghai
Literal meaning "Qinghai (Lake)"
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyin Qīnghǎi
Bopomofo ㄑㄧㄥ   ㄏㄞˇ
Gwoyeu Romatzyh Chinghae
Wade–Giles Chʻing1-hai3
Wu
Romanization Tshin-he
Hakka
Romanization Tshiâng-hói
Yue: Cantonese
Yale Romanization Chīnghói
Jyutping Cing1hoi2
Southern Min
Hokkien POJ Chheng-hái
Tâi-lô Tsheng-hái
Tibetan name
Tibetan མཚོ་སྔོན་
Transcriptions
Wylie mtsho sngon
Mongolian name
Mongolian script ᠬᠥᠬᠡ
ᠮᠨᠠᠭᠤᠷ
Transcriptions
SASM/GNC Köke naɣur
Manchu name
Manchu script ᡥᡠᡥᡠ
ᠮᠨᠣᠣᡵ
Romanization Huhu Noor
Oirat name
Oirat Kokonur

Qinghai is a landlocked province in Northwestern China. As one of the largest province-level administrative divisions of China by area, the province is ranked fourth-largest in area and has the third-smallest population. Its capital and largest city is Xining.

Qinghai borders Gansu on the northeast, Xinjiang on the northwest, Sichuan on the southeast and the Tibet Autonomous Region on the southwest. Qinghai province was established in 1928 under the Republic of China period during which it was ruled by Chinese Muslim warlords known as the Ma clique. The Chinese name "Qinghai" is after Qinghai Lake (cyan sea lake), the largest lake in China. The province was known formerly as Kokonur in English, derived from the Oirat name for Qinghai Lake.

Located mostly on the Tibetan Plateau, the province has long been a melting pot for a number of ethnic groups including the Han, Tibetans, Hui, Tu, Mongols and Salars. Tibetans constitute a fifth of the population of Qinghai and the Hui compose roughly a sixth of the population. There are over 37 recognized ethnic groups among Qinghai's population of 5.2 million, with national minorities making up a total of 45.5% of the population.

The area of Qinghai was brought under Chinese rule from 1724. After the overthrow of the Qing dynasty in 1911, the region came under Chinese Muslim warlord Ma Qi's control until the Northern Expedition by the Republic of China consolidated central control in 1928, creating the province.

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Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Qinghai para niños

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