# Altay City

Altay or Aletai is a county-level city in Altay Prefecture within Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture, in far Northern Xinjiang, China. The city centre is located on the banks of Kelan River.

## Administrative divisions

Altay City is divided into four subdistricts, five towns, five townships, and one ethnic township.
| Name | Simplified Chinese | Hanyu Pinyin | Uyghur (UEY) | Uyghur Latin (ULY) | Kazakh Arabic | Kazakh Cyrillic | Kazakh Latin | Administrative division code | Notes |
| Subdistricts ||||||||||
| Jinshan Road Subdistrict (Altin Taw Road Subdistrict) | 金山路街道 | Jīnshānlù Jiēdào | ئالتۇنتاغ يولى كوچا باشقارمىسى | Altuntagh yoli kocha bashqarmisi | التىن تاۋ جولى ءمالى باسقارماسى | Алтын Тау жолы мәлі басқармасы | Alty Tau joly mälı basqarmasy | 654301001 | |
| Jiefang Road Subdistrict (Azad Road Subdistrict) | 解放路街道 | Jiěfànglù Jiēdào | ئازاد يولى كوچا باشقارمىسى | Azad yoli kocha bashqarmisi | ازات جولى ءمالى باسقارماسى | Азат жолы мәлі басқармасы | Azat joly mälı basqarmasy | 654301002 | |
| Tuanjie Road Subdistrict (Ittipaq Road Subdistrict) (Intimaq Road Subdistrict) | 团结路街道 | Tuánjiélù Jiēdào | ئىتتىپاق يولى كوچا باشقارمىسى | Ittipaq yoli kocha bashqarmisi | ىنتىماق جولى ءمالى باسقارماسى | Ынтымақ жолы мәлі басқармасы | Yntymaq joly mälı basqarmasy | 654301003 | |
| Qiaxiu Road Subdistrict | 恰秀路街道 | Qiàxiùlù Jiēdào | چاشيۇ يولى كوچا باشقارمىسى | chashyu yoli kocha bashqarmisi | شاشۋ جولى ءمالى باسقارماسى | Шашу жолы мәлі басқармасы | Şaşu joly mälı basqarmasy | 654301004 | |
| Towns ||||||||||
| Beitun Town | 北屯镇 | Běitún Zhèn | بېيتۈن بازىرى | bëytün baziri | بەيتۇن قالاشىعى | Бейтұң қалашығы | Beitūñ qalaşyğy | 654301100 | |
| Aweitan Town | 阿苇滩镇 | Āwěitān Zhèn | ئاۋىيتان بازىرى | Awiytan baziri | ءابيتان قالاشىعى | Әбитән қалашығы | Äbitän qalaşyğy | 654301101 | |
| Qizil Tash Town (Hongdun Town) | 红墩镇 | Hóngdūn Zhèn | قىزىل تاش بازىرى | qizil tash baziri | قىزىلتاس قالاشىعى | Қызылтас қалашығы | Qyzyltas qalaşyğy | 654301102 | |
| Shemirshek Town | 切木尔切克镇 | Qièmù'ěrqièkè Zhèn | شەمىرشەك بازىرى (چېمىرچەك بازىرى) | shemirshek baziri (chëmirchek baziri) | شەمىرشەك قالاشىعى | Шеміршек қалашығы | Şemırşek qalaşyğy | 654301103 | |
| Alaqaq Town | 阿拉哈克镇 | Ālāhākè Zhèn | ئالاقاق بازىرى | Alaqaq baziri | الاعاق قالاشىعى | Алағақ қалашығы | Alağaq qalaşyğy | 654301104 | |
| Townships ||||||||||
| Lasti Township | 拉斯特乡 | Lāsītè Xiāng | لاستى يېزىسى | lasti yëzisi | لاستى اۋىلى | Ласты ауылы | Lasty auyly | 654301203 | |
| Qarashilik Township | 喀拉希力克乡 | Kālāxīlìkè Xiāng | قارا شىلىك يېزىسى | qara shilik yëzisi | قارا شىلىك اۋىلى | Қара шілік ауылы | Qara şılık auyly | 654301204 | |
| Sarxolsun Township | 萨尔胡松乡 | Sà'ěrhúsōng Xiāng | سارخولسۇن يېزىسى | sarxolsun yëzisi | سارعۋسىن اۋىلى | Сарғусын ауылы | Sarğusyn auyly | 654301205 | |
| Balbaghay Township | 巴里巴盖乡 | Bālǐbāgài Xiāng | بالباغاي يېزىسى | balbaghay yëzisi | بالباعاي اۋىلى | Балбағай ауылы | Balbaşai auyly | 654301206 | |
| Shirikshiy Township | 切尔克齐乡 | Qiè'ěrkèqí Xiāng | چېرىكچى يېزىسى | chërikchi yëzisi | شىرىكشي اۋىلى | Шірікши ауылы | Şırıkşi auyly | 654301207 | |
| Ethnic Township ||||||||||
| Xandighati Mongol Ethnic Township | 汗德尕特蒙古族乡 | Hàndégǎtè Ménggǔzú Xiāng | خاندىغاتى موڭغۇل يېزىسى | xandighati mongghul yëzisi | حاندىعاتى موڭعۇل ۇلتتىق اۋىلى | Хандығаты Моңғұл Ұлттық ауылы | Handyğaty Moñğūl Ūlttyq auyly | 654301202 | (Mongolian) ᠬᠠᠨᠳᠠᠭᠠᠢᠲᠤ ᠮᠣᠩᠭᠣᠯ ᠦᠨᠳᠦᠰᠦᠲᠡᠨ ᠦ ᠰᠢᠶᠠᠩ Хандгайт монгол үндэстэний шиян |
Others
* Qaraghash Ranch (Chinese: 喀拉尕什牧场, Uyghur: قاراغاش چارۋىچىلىق مەيدانى, Kazakh: قاراعاش مال شارۋاشىلىعى الاڭىنداعى)
* Aqtumsiq Ranch (Chinese: 阿克吐木斯克牧场, Uyghur: ئاقتۇمسىق چارۋىچىلىق مەيدانى, Kazakh: اقتۇمسىق مال شارۋاشىلىعى الاڭىنداعى)
* XPCC 181st Regiment (兵团一八一团, Uyghur: 181-تۇەن مەيدانى, Kazakh: 181-تۋان الاڭىنداعى)

## Geography
### Climate

Altay has a cold semi-arid climate (Köppen BSk), with an annual precipitation total of only 213 mm (8.4 in). Winters are long, bitterly cold and dry, with a January 24-hour average of −15.3 °C (4.5 °F); however, the presence of the Altay Mountains to the north helps moderate the severity of winter cold as compared to locations further to the east. Spring and autumn are short but mild. Summers are very warm, but dry, with a July 24-hour average of 21.7 °C (71.1 °F). The annual mean is 4.75 °C (40.5 °F). With monthly percent possible sunshine ranging from 50% in December to 74% in August and September, sunshine is abundant and the city receives 2,993 hours of bright sunshine annually.
Climate data for Altay City, elevation 735 m (2,411 ft), (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1938–present) :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 5.3 (41.5) | 6.5 (43.7) | 23.1 (73.6) | 31.4 (88.5) | 34.1 (93.4) | 37.0 (98.6) | 37.5 (99.5) | 37.5 (99.5) | 35.0 (95.0) | 27.8 (82.0) | 17.6 (63.7) | 6.6 (43.9) | 37.5 (99.5) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | −9.3 (15.3) | −5.7 (21.7) | 2.5 (36.5) | 15.3 (59.5) | 22.1 (71.8) | 27.2 (81.0) | 28.5 (83.3) | 27.2 (81.0) | 21.1 (70.0) | 12.6 (54.7) | 1.4 (34.5) | −7.0 (19.4) | 11.3 (52.4) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −15.8 (3.6) | −12.4 (9.7) | −3.5 (25.7) | 9.0 (48.2) | 15.7 (60.3) | 20.7 (69.3) | 21.9 (71.4) | 20.1 (68.2) | 14.0 (57.2) | 6.4 (43.5) | −3.9 (25.0) | −12.8 (9.0) | 4.9 (40.9) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −20.9 (−5.6) | −17.8 (0.0) | −8.8 (16.2) | 3.2 (37.8) | 9.1 (48.4) | 13.8 (56.8) | 15.1 (59.2) | 13.3 (55.9) | 7.6 (45.7) | 1.4 (34.5) | −8.2 (17.2) | −17.7 (0.1) | −0.8 (30.5) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −40.0 (−40.0) | −36.9 (−34.4) | −32.2 (−26.0) | −17.3 (0.9) | −3.2 (26.2) | 2.2 (36.0) | 7.4 (45.3) | 2.3 (36.1) | −6.1 (21.0) | −15.6 (3.9) | −41.2 (−42.2) | −41.7 (−43.1) | −41.7 (−43.1) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 18.0 (0.71) | 10.4 (0.41) | 10.9 (0.43) | 15.3 (0.60) | 17.2 (0.68) | 19.0 (0.75) | 27.8 (1.09) | 21.5 (0.85) | 17.3 (0.68) | 15.9 (0.63) | 25.4 (1.00) | 23.8 (0.94) | 222.5 (8.77) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 8.1 | 6.9 | 5.8 | 6.3 | 7.1 | 7.4 | 7.9 | 7.0 | 6.5 | 6.3 | 8.6 | 10.1 | 88 |
| Average snowy days | 10.2 | 9.6 | 6.3 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.1 | 1.5 | 9.4 | 12.4 | 51.5 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 72 | 72 | 68 | 48 | 42 | 48 | 56 | 53 | 51 | 56 | 69 | 74 | 59 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 164.9 | 184.1 | 247.5 | 282.0 | 328.1 | 334.6 | 335.8 | 323.1 | 277.3 | 219.9 | 150.8 | 137.2 | 2,985.3 |
| Percent possible sunshine | 59 | 62 | 66 | 68 | 69 | 70 | 71 | 75 | 75 | 67 | 56 | 53 | 66 |
| Source: China Meteorological Administration ||||||||||||||

## Demographics

The proportion of nationalities in Altay City, 2018
Nationality
Percentage
Han People
57.7%
Kazakhs
34.5%
Hui People
3.1%
Uyghurs
2.1%
Mongols
1.2%
Others
1.4%
Source of the population statistics : :

## Transport

* China National Highway 216
* China National Highway 217
* Aletai Xuedu Airport
* Altay railway station
From Ürümqi (capital of Xinjiang Province) to Altay, it takes about one hour by plane, nine hours by day bus, 12 hours by night bus and about 9.5 hours by train.

## Culture

Like other cities in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, there are many minorities in Altay, in particular Uyghurs and Kazakhs.
The Dundbulag rock carvings (敦德布拉克岩画) in the Xandighati Mongol Ethnic Township (A.K.A. Handagaitu, Handgait; tyv. Handagaity; uyg. Handigati; cmn. Handegate) under this city is a very early evidence of skiing. The term Mongol here partially refers to ethnic Tuvans of the Mongol nation under Chinese designation.

## Education

In schools, students are taught mainly in Chinese (Mandarin) and there are courses for Uyghur and Kazakh languages.

## Tourism

The most important tourist site is Kanas Lake where there is a legend of a large creature.

## Notable people

* Ma Fuxiang (1876–1932), military governor of Altay
* Kanat Islam (born 1984), boxer
* Rebiya Kadeer (born 1947), secessionist and political activist
* Dinigeer Yilamujiang (born 2001), skier

## Explanatory notes

* ↑ Locals in Xinjiang frequently observe UTC+6 (Xinjiang Time), two hours behind Beijing.