# Alxa Left Banner

Alxa Left Banner (Mongolian: ᠠᠯᠠᠱᠠ ᠵᠡᠭᠦᠨ ᠬᠣᠰᠢᠭᠤ; Chinese: 阿拉善左旗) is a banner (administrative division) in the southwest of Inner Mongolia, China. It borders Mongolia's Ömnögovi Province to the north, the autonomous region of Ningxia to the southeast, and Gansu province to the southwest. The town of Bayanhot, situated in the banner, is the seat of government of the greater Alxa League, of which Alxa Left Banner is a part.

## History

In 2017, the Dingyuan Garrison Historical Site in Bayanhot was renovated, having been originally constructed during the reign of Emperor Yongzheng.
In February 2023, the Xinjing Coal Industry Open Pit Coal Mine collapsed in the banner, with many people injured or missing.

## Demographics

Ethnic Mongols make up 21% of the banner population.
The proportion of nationalities in Alxa Left Banner (2020)
Nationality
Percentage
Han
72.8%
Mongols
20.8%
Hui People
5.6%
Manchus
0.4%
Tibetans
0.1%
Tujia
0.1%
Others
0.2%
Source of the population statistics : :

## Administrative divisions

The banner is subdivided into 4 subdistricts, 8 towns, and 6 sums.
| Name | Simplified Chinese | Hanyu Pinyin | Mongolian (Hudum Script) | Mongolian (Cyrillic) | Administrative division code |
| Subdistricts ||||||
| Old Subdistrict | 巴彦浩特额鲁特街道 | Bāyànhàotè Élǔtè Jiēdào | ᠥᠭᠡᠯᠡᠳ ᠵᠡᠭᠡᠯᠢ ᠭᠤᠳᠤᠮᠵᠢ | Өөлд зээл гудамж | 152921402 |
| Nanhuan Road Subdistrict | 巴彦浩特南环路街 | Bāyànhàotè Nánhuánlù Jiēdào | ᠡᠮᠦᠨ᠎ᠡ ᠲᠣᠭᠣᠷᠢᠯᠲᠠ ᠵᠡᠭᠡᠯᠢ ᠭᠤᠳᠤᠮᠵᠢ | Өмнө тойролт зээл гудамж | 152921403 |
| Xinhua Subdistrict | 巴彦浩特新华街道 | Bāyànhàotè Xīnhuá Jiēdào | ᠰᠢᠨ᠎ᠡ ᠬᠤᠸᠠ ᠵᠡᠭᠡᠯᠢ ᠭᠤᠳᠤᠮᠵᠢ | Шинэ ухаа зээл гудамж | 152921404 |
| Wangfu Subdistrict | 巴彦浩特王府街道 | Bāyànhàotè Wángfǔ Jiēdào | ᠸᠠᠩᠹᠦ᠋ ᠵᠡᠭᠡᠯᠢ ᠭᠤᠳᠤᠮᠵᠢ | Ванфу зээл гудамж | 152921405 |
| Towns ||||||
| Undralt Town | 温都尔勒图镇 | Wēndū'ěrlètú Zhèn | ᠤᠨᠳᠤᠷᠤᠯᠲᠤ ᠪᠠᠯᠭᠠᠰᠤ | Ундралд балгас | 152921102 |
| Barun Beil Town | 巴润别立镇 | Bārùnbiélì Zhèn | ᠪᠠᠷᠠᠭᠤᠨᠪᠡᠯ ᠪᠠᠯᠭᠠᠰᠤ | Баруунбал балгас | 152921105 |
| Bayan Hot Town | 巴彦浩特镇 | Bāyànhàotè Zhèn | ᠪᠠᠶᠠᠨᠬᠣᠲᠠ ᠪᠠᠯᠭᠠᠰᠤ | Баянхот балгас | 152921110 |
| Jargal Saihan Town | 嘉尔嘎勒赛汉镇 | Jiā'ěrgālèsàihàn Zhèn | ᠵᠢᠷᠭᠠᠯᠰᠠᠢᠬᠠᠨ ᠪᠠᠯᠭᠠᠰᠤ | Жаргалсайхан балгас | 152921111 |
| Jartai Town | 吉兰泰镇 | Jílántài Zhèn | ᠵᠢᠷᠠᠲᠠᠢ ᠪᠠᠯᠭᠠᠰᠤ | Жартай балгас | 152921112 |
| Jun Beil Town | 宗别立镇 | Zōngbiélì Zhèn | ᠵᠡᠭᠦᠨᠪᠡᠯ ᠪᠠᠯᠭᠠᠰᠤ | Зүүнбал балгас | 152921113 |
| Olon Bulag Town | 敖伦布拉格镇 | Áolúnbùlāgé Zhèn | ᠣᠯᠠᠨᠪᠤᠯᠠᠭ ᠪᠠᠯᠭᠠᠰᠤ | Олонбулаг балгас | 152921114 |
| Tengger Els Town | 腾格里额里斯镇 | Ténggélǐ'élǐsī Zhèn | ᠲᠩᠷᠢᠡᠯᠡᠰᠦ ᠪᠠᠯᠭᠠᠰᠤ | Тэнгэриалс балгас | 152921115 |
| Sums ||||||
| Bayan Morin Sum | 巴彦木仁苏木 | Bāyànmùrén Sūmù | ᠪᠠᠶᠠᠨᠮᠥ᠋ᠷᠡᠨ ᠰᠤᠮᠤ | Баянмран сум | 152921203 |
| Olji Sum | 乌力吉苏木 | Wūlìjí Sūmù | ᠥᠯᠵᠡᠢ ᠰᠤᠮᠤ | Өлзий сум | 152921213 |
| Bayan Nurun Sum | 巴彦诺日公苏木 | Bāyànnuòrìgōng Sūmù | ᠪᠠᠶᠠᠨᠨᠢᠷᠤᠭᠤᠨ ᠰᠤᠮᠤ | Баяннуруун сум | 152921214 |
| Erh Hasah Sum | 额尔克哈什哈苏木 | É'ěrkèhàshíhā Sūmù | ᠡᠷᠬᠡᠬᠠᠰᠢᠬ᠎ᠠ ᠰᠤᠮᠤ | Эрххашах сум | 152921215 |
| Inggen Sum | 银根苏木 | Yíngēn Sūmù | ᠢᠩᠭᠡᠨ ᠰᠤᠮᠤ | Ингэн сум | 152921216 |
| Qogt Hure Sum | 超格图呼热苏木 | Chāogétúhūrè Sūmù | ᠴᠣᠭᠲᠤᠬᠦ᠋ᠷᠢᠶ᠎ᠡ ᠰᠤᠮᠤ | Цогтгэръя сум | 152921217 |
Other: Luanjingtan Ecological Immigration Demonstration Zone (孪井滩生态移民示范区)

## Geography and climate

The average elevation is between 800 and 1,500 meters (2,600 and 4,900 ft) above sea level. Most of the banner has a cool arid climate (Köppen BWk), although this approaches a cool semi-arid climate (BSk) at the highest altitudes.
Climate data for Alxa Left Banner, elevation 1,561 m (5,121 ft), (1991–2020 normals) :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | −1.8 (28.8) | 2.8 (37.0) | 9.3 (48.7) | 16.9 (62.4) | 22.5 (72.5) | 27.2 (81.0) | 29.2 (84.6) | 27.3 (81.1) | 21.9 (71.4) | 14.9 (58.8) | 6.9 (44.4) | −0.2 (31.6) | 14.7 (58.5) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −7.5 (18.5) | −3.1 (26.4) | 3.6 (38.5) | 11.1 (52.0) | 16.9 (62.4) | 21.9 (71.4) | 23.8 (74.8) | 22.0 (71.6) | 16.4 (61.5) | 9.0 (48.2) | 1.0 (33.8) | −5.9 (21.4) | 9.1 (48.4) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −11.5 (11.3) | −7.5 (18.5) | −1.1 (30.0) | 5.5 (41.9) | 11.1 (52.0) | 16.4 (61.5) | 18.5 (65.3) | 17.0 (62.6) | 11.8 (53.2) | 4.5 (40.1) | −3.1 (26.4) | −9.9 (14.2) | 4.3 (39.8) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 1.8 (0.07) | 2.5 (0.10) | 5.9 (0.23) | 11.8 (0.46) | 24.8 (0.98) | 30.4 (1.20) | 50.3 (1.98) | 43.7 (1.72) | 34.1 (1.34) | 13.5 (0.53) | 4.9 (0.19) | 1.5 (0.06) | 225.2 (8.86) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 2.4 | 1.8 | 2.8 | 3.5 | 5.0 | 6.4 | 8.6 | 7.9 | 6.6 | 3.8 | 2.6 | 1.9 | 53.3 |
| Average snowy days | 3.4 | 2.9 | 2.9 | 1.4 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.3 | 3.3 | 3.0 | 18.4 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 43 | 35 | 30 | 27 | 29 | 34 | 43 | 46 | 46 | 41 | 41 | 43 | 38 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 223.2 | 219.1 | 250.6 | 268.8 | 298.6 | 283.4 | 279.4 | 267.2 | 234.7 | 243.5 | 224.1 | 218.8 | 3,011.4 |
| Percent possible sunshine | 73 | 71 | 67 | 67 | 67 | 64 | 62 | 64 | 64 | 71 | 75 | 75 | 68 |
| Source: China Meteorological Administration ||||||||||||||
Climate data for Jia'ergalesaihan Town, Alxa Left Banner, elevation 1,381 m (4,531 ft), (1991–2020 normals) :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | −0.9 (30.4) | 4.3 (39.7) | 11.8 (53.2) | 19.3 (66.7) | 24.4 (75.9) | 29.1 (84.4) | 30.5 (86.9) | 28.4 (83.1) | 22.8 (73.0) | 16.5 (61.7) | 8.3 (46.9) | 0.5 (32.9) | 16.3 (61.2) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −8.5 (16.7) | −3.4 (25.9) | 4.3 (39.7) | 12.0 (53.6) | 17.7 (63.9) | 22.7 (72.9) | 24.1 (75.4) | 22.0 (71.6) | 16.5 (61.7) | 9.4 (48.9) | 0.7 (33.3) | −6.9 (19.6) | 9.2 (48.6) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −14.4 (6.1) | −9.5 (14.9) | −1.9 (28.6) | 5.1 (41.2) | 10.9 (51.6) | 16.1 (61.0) | 18.1 (64.6) | 16.5 (61.7) | 11.4 (52.5) | 3.9 (39.0) | −4.7 (23.5) | −12.4 (9.7) | 3.3 (37.9) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 1.7 (0.07) | 1.3 (0.05) | 3.6 (0.14) | 8.2 (0.32) | 19.6 (0.77) | 28.4 (1.12) | 33.4 (1.31) | 37.3 (1.47) | 29.4 (1.16) | 14.4 (0.57) | 4.1 (0.16) | 0.5 (0.02) | 181.9 (7.16) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 2.2 | 1.3 | 2.1 | 3.3 | 5.7 | 6.0 | 6.9 | 8.1 | 7.6 | 4.2 | 2.0 | 1.1 | 50.5 |
| Average snowy days | 3.4 | 2.4 | 1.6 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.9 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 14 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 50 | 43 | 34 | 32 | 36 | 40 | 50 | 56 | 59 | 52 | 52 | 51 | 46 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 222.5 | 221.0 | 261.6 | 276.9 | 293.1 | 291.9 | 281.3 | 254.8 | 218.0 | 241.1 | 224.3 | 222.8 | 3,009.3 |
| Percent possible sunshine | 72 | 72 | 70 | 70 | 66 | 66 | 63 | 61 | 59 | 71 | 75 | 75 | 68 |
| Source: China Meteorological Administration ||||||||||||||
Climate data for Bayannuorigong Sumu (Bayannuoergong), Alxa Left Banner, elevation 1,324 m (4,344 ft), (1991–2020 normals) :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | −2.5 (27.5) | 2.5 (36.5) | 9.7 (49.5) | 17.9 (64.2) | 24.3 (75.7) | 29.4 (84.9) | 31.4 (88.5) | 29.2 (84.6) | 23.4 (74.1) | 15.8 (60.4) | 6.6 (43.9) | −1.0 (30.2) | 15.6 (60.0) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −11.0 (12.2) | −6.0 (21.2) | 1.6 (34.9) | 10.3 (50.5) | 17.2 (63.0) | 22.7 (72.9) | 24.8 (76.6) | 22.5 (72.5) | 16.3 (61.3) | 7.8 (46.0) | −1.4 (29.5) | −9.1 (15.6) | 8.0 (46.4) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −18.2 (−0.8) | −13.4 (7.9) | −5.8 (21.6) | 2.4 (36.3) | 9.3 (48.7) | 15.2 (59.4) | 18.0 (64.4) | 16.0 (60.8) | 9.9 (49.8) | 1.0 (33.8) | −7.8 (18.0) | −15.8 (3.6) | 0.9 (33.6) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 0.6 (0.02) | 0.8 (0.03) | 2.0 (0.08) | 3.6 (0.14) | 11.3 (0.44) | 20.5 (0.81) | 27.9 (1.10) | 29.5 (1.16) | 21.1 (0.83) | 5.7 (0.22) | 1.1 (0.04) | 0.5 (0.02) | 124.6 (4.89) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 1.0 | 0.9 | 1.6 | 2.1 | 3.5 | 5.4 | 7.2 | 6.4 | 5.1 | 2.0 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 37.5 |
| Average snowy days | 2.8 | 1.6 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.7 | 1.8 | 2.0 | 11.6 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 51 | 40 | 30 | 25 | 26 | 32 | 41 | 45 | 45 | 40 | 46 | 51 | 39 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 233.9 | 232.1 | 273.6 | 284.5 | 320.6 | 303.7 | 288.3 | 282.9 | 260.4 | 269.8 | 234.0 | 227.2 | 3,211 |
| Percent possible sunshine | 78 | 76 | 73 | 71 | 72 | 68 | 64 | 67 | 71 | 80 | 79 | 79 | 73 |
| Source: China Meteorological Administration ||||||||||||||
Climate data for Wusitai Town, Alxa Left Banner, elevation 1,253 m (4,111 ft), (1991–2020 normals) :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | −2.1 (28.2) | 2.8 (37.0) | 11.3 (52.3) | 19.1 (66.4) | 24.7 (76.5) | 29.3 (84.7) | 31.4 (88.5) | 29.0 (84.2) | 23.1 (73.6) | 16.3 (61.3) | 7.1 (44.8) | −0.5 (31.1) | 16.0 (60.7) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −7.5 (18.5) | −3.3 (26.1) | 4.9 (40.8) | 12.7 (54.9) | 18.3 (64.9) | 23.3 (73.9) | 25.1 (77.2) | 23.0 (73.4) | 17.2 (63.0) | 10.3 (50.5) | 1.7 (35.1) | −5.7 (21.7) | 10.0 (50.0) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −12.3 (9.9) | −8.5 (16.7) | −1.0 (30.2) | 6.1 (43.0) | 11.4 (52.5) | 16.8 (62.2) | 19.0 (66.2) | 17.4 (63.3) | 11.9 (53.4) | 4.8 (40.6) | −2.9 (26.8) | −10.2 (13.6) | 4.4 (39.9) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 1.1 (0.04) | 1.1 (0.04) | 3.6 (0.14) | 5.7 (0.22) | 14.9 (0.59) | 21.4 (0.84) | 39.6 (1.56) | 35.2 (1.39) | 35.4 (1.39) | 11.5 (0.45) | 4.1 (0.16) | 0.8 (0.03) | 174.4 (6.85) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 1.9 | 1.0 | 2.2 | 2.8 | 3.8 | 5.2 | 6.1 | 6.0 | 7.1 | 3.2 | 2.2 | 1.5 | 43 |
| Average snowy days | 3.3 | 2.0 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.1 | 0.8 | 2.2 | 3.5 | 14.5 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 44 | 38 | 27 | 27 | 29 | 36 | 46 | 49 | 52 | 43 | 46 | 45 | 40 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 223.9 | 229.9 | 266.5 | 283.9 | 307.0 | 290.7 | 281.5 | 262.4 | 234.4 | 253.3 | 220.8 | 217.3 | 3,071.6 |
| Percent possible sunshine | 74 | 75 | 71 | 71 | 69 | 65 | 62 | 63 | 64 | 74 | 74 | 75 | 70 |
| Source: China Meteorological Administration ||||||||||||||
Climate data for Jilantai Town, Alxa Left Banner, elevation 1,032 m (3,386 ft), (1991–2020 normals) :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | −1.5 (29.3) | 4.2 (39.6) | 11.9 (53.4) | 20.3 (68.5) | 26.6 (79.9) | 31.4 (88.5) | 33.5 (92.3) | 31.3 (88.3) | 25.5 (77.9) | 17.7 (63.9) | 8.2 (46.8) | 0.0 (32.0) | 17.4 (63.4) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −9.5 (14.9) | −4.3 (24.3) | 3.6 (38.5) | 12.3 (54.1) | 19.0 (66.2) | 24.4 (75.9) | 26.5 (79.7) | 24.3 (75.7) | 18.1 (64.6) | 9.6 (49.3) | 0.5 (32.9) | −7.4 (18.7) | 9.8 (49.6) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −15.7 (3.7) | −11.3 (11.7) | −3.6 (25.5) | 4.4 (39.9) | 11.0 (51.8) | 16.8 (62.2) | 19.6 (67.3) | 17.7 (63.9) | 11.6 (52.9) | 3.2 (37.8) | −5.3 (22.5) | −13.0 (8.6) | 3.0 (37.3) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 0.5 (0.02) | 0.9 (0.04) | 2.8 (0.11) | 3.9 (0.15) | 12.0 (0.47) | 13.6 (0.54) | 23.2 (0.91) | 26.0 (1.02) | 17.6 (0.69) | 5.0 (0.20) | 1.4 (0.06) | 0.5 (0.02) | 107.4 (4.23) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 0.8 | 0.6 | 1.6 | 1.8 | 3.2 | 4.6 | 6.1 | 5.6 | 4.7 | 2.1 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 32.6 |
| Average snowy days | 1.5 | 1.0 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.2 | 1.1 | 1.3 | 6.6 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 48 | 38 | 31 | 25 | 27 | 33 | 41 | 45 | 46 | 42 | 44 | 48 | 39 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 234.4 | 233.0 | 273.5 | 292.9 | 324.5 | 311.1 | 305.5 | 294.7 | 267.1 | 270.1 | 234.3 | 227.9 | 3,269 |
| Percent possible sunshine | 78 | 76 | 73 | 73 | 73 | 70 | 68 | 70 | 73 | 79 | 79 | 79 | 74 |
| Source: China Meteorological Administration ||||||||||||||

## Transport

Alxa Left Banner is on the route of provincial highway S218, which is accessible via China National Highway 110 via the city of Wuhai. It is also accessible by air via the Alxa Left Banner Bayanhot Airport.