# Ejin Banner

Ejin (Mongolian: ᠡᠵᠡᠨ᠎ᠡ ᠬᠣᠰᠢᠭᠤ; Chinese: 额济纳旗) is a banner in the far west of Inner Mongolia, China. It is under the administration of Alxa League and is the westernmost county-level division of Inner Mongolia, bordering Gansu province to the west and Mongolia's Bayankhongor and Govi-Altai Provinces. Its seat is located at Dalaihob Town. To the west, it shares a border with Subei Mongol Autonomous County of Jiuquan, Gansu.

## Demographics

The proportion of nationalities in Ejin Banner (2020)
Nationality
Percentage
Han
81.1%
Mongols
16.6%
Hui People
0.8%
Manchus
0.5%
Tibetans
0.3%
Tujia
0.1%
Miao (Hmong)
0.1%
Tu People
0.1%
Others
0.4%
Source of the population statistics : :

## History

The area was historically the hunting grounds of the Xiongnu, before being acquired by the Han dynasty in BC 121. The ruins of the ancient city of Khara-Khoto, founded by the Western Xia, are located in Ejin.
Ejin was incorporated into the Mongol Empire under Genghis Khan in 1226. During the Yuan dynasty, the area was home to nomadic Mongol populations. It was later incorporated into the Qing dynasty (1644–1912). Under the Republic of China, the area was under the jurisdiction of Ningxia province. The area fell under the control of the Communist Party in September 1949. Subsequently, it was placed successively under government commissions in Jiuquan, Zhangye, and Ningxia province.
On June 1, 1956, Ejin became part of the Bayannur League of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center was constructed at around the same time. On May 1, 1980, it became part of the Alxa League. Since the Chinese economic reforms in the 1980s, Ejin rapidly developed its economy. By the early 21st century it became one of the fastest-growing counties in the country measured by GDP.

## Geography

Ejin Banner is the westernmost banner of Inner Mongolia. It is located in the Gobi Desert and borders Mongolia in the north, Gansu Province in the southwest, and Alxa Right Banner in the southeast.
Ejin Banner is geographically vast—approximately the size of South Korea, it covers an area larger than each of the provinces of Jiangsu and Zhejiang.
Ejin Banner takes its name from the Ejin River, also known as the Ruo Shui, which flows from the Qilian Mountains of Gansu, and whose two distributaries terminate in Juyan Lake Basin within Ejin Banner. Most of the banner's population resides in this river's valley.

## Climate

Climate data for Ejin Banner, elevation 939 m (3,081 ft), (1991–2020 normals) :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | −3.2 (26.2) | 3.2 (37.8) | 11.5 (52.7) | 20.6 (69.1) | 27.2 (81.0) | 32.8 (91.0) | 35.1 (95.2) | 32.8 (91.0) | 26.5 (79.7) | 17.4 (63.3) | 6.8 (44.2) | −2.0 (28.4) | 17.4 (63.3) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −10.4 (13.3) | −4.5 (23.9) | 3.7 (38.7) | 12.8 (55.0) | 19.7 (67.5) | 25.6 (78.1) | 28.0 (82.4) | 25.5 (77.9) | 18.6 (65.5) | 9.2 (48.6) | −0.5 (31.1) | −8.7 (16.3) | 9.9 (49.9) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −16.3 (2.7) | −11.2 (11.8) | −3.1 (26.4) | 5.3 (41.5) | 11.7 (53.1) | 17.8 (64.0) | 20.7 (69.3) | 18.4 (65.1) | 11.6 (52.9) | 2.7 (36.9) | −6.2 (20.8) | −14.2 (6.4) | 3.1 (37.6) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 0.4 (0.02) | 0.2 (0.01) | 1.8 (0.07) | 2.2 (0.09) | 2.1 (0.08) | 4.9 (0.19) | 9.1 (0.36) | 9.6 (0.38) | 5.3 (0.21) | 3.3 (0.13) | 0.3 (0.01) | 0.4 (0.02) | 39.6 (1.57) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 0.6 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 0.9 | 1.5 | 2.5 | 4.9 | 3.7 | 2.0 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 19.7 |
| Average snowy days | 1.5 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.2 | 0.9 | 1.6 | 5.9 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 48 | 34 | 26 | 21 | 20 | 25 | 31 | 32 | 31 | 33 | 40 | 48 | 32 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 223.7 | 227.5 | 268.5 | 293.0 | 328.8 | 323.8 | 323.2 | 310.4 | 295.5 | 280.0 | 225.1 | 213.4 | 3,312.9 |
| Percent possible sunshine | 75 | 75 | 72 | 72 | 73 | 71 | 71 | 74 | 80 | 83 | 78 | 76 | 75 |
| Source: China Meteorological Administration ||||||||||||||
Climate data for Guaizihu, Ejin Banner, elevation 960 m (3,150 ft), (1991–2020 normals) :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | −3.4 (25.9) | 2.9 (37.2) | 11.3 (52.3) | 20.6 (69.1) | 27.4 (81.3) | 32.9 (91.2) | 35.3 (95.5) | 33.0 (91.4) | 26.6 (79.9) | 17.4 (63.3) | 6.9 (44.4) | −2.0 (28.4) | 17.4 (63.3) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −10.7 (12.7) | −5.0 (23.0) | 3.3 (37.9) | 12.8 (55.0) | 20.0 (68.0) | 26.0 (78.8) | 28.4 (83.1) | 26.0 (78.8) | 19.0 (66.2) | 9.5 (49.1) | −0.3 (31.5) | −8.7 (16.3) | 10.0 (50.0) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −16.4 (2.5) | −11.5 (11.3) | −3.8 (25.2) | 5.3 (41.5) | 12.1 (53.8) | 18.2 (64.8) | 21.1 (70.0) | 18.8 (65.8) | 12.2 (54.0) | 3.0 (37.4) | −5.9 (21.4) | −14.1 (6.6) | 3.3 (37.9) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 0.6 (0.02) | 0.5 (0.02) | 1.6 (0.06) | 2.5 (0.10) | 3.1 (0.12) | 6.7 (0.26) | 13.3 (0.52) | 11.6 (0.46) | 7.7 (0.30) | 2.3 (0.09) | 0.6 (0.02) | 0.6 (0.02) | 51.1 (1.99) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 1.4 | 2.5 | 4.1 | 3.2 | 2.6 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 19 |
| Average snowy days | 1.4 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.2 | 0.9 | 1.5 | 5.9 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 49 | 35 | 26 | 19 | 19 | 23 | 30 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 39 | 49 | 32 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 231.6 | 232.0 | 271.8 | 295.0 | 330.5 | 327.2 | 324.6 | 313.6 | 291.8 | 283.7 | 236.4 | 224.6 | 3,362.8 |
| Percent possible sunshine | 78 | 77 | 73 | 73 | 73 | 72 | 71 | 74 | 79 | 84 | 81 | 79 | 76 |
| Source: China Meteorological Administration ||||||||||||||

## Administrative divisions

Ejin Banner is divided into 2 subdistricts, 4 towns and 6 sums.
| Name | Simplified Chinese | Hanyu Pinyin | Mongolian (Hudum Script) | Mongolian (Cyrillic) | Administrative division code |
| Subdistricts ||||||
| Hangkong Subdistrict | 航空街道 | Hángkōng Jiēdào | ᠠᠭᠠᠷ ᠤᠨ ᠠᠶᠠᠯᠠᠯ ᠵᠡᠭᠡᠯᠢ ᠭᠤᠳᠤᠮᠵᠢ | Агаарын аялал зээл гудамж | 152923001 |
| Dongfeng Subdistrict | 东风街道 | Dōngfēng Jiēdào | ᠳ᠋ᠦᠩ ᠹᠧᠩ ᠵᠡᠭᠡᠯᠢ ᠭᠤᠳᠤᠮᠵᠢ | Дүн фен зээл гудамж | 152923002 |
| Towns ||||||
| Dalai Hob Town | 达来呼布镇 | Dáláihūbù Zhèn | ᠳᠠᠯᠠᠢᠬᠥ᠋ᠪ ᠪᠠᠯᠭᠠᠰᠤ | Тэлийхэв балгас | 152923100 |
| Dongfeng Town | 东风镇 | Dōngfēng Zhèn | ᠳ᠋ᠦᠩ ᠹᠧᠩ ᠪᠠᠯᠭᠠᠰᠤ | Дүн фен балгас | 152923101 |
| Har Burgdin Ul Town | 哈日布日格德音乌拉镇 | Hārìbùrìgédéyīnwūlā Zhèn | ᠬᠠᠷ᠎ᠠ ᠪᠦᠷᠭᠦᠳ ᠦᠨ ᠠᠭᠤᠯᠠ ᠪᠠᠯᠭᠠᠰᠤ | Хар бүргэдийн уул балгас | 152923102 |
| Ceke Town | 策克镇 | Cèkè Zhèn | ᠴᠡᠺᠡ ᠪᠠᠯᠭᠠᠰᠤ | Цака балгас | 152923103 |
| Sums ||||||
| Saihan Toroi Sum | 赛汉陶来苏木 | Sàihàntáolái Sūmù | ᠰᠠᠢᠬᠠᠨᠲᠣᠣᠷᠠᠢ ᠰᠤᠮᠤ | Сайхандуурай сум | 152923200 |
| Mazongshan Sum | 马鬃山苏木 | Mǎzōngshān Sūmù | ᠮᠠᠽᠦ᠋ᠩᠱᠠᠨ ᠰᠤᠮᠤ | Мазншин сум | 152923201 |
| Sub Nur Sum | 苏泊淖尔苏木 | Sūbónào'ěr Sūmù | ᠰᠤᠪᠨᠠᠭᠤᠷ ᠰᠤᠮᠤ | Сувнуур сум | 152923202 |
| Bayan Toroi Sum | 巴彦陶来苏木 | Bāyàntáolái Sūmù | ᠪᠠᠶᠠᠨᠲᠣᠣᠷᠠᠢ ᠰᠤᠮᠤ | Баяндуурай сум | 152923203 |
| Ungt Gol Sum | 温图高勒苏木 | Wēntúgāolè Sūmù | ᠦᠩᠲᠦᠭᠣᠣᠯ ᠰᠤᠮᠤ | Өнтуул сум | 152923204 |
| Bayan Tohoi Sum | 巴音陶海苏木 | Bāyīntáohǎi Sūmù | ᠪᠠᠶᠠᠨᠲᠣᠬᠣᠢ ᠰᠤᠮᠤ | Баяндахуй сум | 152923205 |

## Transportation

Ejin Banner is served by the Ejin Banner Taolai Airport.
Train transportation is provided by Jiayuguan–Ceke and the Linhe–Ceke railways, which are primarily used to haul coal that has been trucked from Nariin Sukhait mining complex in Mongolia to Ceke and is loaded on trains at the coal terminals there. Passenger service exists on this railway; as of 2015 there is daily passenger service between Ejin and the regional capital Hohhot, which takes approximately 16 hours.
There is also a railway south to both sites (northern and southern) of Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, which are also located within Ejin Banner.