Ordos, Inner Mongolia, China
Ordos is one of twelve subdivisions in Inner Mongolia, China. It is located within the Ordos Loop of the Yellow River. Although mainly rural, Ordos is administered as a prefecture-level city. The administrative seat is at Dongsheng.
"Ordos" literally means "palaces" in the Mongolian language. Ordos City was established on February 26th 2001 from the former Ikh Juu League which name had been used for the area since the 17th Century. The local government of Ordos City is located in Dongsheng District. It administrates 1 district, 7 Banners with a population of over 1.37 million, which is composed of Han Chinese, Hui, Manchu... The city occupies an area of 86,752 sq km. Ordos is known for its lavish government projects, including the new Ordos City, a city of exquisite buildings and abundant infrastructure seldom used by residents.
The city of Ordos has plentiful tourism resources. The most famous Resonant Sand Gorge is located in its administrative area. The resonant sand gorge, meaning “dune with bugle” in Mongolian, lies 65km the north of the Ordos city. The terrain is in the shape of crescent with the incline of 45 degree, coming into being a huge dune aftersound wall.
Genghis Khan's Mausoleum is a mausoleum constructed in commemoration of Genghis Khan, a Mongolian king (13th century) who once spreaded his empire from south China to the Caspian Sea. It is loacted about 180 kilometres southwest of Baotou, the main part of the tomb consists of three connecting Yurt structures that hold the show of a white jade statue of Genghis Khan, mural paintings that tells his life and replica.
The Ordos Grassland is located in Hanggig Banner in Ordos.
"Ordos" literally means "palaces" in the Mongolian language. Ordos City was established on February 26th 2001 from the former Ikh Juu League which name had been used for the area since the 17th Century. The local government of Ordos City is located in Dongsheng District. It administrates 1 district, 7 Banners with a population of over 1.37 million, which is composed of Han Chinese, Hui, Manchu... The city occupies an area of 86,752 sq km. Ordos is known for its lavish government projects, including the new Ordos City, a city of exquisite buildings and abundant infrastructure seldom used by residents.
The city of Ordos has plentiful tourism resources. The most famous Resonant Sand Gorge is located in its administrative area. The resonant sand gorge, meaning “dune with bugle” in Mongolian, lies 65km the north of the Ordos city. The terrain is in the shape of crescent with the incline of 45 degree, coming into being a huge dune aftersound wall.
Genghis Khan's Mausoleum is a mausoleum constructed in commemoration of Genghis Khan, a Mongolian king (13th century) who once spreaded his empire from south China to the Caspian Sea. It is loacted about 180 kilometres southwest of Baotou, the main part of the tomb consists of three connecting Yurt structures that hold the show of a white jade statue of Genghis Khan, mural paintings that tells his life and replica.
The Ordos Grassland is located in Hanggig Banner in Ordos.
Geography and Climate
Ordos's prefectural administrative region occupies 86,752 square kilometres (33,495 sq mi) and covers the bigger part of the Ordos Desert, although the urban area itself is relatively small. The region borders the prefectures of Hohhot to the east, Baotou to the northeast, Bayan Nur to the north, Alxa League to the northwest, Wuhai to the west, the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region to its southwest, and the provinces of Shaanxi and Shanxi to the south.
The area of Ordos Shi can roughly be divided into a hilly area in the east, high plateaus in the west and center, sandy deserts in the north and south, and plains at the southern bank of the Yellow river. The highest elevation, at 2,149 metres (7,051 ft), is located in the west, the lowest point, at 850 m (2,790 ft), is in the east.
There are two large deserts within the territory of Ordos Shi, namely the Kubuqi Desert in the north, and the Maowusu Desert in the south. The Kubuqi Desert occupies 19.2% of Ordos, or 16,600 km2 (6,400 sq mi), while the Maowusu Desert takes up 28.8% of the area, or 25,000 km2 (9,700 sq mi).
Ordos features a cold semi-arid climate (Köppen BSk), marked by long, cold and very dry winters, very warm, somewhat humid summers, and strong winds, especially in spring. The annual precipitation is 300 to 400 millimetres (11.8 to 15.7 in) in the eastern part of the prefecture, and 190 to 350 mm (7.5 to 13.8 in) in the western part. Most of the rain falls between July and September, with very little snow in winter.
The area of Ordos Shi can roughly be divided into a hilly area in the east, high plateaus in the west and center, sandy deserts in the north and south, and plains at the southern bank of the Yellow river. The highest elevation, at 2,149 metres (7,051 ft), is located in the west, the lowest point, at 850 m (2,790 ft), is in the east.
There are two large deserts within the territory of Ordos Shi, namely the Kubuqi Desert in the north, and the Maowusu Desert in the south. The Kubuqi Desert occupies 19.2% of Ordos, or 16,600 km2 (6,400 sq mi), while the Maowusu Desert takes up 28.8% of the area, or 25,000 km2 (9,700 sq mi).
Ordos features a cold semi-arid climate (Köppen BSk), marked by long, cold and very dry winters, very warm, somewhat humid summers, and strong winds, especially in spring. The annual precipitation is 300 to 400 millimetres (11.8 to 15.7 in) in the eastern part of the prefecture, and 190 to 350 mm (7.5 to 13.8 in) in the western part. Most of the rain falls between July and September, with very little snow in winter.
Economy
Ordos is one of the richest regions of China. With a nominal per-capita GDP of US$14,500 in 2008, it is ranked ahead of the capital city of China, Beijing. It is extremely rich in natural resources, having one sixth of the coal reserve in China. The pillars of its economy are textile (wool), coal mining, petrochemicals, electricity generation and production of building materials.
Administrative Subdivisions
Formation of the original Yikezhao Meng can be traced back to Chenhua Period of Ming Dynasty (the first year of Chenhua period is 1465 AD) when the Ordos tribe migrated to Hetao area. In the sixth year of Shunzhi Period of Qing Dynasty (1649 AD), the emperor divided the Ordos tribe into six Qis, i.e. the front, middle and back left-wing Ordos Qis and the front, middle and back right-wing Ordos Qis. At the time the emperor also delimitated the graving land for the six Qis, with Yellow River indicating its western, northern and eastern sides and the ancient Great Wall (Great Wall constructed in Qin, Sui and Ming dynasties) marking the southern side. The six Qis formed the Yikezhao Meng afterward. In later times despite change of the administrative division, the border lines, i.e., made up of Yellow River and the ancient Great Wall, have remained the same so far.
The administrative office of the original Yikezhao Meng is located in Dongsheng city, and within the Meng, there is one city, seven Qis, sixty urban towns and forty-one rural towns, and thirteen Sumus including Dongsheng District, Dalate Qi, Zhungeer Qi, Yijinhuoluo Qi, Wushen Qi, Hangmian Qi, Ertuoke Qi, and Ertruokeqian Qi.
Under approval of the State Council, Yikezhao Meng was dissolved and Ordos City was instituted, with the official establishment ceremony held on September 28th 2001. This change was epoch-making in the history of administrative division in this region, which has exerted profound influence on the economic and social development of Ordos. In 2005, complying with the decision of the central government, Ordos carried out an institutional reform on 114 Sumus (township level) and towns, after which the multiple government of Ordos was established in Dongsheng District.
Ordos City: 8 Qis, 1 district. Total population of 1.548 million. 50 Sumus and towns, including 41 urban towns, 6 Sumus and 3 rural towns. 9 district offices. Gacha committees and village committees: 167 Gacha committees and 577 village committees. 154 neighborhood committees.
Dongsheng District: 3 Sumus and towns, including 3 urban towns. Total population of 398 thousand. 38 Gacha committees and village committees, including 38 village committees. 49 neighborhood committees.
Dalate Qi:8 Sumus and towns, including 7 unban towns and 1 Sumu. Total population of 298 thousand. 130 Gacha committees and village committees, including 5 Gacha committees and 125 village committees. 13 neighborhood committees.
Zhungeer Qi:9 Sumus and towns, including 6 urban towns, 1 Sumus and 2 rural towns. Total population of 300 thousand. 159 Gacha committees and village committees, including 3 Gacha committees, 156 village committees. 20 neighborhood committees.
Yinjinhuolue Qi:7 Sumus and towns, including 7 urban towns. Total population of 159.5 thousand. 138 Gacha committees and village committees, including 10 Gacha committees, 128 village committees. 29 neighborhood committees.
Wushen Qi:6 Sumus and towns, including 5 urban towns, 1 Sumu. Total population of 96 thousand. 59 Gacha committees and village committees, including 25 Gacha committees, 34 village committees. 13 neighborhood committees.
Hangmian Qi: 7 Sumus and towns, including 5 urban towns, 1 Sumu and 1rurual town. Total population of 105.4 thousand. 76 Gacha committees and village committees, including 34 Gacha committees, 42 village committees. 8 neighborhood committees.
Ertuoke Qi:6 Sumus and towns, including 4 urban towns, 2 Sumus. Total population of 124 thousand. 76 Gacha committees and village committees, including 46 Gacha committees, 30 village committees. 16 neighborhood committees.
Ertuokeqian Qi:4 Sumus and towns, including 4 urban towns. Total population of 67 thousand. 68 Gacha committees and village committees, including 44 Gacha committees and 24 village committees. 6 neighborhood committees.
The administrative office of the original Yikezhao Meng is located in Dongsheng city, and within the Meng, there is one city, seven Qis, sixty urban towns and forty-one rural towns, and thirteen Sumus including Dongsheng District, Dalate Qi, Zhungeer Qi, Yijinhuoluo Qi, Wushen Qi, Hangmian Qi, Ertuoke Qi, and Ertruokeqian Qi.
Under approval of the State Council, Yikezhao Meng was dissolved and Ordos City was instituted, with the official establishment ceremony held on September 28th 2001. This change was epoch-making in the history of administrative division in this region, which has exerted profound influence on the economic and social development of Ordos. In 2005, complying with the decision of the central government, Ordos carried out an institutional reform on 114 Sumus (township level) and towns, after which the multiple government of Ordos was established in Dongsheng District.
Ordos City: 8 Qis, 1 district. Total population of 1.548 million. 50 Sumus and towns, including 41 urban towns, 6 Sumus and 3 rural towns. 9 district offices. Gacha committees and village committees: 167 Gacha committees and 577 village committees. 154 neighborhood committees.
Dongsheng District: 3 Sumus and towns, including 3 urban towns. Total population of 398 thousand. 38 Gacha committees and village committees, including 38 village committees. 49 neighborhood committees.
Dalate Qi:8 Sumus and towns, including 7 unban towns and 1 Sumu. Total population of 298 thousand. 130 Gacha committees and village committees, including 5 Gacha committees and 125 village committees. 13 neighborhood committees.
Zhungeer Qi:9 Sumus and towns, including 6 urban towns, 1 Sumus and 2 rural towns. Total population of 300 thousand. 159 Gacha committees and village committees, including 3 Gacha committees, 156 village committees. 20 neighborhood committees.
Yinjinhuolue Qi:7 Sumus and towns, including 7 urban towns. Total population of 159.5 thousand. 138 Gacha committees and village committees, including 10 Gacha committees, 128 village committees. 29 neighborhood committees.
Wushen Qi:6 Sumus and towns, including 5 urban towns, 1 Sumu. Total population of 96 thousand. 59 Gacha committees and village committees, including 25 Gacha committees, 34 village committees. 13 neighborhood committees.
Hangmian Qi: 7 Sumus and towns, including 5 urban towns, 1 Sumu and 1rurual town. Total population of 105.4 thousand. 76 Gacha committees and village committees, including 34 Gacha committees, 42 village committees. 8 neighborhood committees.
Ertuoke Qi:6 Sumus and towns, including 4 urban towns, 2 Sumus. Total population of 124 thousand. 76 Gacha committees and village committees, including 46 Gacha committees, 30 village committees. 16 neighborhood committees.
Ertuokeqian Qi:4 Sumus and towns, including 4 urban towns. Total population of 67 thousand. 68 Gacha committees and village committees, including 44 Gacha committees and 24 village committees. 6 neighborhood committees.
Transportation
Travel within Ordos City is primarily made by car or bus, using the city's network of roads. Two tolled expressways, the G18 Rongcheng–Wuhai Expressway and the G65 Baotou–Maoming Expressway, provide connections with other towns and cities including Dongsheng.
There are no direct rail lines to the city. The closest is the Baoshen Line in Dongshen.
Ordos Airport is located to the south of the city.
There are no direct rail lines to the city. The closest is the Baoshen Line in Dongshen.
Ordos Airport is located to the south of the city.