Inner Mongolia

Inner Mongolia (Neimengu) Translation : Inner Mongolia The Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region shares a 4200 km frontier with Mongolia and Russia. While it is the third largest area (12% of China), it is populated by only 23 million people of whom only 2.4% are natives. Like Tibet, the original natives have been reduced to about 10% of the population by a large importation of Han Chinese. Its vast stretches of grazing pasture allows it to excel in the production of wool, cashmere and milk. Its industrial strengths include rare earths, timber and coal.

Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Translation: Western Expanse Guangxi is the only autonomous region with a coastline. It is China's poorest region. It has poor topsoil and is very mountainous. Guangxi's infrastructure is poor with inadequate roads and shortages of energy supplies. The population of more than 46 million includes 9 minority nationalities. The largest is the Zhuang with 12 million. Other prominent minorities are the Miao and the Dong. Tourism, non-ferrous metals and sugarcane are the major strengths of the region.

Ningxia Hui Translation: Peaceful China Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region is the smallest and driest of all China's areas. One-third of the population of 5.3 million is the Hui Minority who are Muslims. Ningxia's Hui minority is exempted from China's on-child policy. They are allowed to have up to three children. The relative longevity of Ningxia's people has attracted attention. One village of 4,000 has six people over the age of 100. Nationally, only six centenarians would be expected in every one million people. Industries include coal, chemicals, metallurgy, machinery and textiles. It is the second largest producer of calcium carbide, and a large producer of silicon carbide used in airport and highway construction and as an additive in the metallurgy industry. Three thermal plants and one hydroelectric plant allows Ningxia to have the lowest electric rates and the only region with electricity in all its villages.

Xinjiang Autonomous Region Translation: New Frontier Xinjiang Autonomous Region is the largest area in China. It occupies 1/6 of the country. It has borders with eight foreign neighbors, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Mongolia. It is the driest province, with much of the land consisting of desert or mountains. Its people include 45 minority groups, constituting 62% of the population, of whom the Uighurs make up 47%. The clash of these diverse groups has long been a cause of friction. Xinjiang is China's top producer of cotton, hops, grapes and mutton and the second largest producer of beetroot and wool. Its oil reserves are highly encouraging.

Tibet Autonomous Region (Xizang) Translation: Western Buddhists Tibet (Xizang) Autonomous Region is situated on a mountainous plateau. The average elevation in northern Tibet reaches an average of 15,000 feet. Most of the people live in the river valleys where there is fertile soil. Nomads use the uplands and highlands for grazing. The Chinese government has moved many Han Chinese into Tibet but the native Tibetans remain poor. Infant mortality rates are among the highest in the world. Illiteracy levels are in excess of 50%. The Han Chinese run the majority of the businesses. The native Tibetans are much poorer than the recently settled Han who tend to dominate commercial activity.