Southern Xinjiang



Southern Xinjiang or Nanjiang is the southern half of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China. Its historical name was Altishahr, which also includes some territories in modern-day Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. The name "Chinese Turkestan" was commonly used by Europeans to refer to Southern Xinjiang or Xinjiang as a whole especially during the Qing dynasty.

Southern Xinjiang includes the Tarim Basin and the adjacent mountainous area which includes Aksai Chin. Most of the inhabitants in Southern Xinjiang are Uyghurs.