Qinghai

views updated May 23 2018

Qinghai (Tsinghai) Province in nw China; the capital is Xining (Sining). Although parts of the region have long been under Chinese control, it was occupied mainly by Tibetan and Mongol nomads until recent times. It became a province of China in 1928. A mountainous region, it is the source of some of Asia's greatest rivers, including the Huang He, Yangtze and Mekong. There is farming of wheat, barley and potatoes, and stock rearing. The province is famous for its horses. Iron ore, coal, oil, salt and potash are extracted. Area: 721,280sq km (278,486sq mi). Pop. (2000) 5,180,000.