Name
The name of ''Hoboksar'' () was individually referred to as "Hobok" () and "Sar" () from the Mongolian language. Hobok is ''Hobok River'' (), it means "sika deer" (), the river was named after its river basin within huge amount of sika deer in the past. Sar is the Salair Ridge, Salair Mountains and it means horseback (), the mountain was named after its shape like a horseback.History
At the latest starting from the Qin dynasty, the Saka people appeared in the place of present Hoboksar area. This was followed by the Wusun, Usans and Xiongnu people. The place was part of Wusun, Usan Sate in the Han dynasty, Western Han period. It was merged to the Jushi Kingdom, Later Cheshi Kingdom () in the Han dynasty, Eastern Han and Three Kingdoms, Three Kingdoms periods. It was part of Xianbei during the Jin dynasty (266–420), Jin period, part of Rouran Khaganate, followed by the First Turkic Khaganate, Western Turkic Khaganate in the period of Northern and Southern dynasties. It was under the administration of ''Kunling Commandery'' () of the Tang dynasty in 657, ruled by Karluks () in 789, Uyghur Khaganate () in 808, Yenisei Kyrgyz, Kyrgyz Khaganate () in 840 and Qara Khitai () in 1127, it was merged to the Yuan dynasty in 1218, became the dominion of Ögedei Khan () in 1225, then after that, the territory of ''Bechbaliq Province'' (Beiting, ) and ''Almaliq Province'' () in 1280, it was merged to Chagatai Khanate () during 1324 - 1328. It was part of ''Bechbaliq Khaganate'' () in 1370, the herd land of the Oirats, Oirats tribe in the 5th century. After Erdeni Batur, Batur's () succession to Khong Tayiji (, the chieftain) in 1636, he quickly unified the Oirats, Oirats tribes () in the North Xinjiang, with Hoboksar () as the base camp. The ''Khong Tayiji of Batur'' () built a castle five kilometers away southeast of the present county seat of ''Hoboksar Town'' between 1639 - 1643. The place of Hoboksar was under jurisdiction of ''Counsellor of Tarbaghatay'' (, under leadship of the General of Ili; "Tarbaghatay", the prensent Tacheng Prefecture) in 1758. The Torghut, Torghut Tribe back far away from the south side of Russian ''Ezil River'' (, the present Volga River), immigrated to Hoboksar () in 1771. ''Hoxtolgay Xianzuo'' (, similar to a division under vice county magistrate; in the present Hoxtolgay, Hoxtolgay Town) under jurisdiction of Shawan County, was formed in 1915 and it was transferred to Tacheng Circuit () in 1916. Hoxtolgay Xianzuo was changed to ''Hoxtolgay Division'' () and the ''Hefeng Division'' () was formed in 1941. ''Hefeng County'' () was organized in 1944 and its county seat is in the present Hoboksar Town. Hefeng County was renamed to Hoboksar Mongol Autonomous County on September 10, 1954.Geography
Hoboksar County is located south of the Tarbagatai Mountains, Tarbagatai-Saur Mountains, Saur mountain range and its northern part, where most of the county's population lives, receives some water from streams (such as the Baiyang River) flowing from the snow-capped mountains. The southeastern part of the county is in Gurbantünggüt Desert. Historically, the large Alan Nur and Manas Lake were located in the desert southwestern part of the county; they received water, at least intermittently, both from the streams flowing across the desert from the north and from the south (via the Manasi River, Manas River). Due to the increasing water diversion for irrigation and other human needs, as well as geological processes, the Alan Nur has fully dried out, and the Manas Lake is in a fairly precarious situation as well. The Irtysh–Karamay Canal, constructed around the turn of the 21st century, crosses the county's southeastern part; the canal's Fengcheng Reservoir is located on the county's border with Karamay City's Urho District. A point situated some 30 miles ESE of Hoxtolgay Town is listed as the farthest point from the sea (at ) by the ''Guinness Book of World Records''. It is roughly 2646 kilometres away from the Arctic Ocean and a similar distance from the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea (see Pole of inaccessibility#Continental poles of inaccessibility, Continental Pole of Inaccessibility for other candidates). The "record-setting" location of the county attracted the attention of advertisers for the Corona (beer), Corona beer brand, who staged and documented a trip of a few residents of the village of Bulin (布林, ), in Hoboksar County's Chagankulei Township () to the sea coast in Hainan Island.Administrative divisions
Town () * Hoboksar Town (, قوبۇقسار بازىرى / قوبىقسارى قالاشىعى / ᠬᠣᠪᠣᠭᠰᠠᠶᠢᠷ ᠬᠣᠲᠠ), Hebutuoluogai (, قوشتولغاي بازىرى) Township () * Xiazigai Township (, شازغەت يېزىسى), Tiebukenwusan Township (, تېبكىن ئۇسان يېزىسى), Chagankule Township (, چاغانكۆل يېزىسى), Bayinaopao Township (, بايىن ئاۋۋا يېزىسى), Motege Township (, مۆتگې يېزىسى) , , Zhahete () Others *Yikewutubulage Ranch (), Nareheuke Ranch (), Bagawutubulage Ranch (), Busitunge Ranch (), XPCC No. 184 (), Shajihai Mine ()Demographics
The Mongols in China, Chinese Mongols that live in Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture, Bayingolin and Hoboksar come from varied origins. A majority are Torghuts, who speak the Oirat language. Chahar Mongols who immigrated from Inner Mongolia also live in Hoboksar and Bayingolin, and there are also Uriankhai Mongols, who are considered Mongols in China but Tuvans to some outside observers. A fair number of Daur people and Dongxiangs, Dongxiang people live in Hoboksar especially and they speak Mongolic languages.Culture
Hoboksar is traditionally considered the place of origin of the Epic of Jangar. The Jangar Culture and Art Palace (江格尔文化艺术宫) was opened in the county in 2014.Transportation
China National Highway 217 and the new Kuytun–Beitun Railway both cross Hoboksar county along the same north–south corridor. There is daily passenger service at the Hoxtolgay station.References
External links