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Southern Xinjiang or Nanjiang ( Chinese: 南疆; pinyin: Nánjiāng) is the southern half of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China. Its historical name was Altishahr ( Chinese: 回部; pinyin: Huíbù), 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 [1] 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.