Pilal[3][4] (Uighur: پىلال يېزىسى;[5] from Mandarin Chinese Pilale[6] Chinese: 皮拉勒乡; pinyin: Pílālè Xiāng or 皮拉力乡[7]) is a township of Akto County in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China. Located in the west of the northeastern part of the county, the township covers an area of 186 square kilometers with a population of 46,981 (as of 2015[1]). It has 22 administrative villages and a farm under its jurisdiction. Its seat is at Pilal Village (皮拉勒村).[8]
Pilal
پىلال يېزىسى 皮拉勒乡 Pilale | |
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Township | |
![]() ![]() Pilal Location of the township | |
Coordinates: 39.18982671°N 75.8546808469°E / 39.18982671; 75.8546808469 | |
Country | People's Republic of China |
Autonomous region | Xinjiang |
Prefecture | Kizilsu |
County | Akto |
Area | |
• Total | 186 km2 (72 sq mi) |
Population (2015) | |
• Total | 46,981 |
[1] | |
Ethnic groups | |
• Major ethnic groups | Uyghur[2] |
Time zone | UTC+8 (China Standard Time) |
postal code | 845551 |
Area code(s) | 653022 201 |
Website | www.xjakt.gov.cn |
The name of Piral is from Uighur language, that evolved from the word "pul-al", meaning "paying" or "pay money" (拿钱来). The place was named Pilal because there used to be a market in this place 270 years ago (about 1750s).[9]
In 1958, Pilal Commune was established (皮拉勒公社).[2]
In 1967 during the Cultural Revolution, Pilal Commune was renamed Hongqi Commune (literally 'Red Flag Commune'; 红旗公社).[2]
In 1984, the commune became Pilal Township.[2]
In September 2017, it was reported that a policewoman from Pilal had claimed that "several thousand detainees" were in the Xinjiang re-education camps system in Akto County, saying the facilities were "closed schools" where authorities keep internees "detained day and night, and they continuously receive political and ideological education." She further commented that, "A few people are released after two or three months. But most detainees are sent to the camps indefinitely."[10]
The township of Pilal is located between 75°45′- 76°01′ east longitude and 38°08′- 39°16′ north latitude and in the alluvial plain of Gez River to the northwest of the county seat. It is bordered by Tortayi Farm to the east, by Barin Township, Akto Town and Ujme Township to the south, by Buraksu Township of Shufu County to the west, by the 41st Regiment (41团) of the XPCC across Yuepuhu River (岳普湖河) to the north. Its maximum distance is 24 kilometers from west to east and 11 kilometers from north to south. It has an area of 186 square kilometers with an area of 6 118 hectares of arable land. The distance between the seat of the township and the county seat is 11 kilometers.
The township has a temperate continental arid climate with a long frost-free period. Its annual average temperature is 12 ℃, the average temperature in January is -7.4 C, and the average temperature in July is 24.9℃. Its terrain is flat with sufficient water source. It is rich in mineral resources, mainly iron, copper, gold, aluminum, zinc and coal.
The soil is fertile, part of which are silt and salt soil. The natural conditions for developing agriculture are very advantageous. Pilal Township has a long history of planting rice. It is known as the “Plateau Rice land” (高原稻乡) and is the main rice producing area in Akto County.
![]() | The examples and perspective in this section may not include all significant viewpoints. (September 2020) |
The township has 22 administration villages and a farm under its jurisdiction.[11][12][2]
Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
---|---|---|
2000 | 34,498 | — |
2010 | 43,228 | +2.28% |
[7] |
As of 1997[update], 93.1% of the residents of Pilal were Uyghur.[2]
Water resources are plentiful. Japonica rice is produced in abundance and Pilal is the main rice producing area of Akto County.[3]
皮拉勒乡 1958年成立皮拉勒公社,1967年更名红旗公社,1984年改设皮拉勒乡。位于县城西北10千米。面积186平方千米,人口3.2万,其中维吾尔族占93.1%,辖喀拉苏、英阿尔帕、尤喀克英阿尔帕、阿克孜其、霍伊拉阿勒迪、琼巴什、墩都热、拜什铁热克、苏鲁克、阿克美其特、阔苏拉、帕拉其、恰尔巴格、依克其来、阿克土、塔孜勒克、乌尊拉、博来克其18个行政村。
Another spreadsheet from September 2018 shows lists of loan defaulters in Pilal Township, Akto County. In 80 percent of the cases where the reason for default was listed as “internment,” most of the borrowed funds were shown to still be in the bank.
ئاقتۇ ناھىيەسى پىلال يېزىسى
2000年第五次人口普查,阿克陶县常住总人口163024人,其中:{...}皮拉力乡34498人{...}2010年第六次人口普查,阿克陶县常住总人口199065人,其中:{...}皮拉力乡43228人,
霍依拉阿勒迪村委会{...}青年农场
霍伊拉阿勒迪村委会{...}青年农场生活区
Oppressive regime: surveillance cameras on the road entering the village of Pilal in Akto County, Xinjiang.
پىلال يېزىسى سۇلۇق كەنت
Township-level divisions of Akto County, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region | |
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County seat: Akto Town | |
2 towns |
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9 townships |
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1 ethnic township |
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others |
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Historic townships | Kosrap Township (库斯拉甫乡) |