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As the largest political subdivision of China, Xinjiang accounts for more than one sixth of China's total territory and a quarter of its boundary length. Xinjiang itself is divided into two basins by Mount Tianshan. In the north lies the Dzungarian Basin and to its south is the Tarim Basin. Xinjiang's lowest point is 155 meters below sea level; its highest peak is 8611 meters above sea level on the border with Kashmir. The Xinjiang-Kyrgyzstan border is located at the Tian Shan mountain range. The Torugart Pass is also located on this border. The Karakorum highway links Islamabad, Pakistan with Kashgar over the Khunjerab Pass. Xinjiang's major cities are Urumqi, Turpan, Kashgar, Karamay, Yining, Shihezi.
Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang. Photo courtesy of The Jamestown Foundation.
Xinjiang itself is divided into 2 prefecture-level cities, 7 prefectures, and 5 autonomous prefectures. Below them are 11 districts, 20 county-level cities, 62 counties, and 6 autonomous counties. Four of the county-level cities do not belong to any prefecture and are de facto administered by the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps.
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