Yutian

Yutian County (于田县) is a county in the Hotan (Khotan) Prefecture of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China. It is located in the southern part of Xinjiang, within the Tarim Basin, and borders desert and mountain areas. The county seat is Yutian Town (于田镇).

Administration and geography: The county administers several towns and townships, with the government seated in Yutian Town. The landscape includes irrigated agricultural corridors along rivers amid arid deserts, and the climate is continental and arid, with hot summers and cold winters.

Economy and demographics: Agriculture is the main economic activity, with cotton and grain production supported by irrigation from regional water systems. Livestock husbandry is common, and small-scale industry supports local employment. The population is predominantly Uyghur, with other ethnic groups including Han Chinese and Hui present in smaller numbers. Uyghur is widely spoken, with Mandarin used in official contexts.

History and culture: The area is part of the historic Khotan region along the southern Silk Road. The cultural heritage includes traditional Uyghur customs, crafts, and cuisine. The county is home to mosques and market towns reflecting a cultural mosaic typical of southern Xinjiang.

Transportation: Yutian is linked by regional highways to Hotan and other parts of southern Xinjiang. Road transport provides access for commerce, agriculture, and regional mobility; there is no major railway station within the county, with the closest rail connections in the prefecture seat.