Konqi River

Konqi River, also transliterated as Kongque River (Uyghur: كۆنچى دەرياسى‎; Uyghur Latin alphabet: Könchi Deryasi), is a river in Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China. It is one of the tributaries of the Tarim River system. The river originates from Bosten Lake, whose water source comes from the Kaidu River, and flows out from the western part of the lake. It passes through Tiemenguan, flows across Korla City and Yuli County, and eventually empties into Lop Nur. The river has a total length of 942 kilometers, an average annual runoff of 1.2 billion cubic meters, and a drainage basin area of 33,200 square kilometers.[1][2]

Due to water diversion projects supplying the Tarim River, as well as the construction of reservoirs and dams in the Puhui and Akesu Pu areas, the river section downstream of Yuli County has experienced flow cessation.[3]

Both “Kongque” and “Konqi” are Chinese transliterations of the Uyghur word كۆنچى (könchi), which originally means leather craftsman. According to local legend, leatherworkers frequently washed hides in this river, giving rise to its name. Another view holds that the name Konqi River appeared earlier, and that during the Guangxu reign of the Qing dynasty, when the Qing government established a postal relay station along the river, it was first translated as Kongque River.[4][5]

There is also a legend that the Eastern Han general Ban Chao once watered his horses at this river, hence it is sometimes referred to as the Yinma River (“Horse-Watering River”). As the river is the principal waterway of Korla, it is also known as the Korla River.[6]

In Notes on the Waterways of the Western Regions (Xiyu Shuidao Ji) by the Qing dynasty geographer Xu Song, the river is described as follows:[7]

“The river flows westward for more than thirty li and exits the mountains. It then flows southward for more than twenty li, passing between Korla and the military post. It continues southwest for seventy li, passing south of the Halabulake military post. After more than twenty li, it turns west again, passing south of the Kuerchu military post, and flows westward. After a total of three hundred li, it is still called the Haidu River.”[8]

References

  1. ^ "干旱区地理" [arid zone geography]. 新疆孔雀河流域生态基流与天然植被需水量研究: 337–345. 2021.
  2. ^ Zhou Honghua, Wumaierjiang, Wubuli, Hao Xingming, Li Weihong. Estimation of ecological water demand of natural vegetation in the Peacock River Basin. Environment and Sustainable Development. 2017, 42 (2): 140–144
  3. ^ Fan, Zili; Ailisier, Kurban; Xu, Hailiang; Zhang, Qingqing; Abudumijiti. "塔里木河的变迁与罗布泊的演化" [The changes of the Tarim River and the evolution of Lop Nur]. Quaternary research. 29 (2): 232–240. doi:10.3969/j.issn.1001-7410.2009.02.06.
  4. ^ Schwarz, H. G. (1992). An Uyghur-English Dictionary. Western Washington University. p. 711. ISBN 0-914584-89-8.
  5. ^ "德宗景皇帝實錄/卷291 - 维基文库，自由的图书馆". zh.wikisource.org (in Chinese). Retrieved 2025-12-21.
  6. ^ "从上游的鱼鸟到下游的沙漠之螺，科考队踏访孔雀河 | 绿会罗布泊科考- 中国生物多样性保护与绿色发展基金会" [From upstream fish and birds to downstream desert snails, a scientific expedition team explores the Peacock River | China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation Lop Nur Scientific Expedition]. www.cbcgdf.org. Archived from the original on 2023-12-03. Retrieved 2025-12-21.
  7. ^ 袁大化, 新疆圖志, retrieved 2025-12-21
  8. ^ Korla County Government. (Report). 1948 (Traditional Chinese). Korla River. Length: 145 li. Origin and course: Originates from the Kaidu River, passes through the city at Tiemenguan, and ends at the Peacock River.


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