Qianxinan Buyei and Miao Autonomous Prefecture

Qianxinan Buyei and Miao Autonomous Prefecture (Chinese: 黔西南布依族苗族自治州^[2]; pinyin: Qiánxīnán Bùyīzú Miáozú Zìzhìzhōu^[3]; Buyei: Qianfxiynanf Buxqyaix Buxyeeuz Ziqziqzouy; Hmu: Qeef Xib Naif Dol Yat Dol Hmub Zid Zid Zeb) is an autonomous prefecture of Guizhou province, People's Republic of China, bordering Guangxi to the south and Yunnan to the west. The name, "黔西南" derives from the prefecture's southwest location in the province; "黔" is the official abbreviation for Guizhou, while "西南" means "southwest".

In early antiquity, the region is traditionally associated with Guifang. From the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods periods through the Qin and Han dynasties, the area was linked to the Yelang polity and later incorporated into the imperial administrative system as part of Zangke Commandery. During the Han dynasty, Zangke Commandery governed a large territory spanning parts of present-day Guizhou and Yunnan, and the region formed part of this administrative unit. In the Three Kingdoms period, following the southern campaigns of the Shu Han state, the area was reorganised under Xinggu Commandery. During the Northern and Southern dynasties, the region was associated with the Cuoman and Wuman peoples. In the Tang dynasty, the area was administered under the jimi system, initially as Xiping Prefecture and later as Pan Prefecture. From the mid-Tang period onward, the region fell under the control of Nanzhao, remaining outside direct Tang administration. During the Song dynasty, the area lay beyond effective Song control and was associated with political entities linked to the Dali Kingdom, including the Yushi Division.^[4]

Following the Mongol conquest of China, the region was incorporated into the Yuan imperial system. Under the Yuan dynasty, it was administered as Pu’an Route. In the Ming dynasty, governance combined military and civil institutions, including Pu’an Guard, Pu’an Prefecture, and the Annan and Anlong guards. In the late Ming period, the Southern Ming Yongli regime temporarily established its court at Anlong, designating it as Anlong Prefecture, nominally under Yunnan Province. During the Qing dynasty, the region underwent frequent administrative reorganisation. It was successively administered as Nanlong Subprefecture and later Nanlong Prefecture (南笼府), alongside Yongfeng Prefecture, which was later renamed Zhenfeng Prefecture. In 1797, Nanlong Prefecture was renamed Xingyi Prefecture, with its seat at present-day Anlong. In 1798, Xingyi County was established under the prefecture.^[4] After the establishment of the Republic of China, Xingyi Prefecture was abolished in 1914, and the region was placed under the Guixi Circuit. In 1935, it became part of the Third Administrative Inspectorate of Guizhou, with its seat at Xingren. Following the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the Xingren Special District was established in 1950. On 4 December 1952, it was renamed the Xingyi Special District, with the administrative seat moved to Xingyi. In 1956, parts of the region were reassigned to the Qiannan Buyei and Miao Autonomous Prefecture and the Xingyi Special District was abolished. In 1965, the Xingyi Special District was re-established, incorporating counties from neighboring administrative regions. It was renamed Xingyi Region in 1970. On 21 September 1981, the Qianxinan Buyei and Miao Autonomous Prefecture was formally established. Xingyi County was upgraded to a county-level city in 1987, and Xingren County was similarly upgraded in 2018.^[4]

Qianxinan Buyei and Miao Autonomous Prefecture is located in southwestern Guizhou. It spans 210 km east–west and 177 km north–south, covering an area of 16,804 km² (6,488 sq mi). The prefecture lies within the Pearl River Basin, specifically the Nanpan and Beipan River watersheds. It borders Qiannan Buyei and Miao Autonomous Prefecture (Guizhou) to the east, Anshun (Guizhou) to the northeast, Baise (Guangxi) to the south, and Qujing (Yunnan) and Liupanshui (Guizhou) to the west. The terrain is characterized by a westward and northward elevation gradient, with higher elevations in the west and north and lower in the east and south. Most of the prefecture lies between 1,000 and 2,000 meters in elevation. The terrain is rugged and diverse, with significant internal variations, divided into five distinct geomorphic zones: low mountain erosion canyon zone, karst plateau trough zone, karst erosion plateau zone, karst erosion mountain zone, and erosion mountain valley zone. Soils are predominantly acidic to slightly acidic red and yellow soils, typical of the region's karst and mountainous landscape.^[5][6]

Qianxinan Television is the cable television station based in Qianxinan.^[11]

The prefecture is subdivided into 8 county-level divisions: 2 county-level cities, and 6 counties.

• County level cities:
  • Xingyi (兴义市)
  • Xingren (兴仁市)
• Counties:
  • Wangmo County (望谟县)
  • Pu'an County (普安县)
  • Ceheng County (册亨县)
  • Qinglong County (晴隆县)
  • Zhenfeng County (贞丰县)
  • Anlong County (安龙县)

25°05′N 104°55′E / 25.09°N 104.91°E / 25.09; 104.91