History

In the late Old Stone Age before 20,000—30,000 years, ancestors of Qinghai people lived in the areas of the Chaidamu Basin and Kunlun Mountains . Discovered by archaeology, exploitation of Qinghai has been lasting for at least 5000—6000 years. In the province, civilization of the /new Stone Age was splendid and ancient painted pottery are world famous. Qinghai 's ancient culture was connected with Qiang people and their ancestors. The earliest people on this land were Qiang people, one of the oldest peoples in west Qinghai . Illustrated by a lot of documents, the Yan and Huang Emperors, so-called as the Chinese ancestors, were just Qiang people. They were both the chieftains of the Qiang groups.

In the year of 121 B.C.( Yuanshou 2nd year of Han Dynasty), the emperor sent General Huo Qubing to conquer the Xungnu people on west side of the River( Huanghe River), set up forts, and 4 prefectures on the west side of the River. IN the year of 111 B.C. ( Yuanding 6th year of the Han Dynasty), Han troops conquered the Hehuang Qiang people, set up "Qiang-protection office", manage Huangzhong county, and built up the Xipingting(Today's Xining city). In the year of 61 B.C.( Shenjue 3ird year of Hanxuan Emperor), Zhoa Yongguo was sent to conquer the descendants of Xianling Qiang, stationed troops to grow food in the Huangshui area. In the year of 222 A.D.( Huangchu 3nd year of Wei Wen Epmperor during three-states period), on the base of the old city---Xipingting of Xihan Dynasty, Xining prefecture was built up.

At the beginning of the 4th century, Tu Guhun people moved into Gansu and Qinghai , and set up the Tu Yuhun state, ruling Qinghai for more than 300 years. During Eastern Jin sixteen states period, Earlier Liang, Earlier Qin, Later Liang, Southern Liang, Western Qin, Western Xia, and Northern Liang ruled Qinghai 's Hehuang area in succession.

In the 7th century, Songzan Ganbu unified Tibetan plateau, and set up the Tubo Dynasty. He controlled the whole Qinghai are for nearly 2oo years. During the five dynasties and ten states period, the Tubo groups were dispersed.

In the Song Dynasty, Hu siluo began to be powerful. He, taking the Qingtang cheng(Today's Xining )as a center, set up a local power mainly composed of Tubo people in the Hehuang area. In the year of 11m3(Chongning 3nd year), Song Dynasty rebuilt the Shan prefecture in to Xining prefecture, to record Xining in its history. After the Northern Song Dynasty was doomed, Jin and western Xia Empires occupied the Hehuang area for about one century.

In the 13th century, the east area of Qinghai was put into the map of Mongolian Khan States. At the beginning of the ruling time of Hubilie, the governor offices were set up in Hezhou prefecture, administering the Tobo groups in Gansu and Qinghai . In 1281, Gansu province was set up to administer Xining and other prefectures.

In the year of 1371 (Hongwu 6th year of Ming Dynasty), Xining prefecture was changed into Xining Garrison, administering 6000 households. In 1488, Xining General Office was set up to manage Mongolian, Tibetan departments and the other areas near Xining . At the beginning of the Ming Dynasty, the east part of Qinghai carried out the Tusi system (a system of appointing national minority hereditary headmen). In South Qinghai and west Sichuan , were set up governors to administer the appointed officials.

At the beginning of the 16th century , the Heshuote group, one of the 4 Mongolian Elute, moved into Qinghai , and became the ruler of Qinghai . At the beginning of the Yongzhen, Qing Dynasty, setup the Qinghai affairs minister, administering all the Mongolian Banners and Tibetan tribes of Yu shu, Guoluo in south Qinghai and other areas arround Qinghai Lake in south Qinghai. Then Xining Garrison was turned into xining governing office, carrying on the Tusi system of the Ming Dynasty, and under the administration of Gansu province.

In 1912, the government of the North Warlords appointed Ma Qi as Xining Troops General. Since then, the Ma families ruled Qinghai for nearly 40 years. On September 5,1928 , the Nanjing Kuomingtang government decided to set up Qinghai province administering Xining . In January,1929, Qinghai province as set up.

In 1949, the Ma's troops were defeated in the Lanzhou Campaign. Xining was liberated, and the political power of the Ma families died out. On september 26,1949 , the people's army and government committee was founded. On January 1,1950 , the people's government of Qinghai province was set up, Xining as the capital of the province. Qinghai entered a new historical period.

Editor: Carolyn