Gumo From the
Former Han dynasty (125 BCE to 23 CE) at least until the early
Tang dynasty (618–907 CE), Aksu was known as
Gumo [Ku-mo]. The ancient capital town of Nan ("Southern Town") was likely well south of the present town. During the Han dynasty, Gumo is described as a "kingdom" (
guo) containing 3,500 households and 24,500 individuals, including 4,500 people able to bear arms. It is said to have produced copper, iron and
orpiment. The territory of Gumo was roughly situated in the counties of
Baicheng and
Wensu and the city of Aksu of nowadays.
Baluka During the Buddhist era, it was known as
Bharuka,
Bohuan and
Baluka,
Bolujia (in
pinyin),
Po-lu-chia (in
Wade–Giles). The Chinese pilgrim
Xuanzang visited this "kingdom" in 629 CE and referred to it as Baluka. He recorded that there were tens of
Sarvastivadin vihāras in the kingdom and over 1000
Buddhist monks. He said the kingdom was 600
li from east to west, and 300
li from north to south. Its capital was said to be six
li in circumference. Xuanzang reported that the "native products, climate, temperament of the people, customs, written language and law are the same as in the country of Kuci or modern
Kucha", some to the east, "but the spoken language is somewhat different" from the Kuchean language, which is also known as
Tocharian B and West Tocharian. He also stated that fine cotton and hemp cloth made in the area was traded in neighbouring countries.
Contested period In the 7th, 8th, and early 9th centuries, control of the entire region was often contested by
Tang China, the
Tibetan Empire, and the
Uyghur Khaganate; cities frequently changed hands. Tibet seized Aksu in 670, but Tang forces reconquered the region in 692. The Tang general Tang Jiahui led the Chinese to defeat an Arab-Tibetan attack in the
Battle of Aksu (717). The attack on Aksu was joined by
Türgesh Khan
Suluk. Both
Uch Turfan and Aksu were attacked by the Turgesh, Arab, and Tibetan force on 15 August 717. Qarluqs serving under Chinese command, under Arsila Xian, a Western Turkic Qaghan serving under the Chinese Assistant Grand Protector General Tang Jiahui defeated the attack. Al-Yashkuri, the Arab commander and his army fled to Tashkent after they were defeated. Tibet regained the Tarim Basin in the late 720s, and the Tang dynasty again annexed the region in the 740s. The
Battle of Talas led to the gradual withdrawal of Chinese forces, and the region was then contested between the Uyghurs and Tibetans. Aksu was positioned on a junction of trade routes: the northern Tarim route
Silk Road, and the dangerous route north via the
Tian Shan's
Muzart Pass to the fertile
Ili Valley. In 1207–1208, Aksu submitted to
Genghis Khan who founded the
Mongol Empire. The area had been part of the whole Mongol Empire before it was occupied by the independent-minded
Chagatai Khanate under the
House of Ögedei in 1286 from the hands of Kublai's
Yuan dynasty. After the decline of the Yuan dynasty and the split of the Chagatai Khanate in the mid-14th century, Aksu became a territory of the khanate of
Moghulistan. Later Aksu fell under the power of Turkic and Mongol warlords. Like most of
Xinjiang, Aksu fell under the control of the
Khojas and the
Dzungar Khanate. Along with
Kashgar, Asku played an important role in east–west exchange.
Qing era The
Qing dynasty of China conquered the
Dzungar Khanate during the final stage of the
Dzungar–Qing Wars in the late 1750s. By 1760, the whole Xinjiang including Aksu became the territory of the Qing dynasty. The Aksu region was given immediate legitimacy by the Qing government, which also gave it the name Wensu Independent Department (溫宿直隸州) and appointed an imperial agent to supervise its activity. After the
reconquest of Xinjiang, the Qing dynasty formed Aksu Prefecture as part of the new
Xinjiang Province in 1884.
Modern era After the fall of the Qing dynasty, Aksu County () was established by the
Republic of China In 1913.
Isma'il Beg, a Uighur, became the rebel Tao-yin of Aksu. After the outbreak of the
Ili Rebellion, the
Ili National Army forces led by
Abdulkerim Abbas attempting to take Aksu were repelled by
National Revolutionary Army defenders commanded by Zhao Hanqi after two bitter sieges in September 1945. On 19 August 1983, Aksu County became Aksu City (). The city government began operation on 7 May 1984. Aksu was the site of a
bombing in 2010. On 23 January 2013, of territory was transferred from Aksu city to
Aral city.
Timeline • Before 600 the region was under control of Huns and Uyghur Turkic tribes. • 630:
Xuanzang visited the kingdom. • 800:
Uyghur Khaganate • 1000:
Kara-Khanid Khanate • 1250:
Chagatai Khanate • 1350:
Moghulistan • 1500:
Yarkent Khanate ==Geography==