Ordos City

{{More citations needed|date=December 2018}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}} {{Infobox settlement  | name = Ordos | native_name = {{native name|zh-Hans-CN|鄂尔多斯市}} {{lower|0.1em|{{MongolUnicode|ᠣᠷᠳᠣᠰ|lang=mn}}{{MongolUnicode|ᠬᠣᠲᠠ|lang=mn}}}} {{lower|0.25em|([[Mongolian language|Mongolian]])}} | settlement_type = [[Prefecture-level city]] | image_skyline = {{multiple image | border = infobox | total_width = 290 | image_style = border:1; | perrow = 1/2/2/1 | image1 = The Skyline of Dongsheng District（northwest）2016.jpg | caption1 = [[Dongsheng District]] skyline | image2 = Ordos Intl Circuit Main Grandstand.jpg | caption2= [[Ordos International Circuit]] | image3 = 鄂尔多斯-响沙湾沙漠酒店 - panoramio.jpg | caption3 = Xiangshawan | image4 = Dongsheng Railway Station.jpg | caption4 = Dong sheng Railway Station | image5 = Ordos_Airport_terminal.JPG | caption5 = [[Ordos Ejin Horo International Airport]] | image6 = Genghis_khan_mausoleum.jpg | caption6 = [[Mausoleum of Genghis Khan]] }} | image_map = Location of Ordos Prefecture within Inner Mongolia (China).svg | map_caption = Location of Ordos City jurisdiction in Inner Mongolia (orange) | map_caption1 =  | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = [[China|People's Republic of China]] | subdivision_type1 = [[Autonomous regions of China|Region]] | subdivision_name1 = [[Inner Mongolia]] | seat_type = Municipal seat | seat = [[Kangbashi District]] | area_total_km2 = 86752 | area_urban_km2 = 2526.5 | area_urban_footnotes =  (2017)<ref name="CUCSY_2017">{{cite book |editor1=Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development |editor-link=Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development |title=China Urban Construction Statistical Yearbook 2017 |date=2019 |publisher=China Statistics Press |location=Beijing |page=46 |url=http://www.mohurd.gov.cn/xytj/tjzljsxytjgb/jstjnj/w02019012421874448287322500.xls |access-date=11 January 2020}}</ref> | area_metro_km2 = 5859.8 | elevation_footnotes =  | elevation_m = 1305 | elevation_max_m = 2149 | elevation_min_m = 850 | population_as_of = 2020 census<ref name="ordosdwgk">{{cite web |title=鄂尔多斯市第七次全国人口普查公报 |url=https://ordosdwgk.gov.cn/gk_128120/tjxx/tjgb/202105/t20210527_2899668.html |publisher=Ordos Municipal Government}}</ref> | population_total = 2153638 | population_density_km2 = auto | population_density_metro_km2 = auto | population_urban = 693038 | population_urban_footnotes =  <ref name="CUCSY_2017"/> | population_metro = 366779 | population_density_urban_km2 = auto | demographics_type2 = GDP<ref>{{cite book |author=内蒙古自治区统计局、国家统计局内蒙古调查总队 |title=《内蒙古统计年鉴－2016》|year=2016|publisher=[[China Statistics Press]] |isbn=978-7-5037-7901-5}}</ref> | demographics2_title1 = [[Prefecture-level city]] | demographics2_info1 = [[CN¥]] 612.2 billion [[US$]] 88 billion | demographics2_title2 = Per capita | demographics2_info2 = CN¥ 274,488, US$ 39,780 | timezone = [[China Standard Time|China Standard]] | utc_offset = +8 | coor_pinpoint = Genghis Khan Plaza, [[Kangbashi]]{{coord|39.604|N|109.785|E|type:adm2nd_region:CN-15_source:Gaode|format=dms|display=it}} | postal_code_type = [[Postal code of China|Postal code]] | postal_code = 017000 | blank3_name = [[Licence plates of the People's Republic of China|Licence plate prefixes]] | blank3_info = {{lang|zh-cn|蒙}}K | blank4_name = [[Administrative division codes of the People's Republic of China|Administrative division code]] | blank4_info = 150600 | iso_code = [[ISO 3166-2:CN|CN-NM-06]] | website = {{URL|www.ordos.gov.cn}} | footnotes = }} {{Infobox Chinese | s = 鄂尔多斯市 | t = {{linktext|鄂爾多斯}}{{linktext|市}} | w = {{tone superscript|O4-êrh3-to1-ssŭ1 Shih4}} | p = È'ěrduōsī Shì | gr = Eh'eelduosy Shyh | bpmf = ㄜˋ   ㄦˇ   ㄉㄨㄛ   ㄙ   ㄕˋ | myr = Èěrdwōsz̄ Shr̀ | mi = {{IPAc-cmn|e|4|.|er|3|.|d|uo|1|.|si|1|-|shi|4}} | mong = ᠣᠷᠳᠣᠰ ᠬᠣᠲᠠ | monr = Ordos qota | mon = Ордос хот | order = st }}

'''Ordos''',{{efn|{{bulleted list|{{lang-zh|s=鄂尔多斯|p=È'ěrduōsī}}|[[Mongolian language|Mongolian]]: {{MongolUnicode|ᠣᠷᠳᠣᠰ}} {{MongolUnicode|ᠬᠣᠲᠠ}}, {{transliteration|mn|Ordos qota}}}}}} also known as '''Ih Ju''', is one of twelve [[List of administrative divisions of Inner Mongolia|major subdivisions]] of [[Inner Mongolia]], [[China]]. It lies within the [[Ordos Plateau]] of the [[Yellow River]]. Ordos has been administered as a [[prefecture-level city]] since 2001, although built-up areas make up a small proportion of its surface area. Its population was 2,153,638 as of the 2020 census. Ordos City consists of three separate [[urban area|urban areas]], the historical city center [[Dongsheng District|Dongsheng]] (574,242 inhabitants in 2020), a newly developed area at [[Kangbashi District|Kangbashi]] (population 118,796), and [[Altan Xire]] (population 141,983).

Ordos emerged as a center of [[coal mining]] during the early 2000s, as the prefecture is home to one-sixth of China's total coal reserve. In recent years, Ordos is increasingly transitioning to renewable energy and manufacturing, although coal enterprises remain central to its economy.

Ordos is known for its recent large scale government projects, including most prominently the new [[Kangbashi District]], an urban district planned to be a massive civic mall with many monuments, cultural institutions and other showpiece architecture. It was also the venue for the [[Miss World 2012|2012 Miss World]] Final.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sheehan |first1=Matt |title=Signs of Life In China's Gleaming 'Ghost City' Of Ordos |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/05/04/china-ordos-ghost-city-life_n_7204016.html |access-date=17 July 2018 |publisher=Huffington Post |date=5 April 2015}}</ref> When it was newly built, the streets of the new [[Kangbashi District|Kangbashi district]] were frequently described as a "[[Underoccupied developments in China|ghost city]]" by several Western media outlets.<ref name=day>{{cite news |last=Day |first=Peter |date=17 March 2012 |title=Ordos: The biggest ghost town in China |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-17390729 |publisher=BBC News |location= |access-date=15 February 2022}}</ref> However, in 2017, Wade Shepard stated in a ''[[Forbes]]'' article that it became increasingly difficult to apply this label as the city's population had surged to 153,000, an increase from 30,000 in 2009.<ref name="Shepard">{{Cite news|url= https://www.forbes.com/sites/wadeshepard/2017/06/30/ordos-chinas-most-infamous-ex-ghost-city-continues-rising/#6aff89a46877/2017/06/30/|title=China's Most Infamous 'Ghost City' Is Rising From The Desert|last=Shepard|first=Wade|work=Forbes|access-date=24 August 2018}}</ref>

==Etymology== The area was known as the Ih Ju [[Leagues of China|League]], also spelled Ikh Juu,{{efn|{{bulleted list|{{lang-zh|c=伊克昭盟 |p=Yīkèzhāo Méng |links=no}}|Mongolian: {{MongolUnicode|ᠶᠡᠬᠡ ᠵᠤᠤ}} {{MongolUnicode|ᠠᠶᠢᠮᠠᠭ}}, {{transliteration|mn|Yeke J̌uu ayimaɣ}}}}}} from 1649 to 2001. It was redesignated as a prefecture-level city and renamed to Ordos on 26 February 2001. "Ordos" means "many palaces" in [[Mongolian language|Mongolian]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ordos.gov.cn/zjeedx/sqgk/ |script-title=zh:市情概况 |access-date=13 November 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091122194155/http://www.ordos.gov.cn/zjeedx/sqgk/ |archive-date=22 November 2009 |title= }}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Lin |first=Zhongjie |title=Constructing Utopias: China's New Town Movement in the 21st Century |date=2025 |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |isbn=978-0-19-779330-5 |location=New York, NY}}</ref>{{Reference page|page=243}} "Ordos" originally referred to a tribe belonging to the ''Yeke Juu'' (''Ike Chao'' 'great monastery', i.e. Ih Ju or Guanghui Monastery) league and later included the tribe's area, hence the Ordos, or Ordus, the area within the big bend of the Yellow River. Mongolian ''ordu''(''n''), ''ord'' 'court, residence of a ruler; palace; camp', also for 'camp bodyguards'. According to Ramstedt -''s'' is a plural suffix; further: ''ordu'', ''orda''; Turkic ''orta'' 'a center'; Mongolian > Turkish ''orda'' 'camp' > Hindustani ''urdū'' > English "horde."<ref>G. John Ramstedt: ''Kalmückisches Wörterbuch'', Helsinki, 1935, Suomalais-Ugrilainen Seura, and Ferdinand D. Lessing, ed.: ''Mongolian-English Dictionary'', Bloomington, Ind., 1982, The Mongolia Society, Inc.</ref> The name is sometimes claimed to be related to the [[Genghis Khan Mausoleum|eight white yurts of Genghis Khan]].<ref>W. R. Carles, "Problems in Exploration II. Ordos", in ''The Geographical Journal'', Vol. 33, No. 6 (Jun. 1909), p. 669</ref> Linguistically, the [[Ordos Mongolian|Ordos dialect]] of Mongolian is quite different from neighboring [[Chakhar Mongolian]]. [[File:GhinggisKhanStatue.jpg|thumb|Genghis Khan equestrian sculpture in Ordos City]]

==History== === Prehistoric civilization === [[File:Genghis khan mausoleum.jpg|thumb|Genghis Khan Mausoleum in the [[Ejin Horo Banner]]]] The Sarawusu River lies at the southern end of the Ordos grassland. It originates from [[Dingbian County]] in northwestern [[Shaanxi]], flowing through the [[Otog Banner]], [[Uxin Banner]], Batuwan Village, and northern [[Shanxi]]. It also converges with [[Xianshui River]] and finally [[Wuding River]], a tributary of the [[Yellow River]]. The Sarawusu river also washed out a U-shaped river valley in the [[Mu Us Desert]]. Sarawusu in Mongolian means "thick yellow stream," after the eponymous perennially yellow-colored local river; both sides of the river are covered with swaying red willows, so the river is also called the "Hongliu River" (Red Willow River).

In 1923, French Jesuit [[Émile Licent]] first discovered fossils of the [[Hetao]] people here.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Madsen |first1=David B. |last2=Jingzen |first2=Li |last3=Brantingham |first3=P. Jeffrey |last4=Xing |first4=Gao |last5=Elston |first5=Robert G. |last6=Bettinger |first6=Robert L. |date=December 2001 |title=Dating Shuidonggou and the Upper Palaeolithic blade industry in North China |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0003598X00089213/type/journal_article |journal=Antiquity |language=en |volume=75 |issue=290 |pages=706–716 |doi=10.1017/S0003598X00089213 |bibcode=2001Antiq..75..706M |s2cid=128402306 |issn=0003-598X|url-access=subscription }}</ref> Since then, Chinese archaeologists have visited the site many times. The site is known today as part of the [[Shuidonggou]] site complex. A large number of cultural relics have been excavated from this site, some reportedly dating back as far as 100,000 years. However, the chronology of the site remains debated.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Peng |first1=Fei |last2=Lin |first2=Sam C. |last3=Patania |first3=Ilaria |last4=Levchenko |first4=Vladimir |last5=Guo |first5=Jialong |last6=Wang |first6=Huimin |last7=Gao |first7=Xing |date=27 May 2020 |title=A chronological model for the Late Paleolithic at Shuidonggou Locality 2, North China |journal=PLOS ONE |volume=15 |issue=5 |article-number=e0232682 |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0232682 |issn=1932-6203 |pmc=7252617 |pmid=32459803|bibcode=2020PLoSO..1532682P |doi-access=free }}</ref> The material culture created by the Hetao people is now called "Salawusu" or "Shuidonggou" culture. After a comprehensive analysis of geology, animal fossils, and stone tools, this culture was identified as the late Paleolithic culture.<ref>Dani, Ahmed Hasan and V.M. Masson, eds. ''History of Civilizations of Central Asia,'' vol 1. Paris: UNESCO Publishing, 1992: 99.</ref>

Hetao civilization is viewed as the product of the integration of grassland culture and Yellow River civilization. Its long-term development and complex transmutation process, especially the relationship with Urad and Ordos Mongolian culture, also illustrates the relationship between Hetao civilization and [[Yellow River civilization]]. Hetao culture is seen as an important predecessor to the mainstream culture of the northern grasslands.{{Citation needed|reason=No source provided|date=June 2022}}

=== Ancient history === Before the [[Zhou dynasty]], Ordos belonged to nomadic peoples such as the [[Guifang]] and Lin Hu. In the [[Warring States Period]], it was the [[Yunzhong]] County of the [[Zhao (state)|state of Zhao]], and was conquered by the [[Qin (state)|state of Qin]].

At the beginning of the Han dynasty, it lay on the front lines of the [[Han–Xiongnu War]]. [[Emperor Wu of Han]] set up Shuofang County here. When [[Emperor Xuan of Han]] called the Huxie Chanyu to come, Ordos became the residence of the Southern [[Xiongnu]]. A short period of intercultural peace persisted until the Uprising of the Five Barbarians broke out during the Western Jin dynasty. Ordos was territories of the pre-Qin and post-Qin dynasties during the [[Sixteen Kingdoms]] . It then belonged to the [[Northern Wei|Northern Wei dynasty]], the [[Western Wei|Western Wei dynasty]], and the [[Northern Zhou|Northern Zhou dynasty]] of the [[Northern and Southern dynasties|Northern and Southern dynasties era.]] In the Sui and Tang dynasties, they were all territories. In the [[Tang dynasty]], the famous General [[Guo Ziyi]] once was an officer here. During the [[An Lushan Rebellion|Anshi Rebellion]], [[Emperor Suzong of Tang]] fled to Ordos.{{Citation needed|reason=No source provided|date=June 2022}}

==== Qin Zhidao and Sufang County ==== Qin Zhidao was an important military road for [[Qin Shi Huang]] supervised by [[Meng Tian]] from 212 BC to 210 BC. Qin Zhidao starts from the [[Yunyang, Shiyan|Yunyang]] Linguang Palace in the [[Xianyang]] military site and goes to [[Jinyun County]] in the north. Qinzhidao passes through Ordos City, three Banners and one district, the Qinzhidao site protection unit is established in Ordos City. It now passes through modern Ordos City, and the Qin Zhidao site protection unit is established in Ordos City.

One of the northern border counties of the Han dynasty, Sufang County was set up in the Western Han dynasty. In 127 BC, [[Emperor Wu of Han|Emperor Wu]] sent [[Wei Qing]] and Li Xi to send troops to attack the Xiongnu. Soldiers from Yunzhong County (west of Gaochun) to Fuli (now northern [[Gansu]]) helped regain the Hetao area. The jurisdiction of the original Qin dynasty (commonly known as "New Qinzhong"), and the Sufang County in the south of the Yin Mountain, has been identified in the northwestern part of the modern-day Otog Banner.{{Citation needed|reason=No source provided|date=June 2022}}

==== Tongwan City ==== The archaeological site of [[Tongwan]] City is located at the junction of Ordos City and Jingbian, Shaanxi Province. It was the capital of the Daxia Kingdom during the Northern dynasties and Sixteen Kingdoms 1500 years ago. The city was built by the Xiongnu leader Helian Bobo, who called himself "Tianwang, Great Chan Yu," from 407 AD to 414 AD.. The city walls were 25 meters thick, with a height of 23.33 meters and a width of 11.16 meters.{{Citation needed|reason=No source provided|date=June 2022}}

==== Eight White Palaces ==== {{Main|Mausoleum of Genghis Khan}}

The legend says that when [[Genghis Khan]] passed through the present-day Ordos area on his way to conquer the [[Western Xia|Western Xia Kingdom]], he accidentally dropped his whip. Genghis Khan proclaimed on the spot that the water is good and grass is rich here, and he would like to be buried here. In August 1227, Genghis Khan died while on campaign against the [[Tangut language|Tangut]] people of [[Western Xia]]. [[Ögedei Khan]] placed the relics of Genghis Khan in eight white felt tents for worship, collectively known as the Eight White Palaces. Later, [[Kublai Khan]] further stipulated the ceremonies and ritual rules of the Eight White Palaces, and put into place the sacred ceremonies. Sacrifices were held throughout the year in the Mongol Empire and the Eight White Palaces became a movable hall and a symbol of the power for the Genghis Khan gold family.{{Citation needed|reason=No source provided|date=June 2022}}

=== Qing dynasty === {{See also|Qing dynasty}}

==== Six Banners League ==== In the sixth year of the Shunzhi Era (1649 AD), the Qing dynasty divided the Mongolian Ordos tribe into six banners: the Ordos Left-Wing Middle Banner (formerly the County King Banner), Ordos Left-Wing Front Banner (now Jungar Banner), the Ordos Left-Wing Banner (now the Dalat Banner), Ordos Right-Wing Middle Banner (now Otog Banner), Ordos Right-Wing Front Banner (now Uxin Banner), and Ordos Right-Wing Banner (now Hanggin), with the later addition of the Ordos Right-Wing Front Banner (formerly Zhasak Banner). Later, the Ordos' Six Banners allied at Wang Ai Zhao, and named the Ikezhao League (Former name of Ordos city).{{Citation needed|reason=No source provided|date=June 2022}}

Due to rapid population growth, migrations to Ordos also occurred during the Qing Dynasty from the mainland. "Zou Xi Kou" (Walking the Western path) referred to the mass migration of people [[Shanxi]], [[Shaanxi]] and other places have migrated to Ordos, Guihua ([[Hohhot]]), Tumut, and Chahar since the Qing dynasty. "Zou Xi Kou" changed Mongolia's social structure, economic structure and way of life. Shanxi people account for a relatively high proportion of immigrants, bringing Shanxi's [[Jin Chinese|Jin]] culture to the central and western regions of Inner Mongolia.{{Citation needed|reason=No source provided|date=June 2022}}

=== Modern === After the Republic of China, the special zone of Suiyuan was established, it was later changed to Suiyuan Province, and Ikezhao League was established. After the [[Marco Polo Bridge incident|Lugou Bridge Incident]] in 1937, [[Japanese occupation of China|the Japanese occupied most of northern China]]. In 1938, Inner Mongolia Bailing Temple, Guisui, Baotou and other places were successively lost. After the Japanese invaders occupied Baotou, they went to Ordos to coerce the princes of all ethnic groups and moved the Eight White Palaces of Genghis Khan to Baotou. Initially the Iqzhao League leader Shagdur Zab and the flag princes vowed never to move east, as the Eight White Palaces were an important part of mongolian beliefs. However, the situation was forced, and the Eight White Palaces had to move west to the Xinglong Mountain in [[Gansu]]. On 9 June 1939, the Eight White Palaces embarked on a long road to the west. On 21 June, the Eight White Palaces passed through Yan'an, and the Chinese Communist Party presented a wreath to the bier. On June 15th the Eight White Palaces arrived in [[Xi'an]], with the welcome of 200,000 people. [[Republic of China (1912–1949)|The National Government]] held a grand national festival in accordance with the customs of the Mongolian nation. On 1 July 1939, the Eight White Palaces was placed in Xinglong Mountain, Gansu Province. In 1949, due to the chaos of the [[Chinese Civil War]], the government of the Republic of China moved the Eight White Palaces to the [[Qinghai]] [[Kumbum Monastery]].{{Citation needed|reason=No source provided|date=June 2022}}

After the founding of the People's Republic of China, the Eight White Palaces were transferred back to the [[Inner Mongolia|Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region]]. In 1954, the [[Central People's Government (1949–1954)|Central People's Government]] of the People's Republic of China moved the Eight White Palaces back to Ejin Hollow.

The modern city of Ordos was established in 2001.<ref name=":0" />{{Reference page|page=243}}

On 8 June 2016, the State Council approved the "Request for the Establishment of Kangbashi District in Ordos City" of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region: the agreement to set up Kangbashi District in what will be the Habagesh Street, Qingshan Street and Binhe Street in Dongsheng District of Ordos City.{{Citation needed|reason=No source provided|date=June 2022}}

==Geography and climate== Ordos's prefectural administrative region occupies {{convert|86752|km2|sp=us}} and covers the bigger part of the [[Ordos Desert]], although the urban area itself is relatively small. It borders the prefecture-level divisions of [[Hohhot]] to the east, [[Baotou]] to the northeast, [[Bayan Nur]] to the north, [[Alxa League]] to the northwest, [[Wuhai]] to the west, the [[Ningxia]] Hui Autonomous Region to its southwest, and the provinces of [[Shaanxi]] and [[Shanxi]] to the south. The maximal north–south extent is {{convert|340|km|abbr=on}}, while from east to west it stretches for {{convert|400|km|abbr=on}}.<ref name = cityintro/>

The most populous municipality is [[Dongsheng District|Dongsheng]] which had a population of 582,544 inhabitants as of the 2010 census. Another urban area is the conglomeration of [[Kangbashi District]] and the adjacent township of [[Altan Xire]].<ref name="book">{{cite thesis|last1=Woodworth|first1=Max David |date=2013 |title=Frontier Boomtown Urbanism: City Building in Ordos Municipality, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, 2001–2011 |type=PhD dissertation |publisher=University of California, Berkeley |page=51 |url=https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9cr46717}}</ref> Kangbashi is to the north of the Wulan Mulun River, a tributary of the Yellow River, while Altan Xire is to the south of the same river.

The area of Ordos can roughly be divided into a hilly area in the east, high [[plateau]]s in the west and center, sandy [[desert]]s in the north and south, and plains at the southern bank of the [[Yellow River]]. The highest elevation, at {{convert|2149|m|sp=us}}, is located in the west, and the lowest point, at {{convert|850|m|abbr=on}}, is in the east.

There are two large deserts in the territory of Ordos: [[Kubuqi Desert]] in the north and the [[Mu Us Desert|Mu Us (Maowusu) Desert]] in the south. The Kubuqi Desert occupies 19.2% of Ordos, or {{convert|16600|km2|abbr=on}}, while the Maowusu Desert takes up 28.8% of the area, or {{convert|25000|km2|abbr=on}}.

Ordos is one of the major coal producing region in China, contributing to approximately 17% of coal output.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Zhao |first1=Yiyang |last2=Yin |first2=Hang |last3=Zhang |first3=Weijie |last4=Yan |first4=Jianghong |last5=An |first5=Jiuji |last6=Zhang |first6=Zezhong |last7=Wu |first7=Yingjie |last8=Hu |first8=Wei |last9=Lai |first9=Hexin |last10=Wang |first10=Fei |last11=Feng |first11=Kai |date=2026-01-19 |title=Evaluation of water resources carrying capacity in Ordos city based on the Game Theory-Topsis-Grey Prediction coupling model |journal=Scientific Reports |language=en |volume=16 |issue=1 |pages=5782 |doi=10.1038/s41598-026-36754-1 |pmid=41554868 |issn=2045-2322|pmc=12895012 |bibcode=2026NatSR..16.5782Z }}</ref>

Ordos features a cold [[semi-arid climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''BSk''), marked by long, cold and very dry winters; very warm, somewhat humid summers; and strong winds, especially in spring. The annual precipitation is {{convert|300|to|400|mm|in|1|sp=us}} in the eastern part of the city and {{convert|190|to|350|mm|in|1|abbr=on}} in the western part. Most of the rain falls between July and September, with very little snow in winter; average annual evaporation reaches {{convert|2000|to|3000|mm|in|abbr=on}}. In the city proper, the monthly 24-hour average temperature ranges from {{convert|−10.5|C|1}} in January to {{convert|21.0|C|1}} in July, while the annual mean is {{convert|6.16|C|1}}. Sunshine duration averages 2,700 to 3,200 hours annually.<ref name = cityintro/>

{{Weather box |metric first=y |single line=y |collapsed = Y |location = Ordos ([[Dongsheng District]]), elevation {{convert|1462|m|ft|abbr=on}}, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1971–2010) |Jan record high C = 11.3 |Jan record low C = -28.4 |Feb record high C = 16.6 |Feb record low C = -27.5 |Mar record high C = 24.9 |Mar record low C = -22.8 |Apr record high C = 32.2 |Apr record low C = -11.6 |May record high C = 32.9 |May record low C = -4.8 |Jun record high C = 36.7 |Jun record low C = 1.7 |Jul record high C = 36.5 |Jul record low C = 9.1 |Aug record high C = 33.3 |Aug record low C = 4.3 |Sep record high C = 33.3 |Sep record low C = -2.1 |Oct record high C = 24.4 |Oct record low C = -13.6 |Nov record high C = 18.7 |Nov record low C = -21.8 |Dec record high C = 12.2 |Dec record low C = -27.1 |year high C = |year low C = |year high F = |year low F = |Jan high C = -3.9 |Feb high C = 0.6 |Mar high C = 7.3 |Apr high C = 15.3 |May high C = 21.2 |Jun high C = 25.7 |Jul high C = 27.4 |Aug high C = 25.2 |Sep high C = 20.1 |Oct high C = 13.2 |Nov high C = 4.8 |Dec high C = -2.4 |Jan mean C = -9.3 |Feb mean C = -5.1 |Mar mean C = 1.4 |Apr mean C = 9.2 |May mean C = 15.3 |Jun mean C = 20.0 |Jul mean C = 21.9 |Aug mean C = 20.0 |Sep mean C = 14.7 |Oct mean C = 7.7 |Nov mean C = -0.5 |Dec mean C = -7.4 |Jan low C = -13.1 |Feb low C = -9.3 |Mar low C = -3.3 |Apr low C = 3.8 |May low C = 9.7 |Jun low C = 14.6 |Jul low C = 17.1 |Aug low C = 15.6 |Sep low C = 10.3 |Oct low C = 3.3 |Nov low C = -4.3 |Dec low C = -11.1 |precipitation colour = green |Jan precipitation mm = 2.1 |Feb precipitation mm = 4.3 |Mar precipitation mm = 9.3 |Apr precipitation mm = 16.2 |May precipitation mm = 31.4 |Jun precipitation mm = 52.1 |Jul precipitation mm = 94.5 |Aug precipitation mm = 89.6 |Sep precipitation mm = 52.0 |Oct precipitation mm = 20.7 |Nov precipitation mm = 9.4 |Dec precipitation mm = 2.3 |Jan humidity = 51 |Feb humidity = 45 |Mar humidity = 38 |Apr humidity = 33 |May humidity = 36 |Jun humidity = 44 |Jul humidity = 56 |Aug humidity = 60 |Sep humidity = 57 |Oct humidity = 50 |Nov humidity = 50 |Dec humidity = 50 |unit precipitation days = 0.1 mm |Jan precipitation days = 2.3 |Feb precipitation days = 2.6 |Mar precipitation days = 3.8 |Apr precipitation days = 3.8 |May precipitation days = 6.7 |Jun precipitation days = 9.4 |Jul precipitation days = 11.5 |Aug precipitation days = 11.3 |Sep precipitation days = 8.8 |Oct precipitation days = 4.8 |Nov precipitation days = 3.1 |Dec precipitation days = 2.4 |year precipitation days = |Jan sun = 221.7 |Feb sun = 217.0 |Mar sun = 257.7 |Apr sun = 281.8 |May sun = 306.8 |Jun sun = 288.3 |Jul sun = 281.7 |Aug sun = 267.8 |Sep sun = 242.0 |Oct sun = 245.7 |Nov sun = 218.1 |Dec sun = 211.7 |year sun = | Jan percentsun = 73 | Feb percentsun = 71 | Mar percentsun = 69 | Apr percentsun = 70 | May percentsun = 69 | Jun percentsun = 65 | Jul percentsun = 63 | Aug percentsun = 64 | Sep percentsun = 66 | Oct percentsun = 72 | Nov percentsun = 74 | Dec percentsun = 73 | year percentsun = |Jan snow days = 3.8 |Feb snow days = 4.5 |Mar snow days = 4.3 |Apr snow days = 1.5 |May snow days = 0.2 |Jun snow days = 0 |Jul snow days = 0 |Aug snow days = 0 |Sep snow days = 0 |Oct snow days = 1.2 |Nov snow days = 3.2 |Dec snow days = 4.3 |year snow days = |source 1 = [[China Meteorological Administration]]<ref name="cma graphical">{{cite web |url=http://data.cma.cn/data/weatherBk.html |script-title=zh:中国气象数据网 – WeatherBk Data |publisher=[[China Meteorological Administration]] |language = zh-hans |access-date=10 October 2023}}</ref><ref> {{cite web|url=https://experience.arcgis.com/template/e724038fda394e9d9b7921f10fd1aa55/page/%E7%BA%AF%E8%A1%A8%E6%A0%BC%E7%BB%9F%E8%AE%A1-(%E5%AF%B9%E6%AF%948110%E5%8F%98%E5%8C%96)/?org=UQmaps |script-title=zh:中国气象数据网|publisher=[[China Meteorological Administration]] |language = zh-hans | access-date =10 October 2023 |title=Experience Template }}</ref> | source 2 = Weather China<ref name = cityintro>{{cite web | url = https://www.weather.com.cn/cityintro/101080701.shtml? | script-title=zh:鄂尔多斯 - 气象数据 -中国天气网 | publisher = Weather China | language = zh | access-date = 29 November 2022}}</ref> }}

==Economy== Ordos is one of the most prosperous regions of China when measured by GDP figures. With a nominal per-capita GDP of US$34,352 and ppp per capita GDP of $65,192 in 2016, it ranks first among prefecture-level divisions in the entire Chinese mainland, and second in the PRC (including Hong Kong & Macau), behind Macau (Nominal GDP per capita: US$67,079; GDP (PPP) per capita: $96,148). It is extremely rich in natural resources, having one sixth of the national coal reserves.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ordos |url=http://innermongolia.chinadaily.com.cn/2025-03/12/c_82181.htm |publisher=People's Government of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.}}</ref> The pillars of its economy are textiles (wool), [[coal]] mining, [[petrochemicals]], [[electricity]] generation, production of building materials, and [[Bitcoin network#Mining|bitcoin mining]]. An industrial park in [[Dalad Banner]] is home to one of the world's largest bitcoin 'mines' – really a massive [[server farm]] – owned by Beijing-based [[Bitmain]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Wong|first1=Joon Ian|title=Photos: Inside one of the world's largest bitcoin mines|url=https://qz.com/1055126/photos-china-has-one-of-worlds-largest-bitcoin-mines/|access-date=31 August 2017|work=Quartz}}</ref>

==Military== In 2021, [[The Washington Times]] reported that China was building a third ICBM site near Hanggin Banner, Ordos City, in Inner Mongolia. It will hold more than 100 new [[DF-41]] intercontinental ballistic missiles. This will join two other ICBM fields at [[Yumen City|Yumen]] and [[Hami]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gertz |first1=Bill |title=EXCLUSIVE: China building third missile field for hundreds of new ICBMs |url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/aug/12/china-engaged-breathtaking-nuclear-breakout-us-str/ |website=The Washington Times |date=12 August 2021 |access-date=25 August 2021}}</ref>

==Administrative subdivisions== Ordos Shi is divided into two [[District (PRC and ROC)|districts]] and seven [[Banner (Inner Mongolia)|banners]]:

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%;" align=center !colspan="8" align="center" | Map |- |colspan="8" align="center" | <div style="position: relative" class="center"> {{Image label begin|image=Administrative Division Ordos.png|width=602|link=}} {{Image label|x=1330|y=580|scale=594/2120|text=[[Dongsheng District|'''Dongsheng''']]}} {{Image label|x=1430|y=690|scale=594/2120|text=[[Kangbashi District|'''1''']]}} {{Image label|x=1350|y=380|scale=594/2120|text=[[Dalad Banner|'''Dalad Banner''']]}} {{Image label|x=1790|y=590|scale=594/2120|text=[[Jungar Banner|'''Jungar Banner''']]}} {{Image label|x=350|y=1420|scale=594/2120|text=[[Otog Front Banner|'''Otog Front Banner''']]}} {{Image label|x=490|y=900|scale=594/2120|text=[[Otog Banner|'''Otog Banner''']]}} {{Image label|x=670|y=380|scale=594/2120|text=[[Hanggin Banner|'''Hanggin Banner''']]}} {{Image label|x=940|y=1240|scale=594/2120|text=[[Uxin Banner|'''Uxin Banner''']]}} {{Image label|x=1280|y=800|scale=594/2120|text=[[Ejin Horo Banner|'''Ejin'horo Banner''']]}} {{Image label|x=1500|y=1100|scale=594/2120|text=[[Kangbashi District|'''1.Kangbashi''']]}} {{Image label end}} </div> |- ! Name ! [[Mongolian script|Mongolian]] ! [[Chinese characters|Hanzi]] ! [[Pinyin]] ! Population (2020)<ref name="ordosdwgk"/> ! Area (km2) ! Density (/km2) |---------- |[[Dongsheng District]] |{{MongolUnicode|ᠳ᠋ᠦᠩᠱᠧᠩ ᠲᠣᠭᠣᠷᠢᠭ|h|style=max-height:2em;word-break:normal}} {{small|(Düngšēng toɣorig)}} |{{lang|zh-hans|东胜区}} |Dōngshèng Qū |574,242 |2,146 |268 |---------- |[[Kangbashi District]] (Hia'bagx District) |{{MongolUnicode|ᠬᠢᠶ᠎ᠠ ᠪᠠᠭᠰᠢ ᠲᠣᠭᠣᠷᠢᠭ|h|style=max-height:2em;word-break:normal}} {{small|(Kiy-a baɣsi toɣorig)}} |{{lang|zh-hans|康巴什区}} |Kāngbāshí Qū |118,796 |373 |319 |---------- |[[Dalad Banner]] |{{MongolUnicode|ᠳᠠᠯᠠᠳ ᠬᠣᠰᠢᠭᠤ|h|style=max-height:2em;word-break:normal}} {{small|(Dalad qosiɣu)}} |{{lang|zh-hans|达拉特旗}} |Dálātè Qí |328,593 |8,192 |40 |---------- |[[Ejin Horo Banner]] |{{MongolUnicode|ᠡᠵᠢᠨ ᠬᠣᠷᠣᠭ᠎ᠠ ᠬᠣᠰᠢᠭᠤ|h|style=max-height:2em;word-break:normal}} {{small|(Eǰin Qoroɣ-a qosiɣu)}} |{{lang|zh|伊金霍洛旗}} |Yījīnhuòluò Qí |247,983 |5,958 |42 |---------- |[[Hanggin Banner]] |{{MongolUnicode|ᠬᠠᠩᠭᠢᠨ ᠬᠣᠰᠢᠭᠤ|h|style=max-height:2em;word-break:normal}} {{small|(Qanggin qosiɣu)}} |{{lang|zh-hans|杭锦旗}} |Hángjǐn Qí |110,824 |18,903 |6 |---------- |[[Jungar Banner]] |{{MongolUnicode|ᠵᠡᠭᠦᠨᠭᠠᠷ ᠬᠣᠰᠢᠭᠤ|h|style=max-height:2em;word-break:normal}} {{small|(J̌egünɣar qosiɣu)}} |{{lang|zh-hans|准格尔旗}} |Zhǔngé'ěr Qí |359,184 |7,535 |48 |---------- |[[Otog Banner]] |{{MongolUnicode|ᠣᠲᠣᠭ ᠬᠣᠰᠢᠭᠤ|h|style=max-height:2em;word-break:normal}} {{small|(Otoɣ qosiɣu)}} |{{lang|zh|鄂托克旗}} |Ètuōkè Qí |162,726 |20,064 |8 |---------- |[[Otog Front Banner]] (Otog Omnod Banner) |{{MongolUnicode|ᠣᠲᠣᠭ ᠤᠨ ᠡᠮᠦᠨᠡᠳᠦ ᠬᠣᠰᠢᠭᠤ|h|style=max-height:2em;word-break:normal}} {{small|(Otoɣ-un Emünedü qosiɣu)}} |{{lang|zh|鄂托克前旗}} |Ètuōkè Qián Qí |92,724 |12,318 |8 |---------- |[[Uxin Banner]] |{{MongolUnicode|ᠦᠦᠰᠢᠨ ᠬᠣᠰᠢᠭᠤ|h|style=max-height:2em;word-break:normal}} {{small|(Üüsin qosiɣu)}} |{{lang|zh-hans|乌审旗}} |Wūshěn Qí |158,566 |11,645 |14 |}

==Kangbashi New Area== {{main|Kangbashi New Area}}

[[File:20130812鄂尔多斯康巴什政府广场南侧人工湖岸音乐喷泉全景2 - panoramio.jpg|thumb|left|Music fountain on the south side of the artificial lake at Government Square, Kangbashi, Ordos.]] A large, sparsely inhabited urban real estate development has been constructed {{convert|25|km|abbr=on}} from [[Dongsheng District]]. Intended to house a million people, it originally remained mostly uninhabited.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,1975397,00.html|title=Ordos, China: A Modern Ghost Town - Photo Essays - TIME|date=27 March 2010|access-date=21 July 2021|archive-date=26 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130826133258/http://www.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,1975397,00.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=NEW SATELLITE PICTURES OF CHINA'S GHOST CITIES|author=Gus Lubin | publisher = Business Insider | date=13 June 2011|access-date=9 December 2011|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/chinese-ghost-cities-2011-5#chinas-most-famous-ghost-city-ordos-has-been-empty-for-years-10}}</ref> Intended to have 300,000 residents by 2010, government figures stated it had 28,000 by that year. Several speculative publications, including an illustrated feature series by Al Jazeera's [[Melissa Chan]] in 2009, have depicted the city as a "[[Underoccupied developments in China|ghost city]]."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0h7V3Twb-Qk |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/0h7V3Twb-Qk |archive-date=21 December 2021 |url-status=live|title=China's Ghost Town|publisher=[[Al Jazeera Media Network|AlJazeera]]|date=10 November 2009|access-date=21 December 2010}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/20/business/global/20ghost.html?pagewanted=all | work=New York Times | first=David | last=Barboza | title=A New Chinese City, With Everything but People | date=19 October 2010}}</ref> However, Wade Shepard, writing in Forbes in 2017, pointed out that this term was initially applied in 2009 when the city was only five years old with a population of 30,000. And that the population had surged to 153,000 and with housing prices rising by 50% since 2015, it became increasingly challenging to label it as such, and out of the 40,000 apartments built since 2004, only 500 remained on the market.<ref name="Shepard"/>

===Ordos Museum=== [[File:Ordos Museum.jpg|thumb|Ordos Museum]] {{Main|Ordos Museum}}

In 2011, a 41,000-square-foot museum, entitled Ordos Museum ({{lang-zh|s=鄂尔多斯博物馆}}), was opened in Kangbashi. The museum, designed by China-based architectural practice [[MAD Studio]], focuses upon the history of the Ordos area, as well as on the culture and traditions of Inner Mongolia.<ref>{{cite web|title= Ordos Museum |url=https://en.wikiarquitectura.com/index.php/Ordos_Museum |publisher= WikiArchitectura |access-date=25 January 2017}}</ref>{{Failed verification|date=November 2025}}

==Transportation==

Travel within Ordos City is primarily made by car or bus, using the city's network roads. Two tolled expressways, the [[G18 Rongcheng–Wuhai Expressway]] and the [[G65 Baotou–Maoming Expressway]], provide connections with other towns and cities including [[Dongsheng]]. [[File:OrdosX623.jpg|thumb|County Road X623 at Ejin Horo]] In 2016, the [[Ordos railway station]] in the city opened. The station is on the [[Beijing-Baotou railway]], the Hohhot-Ordos high-speed railway line, and the Baotou-West railway. High speed trains to the provincial capital of [[Hohhot]] are run on a daily basis.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sohu.com/a/72526111_412307 |title=重磅好消息！呼包鄂动车今日试运行！5月15日正式开通(附列车时刻表) |website=www.sohu.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191220185021/https://www.sohu.com/a/72526111_412307 |archive-date=20 December 2019}}</ref> As well as slower speed trains directly to and from [[Beijing West railway station]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://search.huochepiao.com/shike_eerduosi_beijingxi | title=鄂尔多斯到北京西火车时刻表鄂尔多斯到北京西列车时刻表 - 火车票网 }}</ref>

[[Ordos Ejin Horo International Airport]] is located in [[Ejin Horo Banner]].

==Demographics== In the 2000 census, there were 1,369,766 inhabitants: {| border=1 style="border-collapse: collapse;" |-bgcolor=cccccc ! ethnic group ! population ! share |- | [[Han-Chinese|Han]] | 1,207,971 | 88.19% |- | [[Mongols]] | 155,845 | 11.38% |- | [[Manchu]] | 2,905 | 0.21% |- | [[Hui people|Hui]] | 1,861 | 0.14% |- | [[Tibetans]] | 1,023 | 0.07% |}

{{citation needed span|Many people came from the [[Shanxi]] province, {{convert|30|km|abbr=on}} south of this city.|date=May 2018}}

==See also== * [[List of top Chinese cities by GDP]] * [[List of top Chinese cities by GDP per capita]] * [[List of prefecture-level divisions of China by GDP]] *[[List of cities in China by population]] *[[Manhan folk song]] *[[Mausoleum of Genghis Khan]] *[[Ordos culture]] *[[Ordos International Circuit]] *[[Underoccupied developments in China]]

==Notes== {{Notelist}}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{wikivoyage|Ordos City}} * {{Official website|http://www.ordos.gov.cn}} * [http://www.ordosbwg.com Ordos Museum website (in Chinese)]

{{Inner Mongolia topics}} {{Inner Mongolia}} {{Prefectural-level divisions of the People's Republic of China}} {{Major cities along the Yellow River}}

[[Category:Ordos City| ]] [[Category:Cities in Inner Mongolia]] [[Category:Articles containing Mongolian script text]] [[Category:Prefecture-level divisions of Inner Mongolia]] [[Category:Socialist planned cities]] [[Category:National Civilized City]]