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Qira CountyThe official spelling is "Qira" according to Zhōngguó dìmínglù 中国地名录 (Beijing, SinoMaps Press 1997); ; p. 308. (Uyghur language: چىرا ناھىيىسى), alternatively Chira or Cele (from Mandarin Chinese), is a county in Hotan Prefecture, Xinjiang, China. Almost all the residents of the county are Uyghurs and live around oases situated between the desolate Taklamakan Desert and Kunlun Mountains. The county is bordered to the north by Aksu Prefecture, to the east by Yutian / Keriya County, to the northwest by Lop County, to the southwest by Hotan County including the China-India disputed Aksai Chin area and to the south by Rutog County, Ngari Prefecture in Tibet.
Qira town (Chira), the town that is the current county seat of Qira County, has been forced to change locations on three occasions due to encroachment by the sands of the Taklamakan Desert.
In his 1900-01 expedition in the region, Aurel Stein travelled across the northern section of today's Qira County, a section of the Taklamakan Desert between today's Lop County and the Keriya River. There were several wells along the course he took.
Qira County was divided from Yutian / Keriya County in 1928/9. (2009). 9787532628599, 上海辞书出版社. Shanghai Lexicographical Publishing House.. ISBN 9787532628599
In the thirty years between the 1950s and 1980s, a significant area of farmland near the county seat was taken into the desert by blown sand. (2026). 9783642640278 ISBN 9783642640278
Since the founding of Xinjiang Autonomous Region in 1955, Qira County has been part of Hotan Prefecture.
In the 1980s, 446 households living in the county seat were forced to relocate due to the effects of desertification which had brought the Taklamakan Desert within km of their homes, sometimes burying homes in sand overnight.
In 1983, the Qira research station of the Chinese Academy of Sciences was founded to combat drift sand. A transitional zone was established with help from the scientists at the station, and the sands were pushed back over .
In 2005, a small 1,500 year-old Buddhist temple was discovered from Damiku (Damagou).
On October 20, 2014, Damiku (Damagou) was changed from a township to a town.
On January 7, 2016, areas near Nur, Bostan and Ulughsay townships in Qira County were made part of the newly created Kunyu.
On February 28, 2017, it was announced by the county government that those who reported others for stitching the 'star and crescent moon' insignia on their clothing or personal items or having the words 'East Turkestan' on their mobile phone case, purse or other jewelry, would be eligible for cash payments.
In March 2017, Salamet Memetimin, the Communist Party secretary for Chaka township's Bekchan village and ethnic Uyghur, was relieved of her duties for taking her nikah marriage vows at her home. According to the Hotan Daily, 97 officials were charged with disciplinary violations at this time.
In 2018, local government authorities in the county expected to have almost 12,000 detainees in vocational camps and detention centres and some projects related to the centres outstripped budgetary limits.
According to the Chinese Government, by the end of 2018, construction of Jinnan New Village () in Qira Town (Cele) was completed. To increase aid delivery to Xinjiang, places in Xinjiang are paired with other areas of China which can provide aid. Tianjin and Hotan are paired in this program. Through assistance from the Tianjin government, a standard football field and training center was constructed at the No. 1 Primary School in the county.
Oasis areas occupy 2.9% of the total area of the county. The oasis areas along China National Highway 315 include the Qira County county seat area, Gulahma and Damiku. Qaka, Ulughsay, Nur, Bostan and Kunyu's small exclaves in Qira County are located close to the Kunlun Mountains.
The southern part of Qira County is mountainous with an average elevation of above sea level. The upper reaches of the White Jade River (Yurung Kash), which provide water for Hotan, are found in the Kunlun Mountains of southern Qira County. Mountain passes in the area include Mandar Kol Dawan, Shalgon Dawan, Kuchkash Bulak Dawan, and Art Dawan. One of the prominent mountains in the county is Muztag, United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (K5,, United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency Wu-lu-ko Ho Shan, Mo-shih Shan, Mu-shih Shan,, United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency Muztagh Jilga; 慕士山,, United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency 木斯山) which is above sea level. The meltwater from this mountain creates the Qira River (Cele River, Ts'e-lo Ho; 策勒河) which flows through Qaka into the Qira county seat.
In the mid-20th century, camping grounds in the sparsely populated southern mountainous area of the county included Chotma, Yangi kan, Zaiuk, Yaskako Tagh, Mandar Chap, and Chumik.
| Towns | |||||||
| Qira Town | 策勒镇 | چىرا بازىرى | 653225100 | ||||
| Gulahma | 固拉合玛镇 | گۇلاخما بازىرى | 653225102 | formerly Gulahma Township (固拉合玛乡) | |||
| Townships | |||||||
| Qira Township | 策勒乡 | چىرا يېزىسى | 653225200 | ||||
| Damiku Township (Dumuka) | 达玛沟乡 | دامىكۇ يېزىسى, United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency | 653225202 | ||||
| Qaka | 恰哈乡 | چاقا يېزىسى, United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency | 653225203 | ||||
| Ulughsay Township | 乌鲁克萨依乡 | ئۇلۇغساي يېزىسى | 653225204 | ||||
| Nur Township | 奴尔乡 | نۇرى يېزىسى | 653225205 | ||||
| Bostan Township | 博斯坦乡 | بوستان يېزىسى | 653225206 | ||||
As of the 2010s, the population of Qira County was more than 98% Uyghurs.
As of 1999, 98.45% of the population of Qira (Cele) County was Uyghur and 1.51% of the population was Han Chinese.
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