Qinghai

Province of northwest China, bounded to the north by Gansu, to the south by Sichuan, to the west by Tibet, and to the northwest by Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region; area 721,000 sq km/278,400 sq mi; population (2000 est) 5,180,000. The capital is Xining and Golmud is another major town. Industries include minerals, chemicals, livestock, oil, and medical products. There is animal rearing and bee-keeping.

History
Qinghai was incorporated into China at the beginning of the 18th century, and became a separate province in 1928. For centuries Qinghai was part of Tibet. Tibetan nationalists regard the province as being under colonial rule. Criminals and political prisoners have traditionally been exiled to labour camps in Qinghai.