Kuqa, Xinjiang

Kuqa
Kucha, Kuche, Kuchar, Qiuci
Kuqa Royal Palace
Kuqa Grand Mosque
Location of Kuqa City (red) within Aksu Prefecture (yellow) in Xinjiang
Kuqa
Location of the seat
Kuqa
Kuqa (China)
Coordinates: 41°43′N 82°58′E / 41.717°N 82.967°E / 41.717; 82.967
CountryChina
Autonomous regionXinjiang
PrefectureAksu
Municipal seatYengisheher Subdistrict (Xincheng Subdistrict)
Area
 • Total
15,200 km2 (5,900 sq mi)
Elevation
1,072 m (3,517 ft)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
530,328
 • Density34.9/km2 (90.4/sq mi)
Ethnic groups
 • Major ethnic groupsUyghur
Time zoneUTC+8 (China Standard)
Postal code
842000
Websitewww.xjkc.gov.cn (in Chinese)
Kuqa
Uyghur name
Uyghurكۇچار
Transcriptions
Latin YëziqiKucha
Yengi YeziⱪKuqa
SASM/GNCKuqa
Siril YëziqiКуча
Chinese name
Simplified Chinese库车
Traditional Chinese庫車
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinKùchē
Alternative Chinese name
Simplified Chinese龟兹
Traditional Chinese龜茲
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinQiūcí

Kuqa (/ˈkə/ KOO-chə) is a county-level city in Aksu Prefecture, Xinjiang, China. It is located in the center of Xinjiang, where the northern limit of the Tarim Basin meets the southern foot of the Tian Shan mountains. The area was once the site of the ancient Buddhist kingdom of Kucha, an important Central Asian state during the height of the Silk Road. The Uyghur-majority city is known for its Buddhist caves and temple ruins which predate the arrival of Islam.