Altay Prefecture

{{distinguish|text=the neighbouring Russian federal subject of Altai Republic and the other Russian federal subject of Altai Krai}}

{{More citations needed|date=April 2023}}

{{Infobox settlement

|name = Altay Prefecture

|official_name =

|other_name =

|native_name = {{native name|zh-hans|阿勒泰地区}}
{{native name|kk-Arab|التاي ايماعى}}
{{native name|ug|ئالتاي ۋىلايىتى}}

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|settlement_type = Prefecture

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|motto =

|image_skyline = ColourfulBeach.jpg

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|image_caption = Black Irtysh river in Burqin County

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|image_map = China Xinjiang Ili Altay.svg

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|map_caption = Altay Prefecture (red) in Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture (light red) and Xinjiang (orange)

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|subdivision_type = Country

|subdivision_name = People's Republic of China

|subdivision_type1 = Province

|subdivision_name1 = Xinjiang

|subdivision_type2 = Sub-provincial

|subdivision_name2 = Ili Prefecture

|subdivision_type3 = County-level divisions

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|seat_type =

|seat = Altay City

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|area_total_km2 = 117710

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|area_metro_km2 = 10826

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|population_as_of = 2020 census

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|population_total = 648173

|population_density_km2 = auto

|population_metro = 221454

|population_density_metro_km2 = auto

|population_urban =

|population_density_urban_km2 = auto

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| demographics_type2 = GDP{{cite book |author=新疆维吾尔自治区统计局、国家统计局新疆调查总队 |title=《新疆统计年鉴－2020》|year=2021 |publisher=China Statistics Press |isbn=978-7-5037-9457-5}}

| demographics2_title1 = Prefecture

| demographics2_info1 = CN¥ 33.9 billion
US$ 4.9 billion

| demographics2_title2 = Per capita

| demographics2_info2 = CN¥ 51,524
US$ 7,469

|timezone = China Standard

|utc_offset = +8

|coor_pinpoint = Altay City

|coordinates = {{coord|47.83|N|88.13|E|type:adm2nd_dim:500000_region:CN-65_source:Gaode|display=it}}

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|iso_code = CN-XJ-43

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|website = [http://www.xjalt.gov.cn/ Altay Prefecture Government]

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}}

{{Infobox Chinese|order=st

|s=阿勒泰地区 |t=阿勒泰地區

| w = A¹-lê⁴-tʻai⁴ Ti⁴-chʻü¹

| p = Ālètài Dìqū

| xej = اَلَ‌تَیْ دِکِیُوِ

| l =

| uig = ئالتاي ۋىلايىتى

| uly = Altay Wilayiti

| uyy = Altay Vilayiti

| sgs = Altay Vilayiti

| usy = Алтай Вилайити

| lang1 = Kazakh

| lang1_content = {{lang|kk-Arab|التاي ايماعى}}
{{lang|kk-Latn|Altaı Aımaǵy}}

}}

Altay Prefecture is located in Northern Xinjiang, People's Republic of China. It has an area of {{convert|118,015|km2|abbr=on}} and a population of 561,667 (2000). It is a part of the Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture. As of the 2000 census, Altay was the only major subdivision of Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture with an ethnic Kazakh majority (about 51%). In 2007, it had a GDP of RMB 9.9 billion with a 12% growth rate. It also shares an international border with the neighboring Altai Republic, located within Russia.

Altay is considered the birthplace of skiing, based on 10,000 to 30,000 year old cave paintings depicting skiers.{{Cite web |title=China’s 8,000-year-old skiing method |url=https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20180328-chinas-8000-year-old-skiing-method |access-date=2024-04-17 |website=www.bbc.com}}{{Cite web |date=2018-02-06 |title=Skiing's Origins Being Preserved in Remote Western China |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/skiing-origins-being-preserved-remote-western-china/4242393.html |access-date=2024-04-17 |website=Voice of America |language=en}}