The people’s government of northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has announced the establishment of a new county, continuing recent administrative expansion in the region.

The announcement, reported by Xinhua on March 26, 2026, confirmed the creation of Cenling County. The new county is administered by Kashgar Prefecture and has been approved by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council.

The county seat of Cenling is located in Xinhua Township.

Earlier Expansion in 2024

The latest development follows a similar move in December 2024, when authorities established two new counties in Xinjiang He’an County and Hekang County.

The announcement was made on December 27, 2024, with both counties approved by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council.

He’an and Hekang counties are administered by Hotan Prefecture. The county seat of He’an is in Hongliu Township, while Hekang’s administrative centre is in Xeyidula Township.