Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture

Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture ( Northern Yi: /nɛ˨˩ʂa˧/) is an autonomous prefecture occupying much of the southern extremity of Sichuan province, People's Republic of China. Its seat is Xichang. Liangshan covers an area of and has over 4.8 million inhabitants as of 2020. It has the largest population of ethnic Yi (or Nosu) among China's prefectures. Liangshan contains a number of isolated villages high up on its cliffs, often known as " cliff villages".

Xichang has the Xichang Qingshan Airport and the Xichang Satellite Launch Center. The prefecture also features a substantial network of railways for both passengers and freight.

Governance

Liangshan Prefecture Public Security Bureau

The Liangshan Prefecture Public Security Bureau () is the primary law enforcement agency of Liangshan. It contains an economic crime investigation unit, a patrol unit, a narcotics unit an immigration unit, a cyber-crime unit, a traffic police unit, a SWAT unit and a forestry unit. As of 14 December 2023, 19 of the 30 people on the Liangshan Prefecture Public Security Bureau's most wanted list had been arrested.

In 2023, the Liangshan Prefecture PSB solved 4025 cases, the highest in all of Sichuan.

Line of duty deaths

Between 2004 and 2025, 30 officers of the Liangshan Prefecture PSB (including child agencies) have died in the line of duty, of which between 2013 and 2023 10 of which were from the narcotics unit (along with narcotics units of child agencies) or in narcotics related incidents.

Liangshan Prefecture Fire and Rescue Department

The Liangshan Prefecture Fire and Rescue Department (凉山州消防救援支队) is in charge of firefighting and disaster relief within the prefecture. In 2025, the agency had a budget of 37 million Renminbi and operated 56 firefighting vehicles. Prior to October 10, 2018 it was known as the Liangshan Fire Department (凉山州公安消防支队).

Liangshan Prefecture Forest Fire Deparment

The Liangshan Prefecture Forest Fire Department (凉山州森林消防支队) is a wildfire suppression agency of Liangshan. Prior to October 10, 2018 it was known as the Liangshan Detachment.

History

The Xichang Forest Fire Battalion of the Liangshan Forest Fire Department has put out a total of 200 wildfires since 2021.

Line of duty deaths

During the , 27 firefighters of the Liangshan Prefecture Forest Fire Department died while putting out the fire.

People's Armed Police Liangshan Detachment

The People's Armed Police Liangshan Detachment (凉山武警支队) is in charge of paramilitary law enforcement and disaster relief duties. It contains a special operations unit for counter-terrorism operations.

History

In October 20, 2014, the People's Armed Police Liangshan Detachment's Meigu County rescued 4 people during a rockslide.

In 2015, the People's Armed Police Liangshan Detachment rescued 8 people during a traffic accident.

In 2017, the People's Armed Police Liangshan Detachment rescued 4 people during fires.

In April 2, 2020, the People's Armed Police Liangshan Detachment deployed 300 soldiers to assist in fighting wildfires.

The People's Armed Police Liangshan Detachment deployed 165 soldiers during the June 26 to assist with disaster relief efforts.

Equipment

* QBZ-95 - Used by special operations unit
* QSZ-92 - Used by special operations unit
* Crossbow

Terrain and climate

The Anning River, which runs into the Jinsha River (Yangtze River headwaters), is the main river in the area.

Owing to its low latitude and high elevation, Liangshan has a mild climate. Under the Köppen system, the prefecture belongs to the humid subtropical zone (Köppen ''Cwa''). Winters feature mild days and cool nights, while summers are very warm and humid. Monthly daily mean temperatures range from in January to in July. Unlike much of the province, which lies in the Sichuan Basin, humidity levels in winter are rather low, but like the rest of the province, rainfall is concentrated in the months of June through September, and the prefecture is virtually rainless in winter.

Cliff villages

Due to the mountainous terrain, many villages that lie among the mountain cliffs of Liangshan Yi are isolated from the rest of Sichuan. They are called cliff villages as they tend to be isolated and lie at vertical heights of about . Access to these cliff villages tends to be through vines of trees along the cliffs and steep ladders made of ropes. In 2016, the state run '' The Beijing News'' reported one such village called Atulie'er where children climbed up a rope ladder for two hours to reach their home from school, often leading to falls and deaths. In light of this, the local government constructed a special steel ladder (dubbed "Stairway to heaven") in November 2016 for people to climb up and down in a safer manner.

Subdivisions

Liangshan directly controls two county-level cities, 14 counties, and 1 autonomous county.

Ethnic groups in Liangshan, 2010 census

National Priority Protected Sites

Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture contains 4 National Priority Protected Sites

* , added in 2006 as part of the
* , added in 2006 as part of the
**
**
* , added in 2006 as part of the
* Tea Horse Road, added in 2013 as part of the
**
** Dingshan Bridge and Lingguan Inscriptions in Yuexi
**
** Yalong River Trails in Mianning
** Songping Pass

See also

* Asteroid 121001 Liangshanxichang

Notes

References

External links

Official website of the Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture government

{{Authority control

Yi autonomous prefectures
Prefecture-level divisions of Sichuan