East Turkestan, also known as Chinese Turkestan, East Turkistan, Uyghuristan, and Uyghurstan (Uyghur: Sherqiy Türkistan; Uyghuriye), refers to the eastern part of the greater Turkestan region of Central Asia, and is concurrent with the present-day Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China. More specifically, at times, the term East Turkestan only referred to Xinjiang area south of Tian Shan mountains; North of Tian Shan mountains was called Dzungaria (Zungaria). The area is largely inhabited by the 8 million Uyghurs, 7 million Han Chinese, 1 million Kazakhs and 16 other ethnic groups with significant numbers.
World'' has enjoyed indipendence for very short periods of time. Since 1950 it's an autonomous province of China.
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