Tongliao

Human settlement in Tongliao and the surrounding Khorchin area dates from at least 1000 BC. The Donghu people, a tribe who spoke a proto-Mongolian language, settled in today's Tongliao area, north of Yan during the Warring States period. their culture was associated with the Upper Xiajiadian culture, characterized by the practice of agriculture and animal husbandry supplemented by handicrafts and bronze art. Later, the Tongliao area was controlled by Xiongnu, Xianbei, and Khitan tribes. After the Mongolian Khanate occupied the area, Tongliao was put under the jurisdiction of Liaoyang province, whose provincial capital was in today's Liaoning Province. In early 1617, Khorchin, Dörbod, Jalaid and Gorlos tribes met in Jirem to establish an alliance, and the Jirem League was founded in 1636 to administer Khorchin territory. …

Tongliao spans latitude 42°15' – 45°41' and longitude 119°15' – 123°43', and borders Jilin province to the east, Liaoning to the south, Chifeng to the southwest, the Xilin Gol League to the west, and the Hinggan League to the north. Not far from Tongliao are silica sands. Tongliao has a total area of 59,535 square kilometres (22,987 sq mi), accounting for 5.4% of Inner Mongolia's total. Tongliao's topography primarily consists of plains, though the northern stretch of the prefecture extends into the eastern foothills of the southern Greater Khingan. The central and eastern parts of the prefecture are marked by the plains of the Xiliao, Xinkai River (新开河), and Jiaolai rivers (教来河), collectively forming the Sanhe Plain (三河平原; 'three rivers' plain'). The highest point in the prefecture is Tunte'er Peak (吞特尔峰), at 1,444.2 m (4,738 ft). …

Tongliao railway station is a railway hub in both Inner Mongolia and Northeast China. Tongliao-Beijing Railway conveniently connects the city with Beijing. Jining–Tongliao railway connects Inner Mongolia. There are also railways connecting Tongliao with Shenyang and Daqing. State Highway 111, State Highway 303, State Highway 304 and State Highway 204 run through the city and extend to harbor cities such as Tianjin, Dalian, and Qinhuangdao. The city is served by Tongliao Airport.