East Turkestan

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East Turkestan (also "East Turkistan", Sherqiy Türkistan in Uyghur, Doğu Türkistan in Turkish, or Uyghurstan). East Turkistan is the part of greater Turkistan (also spelled Turkistan or Türkistan, literally means "Land of the Turks") in Central Asia, which today is largely inhabited by Turkic people. Famed merchant and explorer Marco Polo crossed Turkistan in the year 1272.

The greater Turkistan is subdivided into West (former Soviet Union countries) and East Turkestan (administered as the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region by the PRC, titled Uyghurstan by Uyghur separatists). The Tian Shan (Tengri Tagh) and Pamir ranges form the rough division between the two Turkistans. East Turkistan (Modern Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region ) contains some of the great cities of Turkic culture, notably Kashgar, Hotan, Turfan, Yarkand, Ili (Ghulja), Kumul, Aqsu, Kucha and Altay.

East Turkistan can also refer to a number of different concepts.

• The broader political movement for East Turkestan independence.
• The First East Turkestan Republic was a short-lived government that existed from 1932-1934 in the area surrounding Kashgar.
• The Second East Turkestan Republic was established in 1944 and lasted until the arrival of the Communist Party of China People's Liberation Army in 1949.
• The Uighur East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) is a specific militant separatist organization that is designated as a terrorist group by the People's Republic of China and the United States of America.