In 1911, the M 8.0 Kebin earthquake occurred nearly 250 km to the northwest of the 22 January event, near the modern border between Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan.

The rupture had an area of 51 km (32 mi) × 28 km (17 mi), and occurred on either a moderately dipping oblique reverse and right-lateral fault striking east, or a steeply dipping oblique reverse and left-lateral fault striking west.

[3] The tremors were felt across Xinjiang, including in Tacheng,[15] Ürümqi, Hotan, Kashgar,[16] Korla and Yining.

[17] It was also felt as far away as neighbouring Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, forcing residents of Almaty and Bishkek into the streets,[18] as well as in Uzbekistan and Delhi, India.

[24] In Kizilsu Kyrgyz Autonomous Prefecture, where Akqi County is located, 93 buildings collapsed, 851 others were damaged, and 910 livestock animals were killed.

[1] In Uqturpan County, one person was injured in Yingate,[29] over 900 sheds collapsed and 1,000 houses and a bridge were damaged.

[42] The Ministry of Emergency Management sent 1,000 tents, 5,000 winter coats, 5,000 blankets, 5,000 cotton-padded mattresses, 5,000 folding bed and 1,000 heating stoves to Uqturpan county for disaster relief and placed rescue teams in neighboring Tibet Autonomous Region and Gansu province on standby.

[44] The China National Space Administration mobilized its Gaofen satellites to relay images of the disaster zone for analysis by relevant agencies.

[45] Railway authorities in Xinjiang closed off railroads in the affected areas and suspended 27 trains[32] before resuming services at 07:00 following safety checks.

[46] More than 40 industrial enterprises were temporarily closed in Uqturqan County following the earthquake for safety reasons.