The county includes lands near the Karakoram Pass which are part of the Aksai Chin area that is disputed between China and India.

In 1902, Pishan County was created from Guma, Sanju and other areas originally part of Kargilik.

The main part of the population of the county is grouped around oasis areas at the base of the Kunlun Mountains.

Other: The county produces rice, wheat, cotton, apricots, peaches, grapes, silkworms and furs.

[17] In the late 2010s, ethnic minorities made up 98.4% of the population of the county,[4] mainly Uyghurs.