[5] Human habitation in Xinhuang Dong Autonomous County dates back to ancient times.

[7] After conquering all the states, Emperor Qin Shi Huang implemented the system of prefectures and counties in 221 BC.

[7] In the Southern dynasties (420–589), it belonged to the territory of the Liang State and came under the jurisdiction of Longbiao County (龙标县) of Nanyangjun (南阳郡).

In the late Tang dynasty, Tian Hanquan (田汉权), controlled the region and changed its name to "Huangzhou" (晃州).

[7] As of October 2015, Xinhuang Dong Autonomous County has two ethnic townships and nine towns under its jurisdiction.

Mount Tianlei (天雷山) is the highest point in the county, which, at 1,136.3 metres (3,728 ft) above sea level.

The second highest point in the county is Mount Meiyanpo (Chinese: 美岩坡), which stands 1,101.5 metres (3,614 ft) above sea level.

Christianity was introduced into the region during the Republic of China (1912–1949), and churches were built in the towns of Zhongzhai and Liangsan.

During the reign of Kangxi Emperor (1662–1722) of the Qing dynasty (1644–1911), Islam spread as Hui people moved into the area.

The county's agricultural products are mainly beef, tobacco and camphor, which known as the "three treasures of Yelang" (夜郎三宝).

The service sector of the county's economy includes things like banking, health care, education, tourism and government.

[15] Xinhuang Dong Autonomous County is rich in mineral resources, including mercury, iron, copper, lead, zinc, vanadium, nickel, gold, silver, potassium, limestone, barite and orthoclase.

The barite reserves in the county reach 280 million tons, and the orthoclase reserves reach 900 million tons, which known as the "capital of barite in China" (中国重晶石之都) and the "capital of orthoclase in China" (中国钾长石之都).

[20] The Provincial Highway S232 passes through the center county leading southwards to the towns of Hetan, Fuluo, and Gongxi.

The famous natural landscapes of Xinhuang Dong Autonomous County are: Yelang Valley (夜郎谷), Huangjialong Forest Park (黄家垅森林公园), Tianlei Mountain (天雷山), Liangsan Hot Spring (凉伞温泉), Xianrenqiao (仙人桥), Xuanjing Mountain (悬镜山) and Longtang Lake (龙塘湖).

Major human landscape in Xinhuang Dong Autonomous County include Stone Pavilion (石凉亭), Huangzhou Wind-rain Bridge, Three-arch Bridge (三拱桥), Zhenjiang Pavilion (镇江阁), and Longxi Ancient City (龙溪古城).