Later on , Turkic revolts Change_of_leadership ended Process_end Chinese hegemony beyond the Pamir Mountains in modern Tajikistan and Afghanistan , but a Tang military presence remained Temporary_stay in Dzungaria and the Tarim Basin .

The History of Xinjiang ( 新疆 ) concerns two main geographically , historically , and ethnically distinct regions with different historical names : Dzungaria north of the Tianshan Mountains ; and the Tarim Basin south of the Tianshan Mountains , currently mainly inhabited by the Uyghurs .