Xikang was originally a province. After the Qamdo Region, which was under its jurisdiction, was liberated in October 1950, a people's liberation committee, under the Southwest Military and Administrative Commission, was established. In March 1955 the People's Liberation Committee of the Qamdo Region was placed under the Preparatory Committee of the Tibet Autonomous Region. In October of the same year the Xikang provincial administration was officially abolished and the territory under its jurisdiction incorporated into Sichuan Province.