Baoji
Encyclopedia
Baoji is a prefecture-level city
in Shaanxi province
, China
.
,or named Chia-ling River，(嘉陵江，Chia-ling Chiang，Jialing Jiang)]. Passing through Baoji is the ancient North Silk Road, the northernmost route of about 2600 kilometres in length, which connected the ancient Chinese capital of Xian to the West over the Wushao Ling Pass to Wuwei and emerging in Kashgar
before linking to ancient Parthia
.
, it has roots to 2000 BC, but is now a large industrial center. Railways first reached Baoji in 1937 and have been key to its modern growth. Baoji is also considered the gateway between western and eastern China since most trains from Beijing, Shanghai and Xi'an pass through here on their way to Gansu, Sichuan, Xinjiang and Tibet (Lhasa). Fa Men Si (Famen temple), home to one of Buddha's finger bones, is also located in Baoji County. The Baoji area was home to the legendary Yandi, one of the Han Chinese
forefathers. His tomb is located in the southern part of the city and his temple is located in the North.
People who are interested in the Three Kingdoms
of ancient China can visit Zhuge Liang
's Memorial Temple, about 20 km (12 mi) from Baoji. To get to the temple, take the bus from Baoji XinJianLu Bus Terminal to Gaodian, then transfer to taxi. Taxi fare to the temple from Gaodian is about 20-30 renminbi
varying with seasons.
still has some remaining traces of roadways built during the Three Kingdoms Period (220–280 CE) which are all generally unusable due to decay. They remain a popular attraction because they were built by making wood plank bridges along the side of the mountain.
To the South of Baoji lies the beginning of the plank road into the Qin Mountains. There are also several natural sites such as the Jialing Jiang Fountainhead with its small waterfalls and forests. To the north is Bei Puo, a giant hill made of loess with a panoramic view of the city and a landscape dotted with small farming villages that offer local cuisine.
A number of Longshan
archaeological sites have been found north of the Wei River
near the North Silk Road.
Established in 1992, Baoji Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone was approved as a national hi-tech zone by State Council. It has a long-term planned area of 40 square kilometers. The transportation system around the zone includes Xi'an-Xianyang International Airport and National Highway 310. Its encouraged industries are auto parts, electronics, IT, pharmaceutical and bioengineering industry and new materials.
, one of the two group armies that comprise the Lanzhou Military Region responsible for defending China's northwest borders.
Prefecture-level city
A prefectural level city , prefectural city or prefectural level municipality is an administrative division of the People's Republic of China, ranking below a province and above a county in China's administrative structure. Prefectural level cities form the second level of the administrative...
in Shaanxi province
Shaanxi
' is a province in the central part of Mainland China, and it includes portions of the Loess Plateau on the middle reaches of the Yellow River in addition to the Qinling Mountains across the southern part of this province...
, China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
.
Geography
The prefecture-level city of Baoji has a population of 3,716,731 according to the 2010 Chinese census, inhabiting an area of 18172 km² (7,016 sq mi). The city itself has a population of approximately 800,000. Surrounded on three sides by hills, Baoji is in a valley opening out to the east. Its location is strategic, controlling a pass on the Qin Mountains between the Wei Valley and the upper Han RiverHan River (Hanshui)
The Han River is a left tributary of the Yangtze River with a length of 1532 km. Historically it was referred to as Hànshuǐ and the name is still occasionally used today....
,or named Chia-ling River，(嘉陵江，Chia-ling Chiang，Jialing Jiang)]. Passing through Baoji is the ancient North Silk Road, the northernmost route of about 2600 kilometres in length, which connected the ancient Chinese capital of Xian to the West over the Wushao Ling Pass to Wuwei and emerging in Kashgar
Kashgar
Kashgar or Kashi is an oasis city with approximately 350,000 residents in the western part of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China. Kashgar is the administrative centre of Kashgar Prefecture which has an area of 162,000 km² and a population of approximately...
before linking to ancient Parthia
Parthia
Parthia is a region of north-eastern Iran, best known for having been the political and cultural base of the Arsacid dynasty, rulers of the Parthian Empire....
.
Climate
History
Thriving early in the Tang dynastyTang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
, it has roots to 2000 BC, but is now a large industrial center. Railways first reached Baoji in 1937 and have been key to its modern growth. Baoji is also considered the gateway between western and eastern China since most trains from Beijing, Shanghai and Xi'an pass through here on their way to Gansu, Sichuan, Xinjiang and Tibet (Lhasa). Fa Men Si (Famen temple), home to one of Buddha's finger bones, is also located in Baoji County. The Baoji area was home to the legendary Yandi, one of the Han Chinese
Han Chinese
Han Chinese are an ethnic group native to China and are the largest single ethnic group in the world.Han Chinese constitute about 92% of the population of the People's Republic of China , 98% of the population of the Republic of China , 78% of the population of Singapore, and about 20% of the...
forefathers. His tomb is located in the southern part of the city and his temple is located in the North.
People who are interested in the Three Kingdoms
Three Kingdoms
The Three Kingdoms period was a period in Chinese history, part of an era of disunity called the "Six Dynasties" following immediately the loss of de facto power of the Han Dynasty rulers. In a strict academic sense it refers to the period between the foundation of the state of Wei in 220 and the...
of ancient China can visit Zhuge Liang
Zhuge Liang
Zhuge Liang was a chancellor of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He is often recognised as the greatest and most accomplished strategist of his era....
's Memorial Temple, about 20 km (12 mi) from Baoji. To get to the temple, take the bus from Baoji XinJianLu Bus Terminal to Gaodian, then transfer to taxi. Taxi fare to the temple from Gaodian is about 20-30 renminbi
Renminbi
The Renminbi is the official currency of the People's Republic of China . Renminbi is legal tender in mainland China, but not in Hong Kong or Macau. It is issued by the People's Bank of China, the monetary authority of the PRC...
varying with seasons.
Ancient trackways
Mount TaibaiMount Taibai
Mount Taibai is a mountain located on the border between Mei, Taibai and Zhouzhi counties in the south west of Shaanxi Province, China. The mount's highest point, Baxian Tower , rises to a height of 3767.2 meters and is the tallest in the Qinling Range, as well as the watershed between the Han...
still has some remaining traces of roadways built during the Three Kingdoms Period (220–280 CE) which are all generally unusable due to decay. They remain a popular attraction because they were built by making wood plank bridges along the side of the mountain.
To the South of Baoji lies the beginning of the plank road into the Qin Mountains. There are also several natural sites such as the Jialing Jiang Fountainhead with its small waterfalls and forests. To the north is Bei Puo, a giant hill made of loess with a panoramic view of the city and a landscape dotted with small farming villages that offer local cuisine.
A number of Longshan
Longshan
Longshan may refer to the following in mainland China or Taiwan:*Longshan culture , late Neolithic culture, centred on the central and lower reaches of the Yellow River*Longshan County , of Xiangxi, Hunan*Longshan District , Liaoyuan, Jilin...
archaeological sites have been found north of the Wei River
Wei River
The Wei River is a major river in west-central China's Gansu and Shaanxi provinces. It is the largest tributary of the Yellow River and very important in the early development of Chinese civilization....
near the North Silk Road.
Administrative divisions
| Map | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Name | Hanzi | Hanyu Pinyin | Population (2010) | Area (km²) | Density (/km²) |
| 1 | Weibin District Weibin District, Baoji Weibin District is a district of Baoji, Shaanxi, China.... |
渭滨区 | Wèibīn Qū | 448,189 | 728 | 616 |
| 2 | Jintai District Jintai District Jintai District is a district of Baoji, Shaanxi, China.... |
金台区 | Jīntái Qū | 394,538 | 332 | 1,188 |
| 3 | Chencang District Chencang District Chencang District is a district of Baoji, Shaanxi, China.... |
陈仓区 | Chéncāng Qū | 595,075 | 2,517 | 236 |
| 4 | Fengxiang County Fengxiang County Fengxiang County is a county administered by Baoji City, western Shaanxi Province, People’s Republic of China. The county covers an area of and as of 2004 had a population of 510,000... |
凤翔县 | Fèngxiáng Xiàn | 483,471 | 1,179 | 410 |
| 5 | Qishan County Qishan County Qishan County is a county of Baoji, Shaanxi, China. It was the site of Zhouyuan , the first capital of the Zhou Dynasty . Historically, the site was also known as Qiyi or Qishan . It is located in Fengchu township on the Weishui River to the south of Mt. Qi... |
岐山县 | Qíshān Xiàn | 459,064 | 855 | 537 |
| 6 | Fufeng County Fufeng County Fufeng County is a county in Baoji, Shaanxi Province of China. It is 110 kilometers away from Xi'an, and 95 kilometers away from Baoji.It has a land area of 751 square kilometers, and a population of 460,000.Famen Temple is located in the county.... |
扶风县 | Fúfēng Xiàn | 416,398 | 751 | 554 |
| 7 | Mei County Mei County, Shaanxi Mei County is a county in Baoji, Shaanxi, China.... |
眉县 | Méi Xiàn | 299,988 | 863 | 348 |
| 8 | Long County Long County, Shaanxi Long County, Shaanxi is a county of Baoji, Shaanxi, China.... |
陇县 | Lǒng Xiàn | 248,901 | 2,418 | 103 |
| 9 | Qianyang County Qianyang County, Shaanxi Qianyang County is a county of Baoji, Shaanxi, China.... |
千阳县 | Qiānyáng Xiàn | 123,959 | 959 | 129 |
| 10 | Linyou County Linyou County Linyou County is a county of Baoji, Shaanxi, China.... |
麟游县 | Línyóu Xiàn | 90,728 | 1,806 | 50 |
| 11 | Feng County Feng County, Shaanxi Feng County is a county of Baoji, Shaanxi, China.-External links:*... |
凤县 | Fèng Xiàn | 105,492 | 3,187 | 33 |
| 12 | Taibai County Taibai County Taibai County is a county of Baoji, Shaanxi, China.Taibai County is located west of Mount Qin Ling and southeast of Baoji City. It is named after nearby Mount Taibai, a major peak of the Qin Mountains. It has 5 towns and 3 townships, including 66 administrative villages, and covers an area of... |
太白县 | Tàibái Xiàn | 50,928 | 2,780 | 18 |
Industrial Zone
- Baoji Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone
Established in 1992, Baoji Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone was approved as a national hi-tech zone by State Council. It has a long-term planned area of 40 square kilometers. The transportation system around the zone includes Xi'an-Xianyang International Airport and National Highway 310. Its encouraged industries are auto parts, electronics, IT, pharmaceutical and bioengineering industry and new materials.
Military
Baoji is headquarters of the 21st Group Army of the People's Liberation ArmyPeople's Liberation Army
The People's Liberation Army is the unified military organization of all land, sea, strategic missile and air forces of the People's Republic of China. The PLA was established on August 1, 1927 — celebrated annually as "PLA Day" — as the military arm of the Communist Party of China...
, one of the two group armies that comprise the Lanzhou Military Region responsible for defending China's northwest borders.