Bazhong
Encyclopedia
Bazhong is a prefecture-level city
in north-eastern Sichuan
province, People's Republic of China
.
and Shang
Dynasties, it was purportedly a vassal territory of the Liang State
. In the Spring and Autumn Period, it was called Bazi (巴子). In the Qin
and Western Han dynasties it was called Ba County (巴郡). In the Eastern Han Dynasty around the year 100 AD it was changed to Hanchang County (汉昌县). One hundred years later it reverted to Baxi County (巴西). Since then, it has usually either been called Liang County (梁郡) or Yi County (益州).
, and borders Shaanxi
province in the north, Dazhou City to the east, Nanchong
to the south, and Guangyuan
to the west. Its area is 12301 square kilometres (4,749.4 sq mi). The area is mountainous with elevations ranging from 208.3 to 2507 m (683.4 to 8,225.1 ft) above sea level.
Bazhong has a monsoon
-influenced humid subtropical climate
(Köppen
Cwa) and is largely mild and humid, with four distinct seasons. Winter is short, mild, and foggy, though actual precipitation is low. January averages 5.8 °C (42.4 °F), and while frost may occur, snow is rare. Summers are long, hot and humid, with highs often reaching 33 °C (91.4 °F). The daily average in July and August is around 27 °C (80.6 °F), with August being slightly warmer. Spring is warm and temperatures rise quickly but unstably, and hail is common. Rainfall is light in winter and can be heavy in summer, and more than 70% of the annual total occurs from May to September. The annual frost-free period lasts from 260 to 280 days.
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 north-eastern Sichuan
Sichuan
' , known formerly in the West by its postal map spellings of Szechwan or Szechuan is a province in Southwest China with its capital in Chengdu...
province, People's Republic of 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...
.
History
Bazhong was made a prefecture-level city in 1993. Its history, however, goes back much further. During the XiaXia Dynasty
The Xia Dynasty is the first dynasty in China to be described in ancient historical chronicles such as Bamboo Annals, Classic of History and Records of the Grand Historian. The Xia Dynasty was established by the legendary Yu the Great after Shun, the last of the Five Emperors gave his throne to him...
and Shang
Shang Dynasty
The Shang Dynasty or Yin Dynasty was, according to traditional sources, the second Chinese dynasty, after the Xia. They ruled in the northeastern regions of the area known as "China proper" in the Yellow River valley...
Dynasties, it was purportedly a vassal territory of the Liang State
Liang (state)
The State of Liang was one of the states during the Spring and Autumn Period , bordering the State of Qin and was conquered by Duke Mu of Qin in 641 BCE. The rulers of the State of Liang has the surname Ying , similar to the neighboring State of Qin...
. In the Spring and Autumn Period, it was called Bazi (巴子). In the Qin
Qin Dynasty
The Qin Dynasty was the first imperial dynasty of China, lasting from 221 to 207 BC. The Qin state derived its name from its heartland of Qin, in modern-day Shaanxi. The strength of the Qin state was greatly increased by the legalist reforms of Shang Yang in the 4th century BC, during the Warring...
and Western Han dynasties it was called Ba County (巴郡). In the Eastern Han Dynasty around the year 100 AD it was changed to Hanchang County (汉昌县). One hundred years later it reverted to Baxi County (巴西). Since then, it has usually either been called Liang County (梁郡) or Yi County (益州).
Geography
Bazhong is located at the southern end of the Daba MountainsDaba Mountains
Daba Mountains, or Dabashan is a mountain range in Central China, north of the Yangtze River.-Geography:The Daba Mountains run in the general west-northwest to east-southeast direction, along the border between, on the one side Sichuan and Chongqing, and on the other side Shaanxi and Hubei...
, and borders Shaanxi
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...
province in the north, Dazhou City to the east, Nanchong
Nanchong
Nanchong is a prefecture-level city in the northeast of Sichuan Province of the People's Republic of China, with an area of 12,479 kilometers. and the home to 7,300,000 people. It has the second most populated area and suggested to be one of the eight largest cities of Sichuan Province...
to the south, and Guangyuan
Guangyuan
Guangyuan is a prefecture-level city in Sichuan Province, China. It has an area of 16313.78 square kilometers and a population of 2,484,123 in 2010...
to the west. Its area is 12301 square kilometres (4,749.4 sq mi). The area is mountainous with elevations ranging from 208.3 to 2507 m (683.4 to 8,225.1 ft) above sea level.
Bazhong has a monsoon
Monsoon
Monsoon is traditionally defined as a seasonal reversing wind accompanied by corresponding changes in precipitation, but is now used to describe seasonal changes in atmospheric circulation and precipitation associated with the asymmetric heating of land and sea...
-influenced humid subtropical climate
Humid subtropical climate
A humid subtropical climate is a climate zone characterized by hot, humid summers and mild to cool winters...
(Köppen
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
Cwa) and is largely mild and humid, with four distinct seasons. Winter is short, mild, and foggy, though actual precipitation is low. January averages 5.8 °C (42.4 °F), and while frost may occur, snow is rare. Summers are long, hot and humid, with highs often reaching 33 °C (91.4 °F). The daily average in July and August is around 27 °C (80.6 °F), with August being slightly warmer. Spring is warm and temperatures rise quickly but unstably, and hail is common. Rainfall is light in winter and can be heavy in summer, and more than 70% of the annual total occurs from May to September. The annual frost-free period lasts from 260 to 280 days.
Administration
Bazhong has 1 city, 3 counties, 250 township, and 2,355 villages. The population is 3,561,000 with 455,000 of that urban.| Map | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Name | Hanzi | Hanyu Pinyin | Population (2004 est.) | Area (km²) | Density (/km²) |
| 1 | Bazhou District Bazhou District Bazhou District is a district of Sichuan Province, China. It is under the administration of Bazhong city.-External links:*... |
巴州区 | Bāzhōu Qū | 1,290,000 | 2,566 | 503 |
| 2 | Tongjiang County Tongjiang County Tongjiang County is a county in northeastern Sichuan Province, China. It is under the administration of Bazhong prefecture, with an area of 4125 km², and a population of approximately 730,000.- Geography :... |
通江县 | Tōngjiāng Xiàn | 720,000 | 4,125 | 175 |
| 3 | Nanjiang County Nanjiang County Nanjiang County is a county of Sichuan Province, China. It is under the administration of Bazhong city.... |
南江县 | Nánjiāng Xiàn | 630,000 | 3,383 | 186 |
| 4 | Pingchang County Pingchang County Pingchang County is a county in Bazhong, in north-eastern Sichuan province. Its area is 2227 km². The population is 930,000.-Administration:Pingchang has 16 towns and 11 villages.... |
平昌县 | Píngchāng Xiàn | 960,000 | 2,227 | 431 |