Ezhou
Encyclopedia
Ezhou is a prefecture-level city
in China
's Hubei
province.
east of Wuchang (the southern section of Wuhan
), and across the river from the city of Huanggang
, to which it is connected by the Ehuang Bridge. Sandwiched between the prefecture-level cities
of Wuhan
and Huangshi
, the prefecture-level city of Ezhou has a relatively small area of 1,504 km2. (Reported by city government as 1594 km2)
Its population was 1,048,672 at the 2010 census whom 603,412 urban (Echeng district). The Ezhou
- Huanggang
built up area is home to 900,272 inhabitants (Echeng district with Huangzhou district of Huanggang
prefecture).
Ezhou has a long rich history. Its Han Dynasty
(206 BCE – 220 CE) name derives from the ancient Zhou Dynasty
(1046–256 BCE) vassal State of E
located nearby. Its administrative region was changed several times but the name stayed the same until the Three Kingdoms
(220–280 CE). During this period it was made the capital of the Wu Kingdom by Sun Quan
and was named Wuchang. This name was attested in use as late as 1915, which in that era proved confusing to travellers, as it was also applied to the much larger city of Wuchang, which was soon to become one of the constituent parts of Wuhan
.
Throughout China's history it has remained an important city politically, economically, and militarily with its strategic position along the middle part of the Yangtze River
. It is also an important place in the history of the Pure Land Sect of Buddhism
.
Districts:
The passenger train station, located southwest of downtown, is served by a large number of long-distance passenger trains that pass Ezhou on their way from Wuhan
to cities in the east. In Hubei, there are no commuter trains per se, but it takes only about 1 hour (usually, with a stop at Huarong
) to reach Wuhan's Wuchang train station from Ezhou using any of those trains. The distance from the Ezhou station to Wuchang by rail is 82 km.
Ezhou is served by the E-Huang Expressway, and by China National Highways 106
and 316
.
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 China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
's Hubei
Hubei
' Hupeh) is a province in Central China. The name of the province means "north of the lake", referring to its position north of Lake Dongting...
province.
Geography and climate
Ezhou is located in southeastern Hubei province, on the southern bank of the Yangtze RiverYangtze River
The Yangtze, Yangzi or Cháng Jiāng is the longest river in Asia, and the third-longest in the world. It flows for from the glaciers on the Tibetan Plateau in Qinghai eastward across southwest, central and eastern China before emptying into the East China Sea at Shanghai. It is also one of the...
east of Wuchang (the southern section of Wuhan
Wuhan
Wuhan is the capital of Hubei province, People's Republic of China, and is the most populous city in Central China. It lies at the east of the Jianghan Plain, and the intersection of the middle reaches of the Yangtze and Han rivers...
), and across the river from the city of Huanggang
Huanggang, Hubei
Huanggang City is a major municipality in eastern Hubei Province, China. It is situated to the north of the middle reaches of the Yangtze River and is bounded in the north by the Dabie Shan mountain range....
, to which it is connected by the Ehuang Bridge. Sandwiched between the prefecture-level cities
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...
of Wuhan
Wuhan
Wuhan is the capital of Hubei province, People's Republic of China, and is the most populous city in Central China. It lies at the east of the Jianghan Plain, and the intersection of the middle reaches of the Yangtze and Han rivers...
and Huangshi
Huangshi
Huangshi is a prefecture-level city in China's Hubei province.-Geography and climate:The prefecture-level city of Huangshi is located in southeastern Hubei province, along the southwestern bank of one of the major bends in the Yangtze River. It is located 100 km south-east of Wuhan, and...
, the prefecture-level city of Ezhou has a relatively small area of 1,504 km2. (Reported by city government as 1594 km2)
Its population was 1,048,672 at the 2010 census whom 603,412 urban (Echeng district). The Ezhou
Ezhou
-Geography and climate:Ezhou is located in southeastern Hubei province, on the southern bank of the Yangtze River east of Wuchang , and across the river from the city of Huanggang, to which it is connected by the Ehuang Bridge...
- Huanggang
Huanggang
Huanggang is a city in Hubei, China.Huanggang may also refer to:* Huanggang, Shenzhen, area in Shenzhen, China* Huanggang, Funan County, town in Anhui, China...
built up area is home to 900,272 inhabitants (Echeng district with Huangzhou district of Huanggang
Huanggang
Huanggang is a city in Hubei, China.Huanggang may also refer to:* Huanggang, Shenzhen, area in Shenzhen, China* Huanggang, Funan County, town in Anhui, China...
prefecture).
History
Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...
(206 BCE – 220 CE) name derives from the ancient Zhou Dynasty
Zhou Dynasty
The Zhou Dynasty was a Chinese dynasty that followed the Shang Dynasty and preceded the Qin Dynasty. Although the Zhou Dynasty lasted longer than any other dynasty in Chinese history, the actual political and military control of China by the Ji family lasted only until 771 BC, a period known as...
(1046–256 BCE) vassal State of E
E (state)
The State of È was a vassal state in present-day central China from the time of the Shang Dynasty until its overthrow in 863 BCE. E moved from its original location in what is now the southern province of Henan into Hubei Province...
located nearby. Its administrative region was changed several times but the name stayed the same until 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...
(220–280 CE). During this period it was made the capital of the Wu Kingdom by Sun Quan
Sun Quan
Sun Quan , son of Sun Jian, formally Emperor Da of Wu, was the founder of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He ruled from 222 to 229 as King of Wu and from 229 to 252 as Emperor of Wu....
and was named Wuchang. This name was attested in use as late as 1915, which in that era proved confusing to travellers, as it was also applied to the much larger city of Wuchang, which was soon to become one of the constituent parts of Wuhan
Wuhan
Wuhan is the capital of Hubei province, People's Republic of China, and is the most populous city in Central China. It lies at the east of the Jianghan Plain, and the intersection of the middle reaches of the Yangtze and Han rivers...
.
Throughout China's history it has remained an important city politically, economically, and militarily with its strategic position along the middle part of the Yangtze River
Yangtze River
The Yangtze, Yangzi or Cháng Jiāng is the longest river in Asia, and the third-longest in the world. It flows for from the glaciers on the Tibetan Plateau in Qinghai eastward across southwest, central and eastern China before emptying into the East China Sea at Shanghai. It is also one of the...
. It is also an important place in the history of the Pure Land Sect of Buddhism
Pure Land Buddhism
Pure Land Buddhism , also referred to as Amidism in English, is a broad branch of Mahāyāna Buddhism and currently one of the most popular traditions of Buddhism in East Asia. Pure Land is a branch of Buddhism focused on Amitābha Buddha...
.
Administration
Ezhou has 3 districts.Districts:
- Echeng DistrictEcheng DistrictEcheng District is one of the three administrative districts into which the prefecture-level city of Ezhou, in China's Hubei province, is divided. The district is quite small, and includes Ezhou's main urban area and its eastern and southern suburbs....
(鄂城区) (where Ezhou's central urban area is located) - Huarong DistrictHuarong DistrictHuarong District is a district of Hubei, China. It is under the administration of Ezhou city....
(华容区） - Liangzihu DistrictLiangzihu DistrictLiangzihu District is a district of Hubei, China. It is under the administration of Ezhou city....
(梁子湖区）
Economy
Ezhou has 6 ports on the Yangtze including one than can handle up to 10,000 ton vessels. Many important rail lines and national highways cross through the area. This infrastructure make it a major logistics and distribution center. Important industries include metallurgy, construction materials, textiles, chemicals, and machinery.The passenger train station, located southwest of downtown, is served by a large number of long-distance passenger trains that pass Ezhou on their way from Wuhan
Wuhan
Wuhan is the capital of Hubei province, People's Republic of China, and is the most populous city in Central China. It lies at the east of the Jianghan Plain, and the intersection of the middle reaches of the Yangtze and Han rivers...
to cities in the east. In Hubei, there are no commuter trains per se, but it takes only about 1 hour (usually, with a stop at Huarong
Huarong District
Huarong District is a district of Hubei, China. It is under the administration of Ezhou city....
) to reach Wuhan's Wuchang train station from Ezhou using any of those trains. The distance from the Ezhou station to Wuchang by rail is 82 km.
Ezhou is served by the E-Huang Expressway, and by China National Highways 106
China National Highway 106
China National Highway 106 is a road from Beijing to Guangzhou.It leaves Beijing at Yuquanying and heads to Gu'an, Bazhou , Kaifeng , Ezhou , and eventually Guangzhou on the south China coast....
and 316
China National Highway 316
China National Highway 316 runs from Fuzhou in Fujian to Lanzhou in Gansu, via Nanchang and Wuhan . It is 2915 kilometres in length...
.