Xingtai
Encyclopedia
Xingtai is a city in southern Hebei
province, North China
. The prefecture-level city
of Xingtai, with a total area of 12486 square kilometres (4,820.9 sq mi), administers 2 districts, 2 county-level cities and 15 counties. In 2004 it had an urban population of 561,400 and a total population of 6.73 million. It borders Shijiazhuang
and Hengshui
in the north, Handan
in the south, and the provinces of Shandong
and Shanxi
in the east and west respectively.
, Xingtai functioned as a capital city. During the Zhou Dynasty
, the State of Xing
from which the present name deriveswas founded in the city. During the Warring States Period
, the state of Zhao made Xingtai its provisional capital. The city was known as Xindu for most of the Qin Dynasty
, but after the 207 BC Battle of Julu
(within modern Xingtai), it became known as Xiangguo. During the Sixteen Kingdoms Period, when the Later Zhao
was founded by Shi Le
of the Jie, the capital was again at Xiangguo. During the Sui
and Tang dynasties
, the city was known as Xingzhou. During the Yuan Dynasty
, Ming
, and Qing dynasties
, Xingtai was called Shunteh (Shundefu) and functioned as a prefecture in China.
-influenced semi-arid climate (Köppen
BSk), characterised by hot, humid summers due to the East Asian monsoon, and generally cold, windy, very dry winters that reflect the influence of the vast Siberian anticyclone. Spring can bear witness to sandstorms blowing in from the Mongolian steppe, accompanied by rapidly warming, but generally dry, conditions. Autumn is similar to spring in temperature and lack of rainfall. The annual rainfall, more than half of which falls in July and August alone, is highly variable and not reliable. In the city itself, this amount has averaged to a meagre 493 millimetres (19.4 in) per annum.
occurred in the early morning of March 8, 1966. It was followed by 5 earthquakes above magnitude 6 on the Richter scale that lasted until March 29, 1966. The strongest of these quakes had a magnitude of 7.2 and took place in the southeastern part of Ningjin County on March 22. The earthquake damage included 8,064 dead, 38,000 injured and more than 5 million destroyed houses.
and the Beijing−Kowloon
Railways, as well as the Beijing−Shenzhen
, Qingdao−Yinchuan ( , and Xingtai−Linqing Expressways, Xingtai is a transport hub connecting the Eastern
, Northern, and Central China.
Hebei
' is a province of the People's Republic of China in the North China region. Its one-character abbreviation is "" , named after Ji Province, a Han Dynasty province that included what is now southern Hebei...
province, North China
North China
thumb|250px|Northern [[People's Republic of China]] region.Northern China or North China is a geographical region of China. The heartland of North China is the North China Plain....
. The prefecture-level city
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 Xingtai, with a total area of 12486 square kilometres (4,820.9 sq mi), administers 2 districts, 2 county-level cities and 15 counties. In 2004 it had an urban population of 561,400 and a total population of 6.73 million. It borders Shijiazhuang
Shijiazhuang
Shijiazhuang is the capital and largest city of North China's Hebei province. Administratively a prefecture-level city, it is about south of Beijing...
and Hengshui
Hengshui
Hengshui is a prefecture-level city in Hebei province, China. It has an urban population of 460,240 in the built up area and a population of 4,340,373 at the 2010 census in its administrative area...
in the north, Handan
Handan
Handan is a prefecture-level city located in the southwestern part of Hebei Province of China.- History :Handan was the capital of the State of Zhao during the Warring States period , after the capital moved from Zhongmu. The city was conquered by the State of Qin after the virtual annexation of...
in the south, and the provinces of Shandong
Shandong
' is a Province located on the eastern coast of the People's Republic of China. Shandong has played a major role in Chinese history from the beginning of Chinese civilization along the lower reaches of the Yellow River and served as a pivotal cultural and religious site for Taoism, Chinese...
and Shanxi
Shanxi
' is a province in Northern China. Its one-character abbreviation is "晋" , after the state of Jin that existed here during the Spring and Autumn Period....
in the east and west respectively.
History
Xingtai is the oldest city in North China. The history of Xingtai can be traced back 3500 years ago. During the Shang DynastyShang 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...
, Xingtai functioned as a capital city. During the 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...
, the State of Xing
Xing (state)
The State of Xíng was a vassal state of ancient China during the Zhou Dynasty and Spring and Autumn Period , ruled by descendants of the Jí family...
from which the present name deriveswas founded in the city. During the Warring States Period
Warring States Period
The Warring States Period , also known as the Era of Warring States, or the Warring Kingdoms period, covers the Iron Age period from about 475 BC to the reunification of China under the Qin Dynasty in 221 BC...
, the state of Zhao made Xingtai its provisional capital. The city was known as Xindu for most of the Qin Dynasty
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...
, but after the 207 BC Battle of Julu
Battle of Julu
The Battle of Julu was fought in Julu in 207 BC primarily between Qin forces led by Zhang Han, and Chu rebels led by Xiang Yu. Xiang Yu emerged victorious, defeating a large Qin army with a small number of soldiers...
(within modern Xingtai), it became known as Xiangguo. During the Sixteen Kingdoms Period, when the Later Zhao
Later Zhao
The Later Zhao was a state of the Sixteen Kingdoms during the Jin Dynasty in China. It was founded by the Shi family of the Jie ethnicity...
was founded by Shi Le
Shi Le
Shi Le , courtesy name Shilong , formally Emperor Ming of Zhao , was the founding emperor of the Chinese/Jie state Later Zhao...
of the Jie, the capital was again at Xiangguo. During the Sui
Sui Dynasty
The Sui Dynasty was a powerful, but short-lived Imperial Chinese dynasty. Preceded by the Southern and Northern Dynasties, it ended nearly four centuries of division between rival regimes. It was followed by the Tang Dynasty....
and Tang dynasties
Tang 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...
, the city was known as Xingzhou. During the Yuan Dynasty
Yuan Dynasty
The Yuan Dynasty , or Great Yuan Empire was a ruling dynasty founded by the Mongol leader Kublai Khan, who ruled most of present-day China, all of modern Mongolia and its surrounding areas, lasting officially from 1271 to 1368. It is considered both as a division of the Mongol Empire and as an...
, Ming
Ming Dynasty
The Ming Dynasty, also Empire of the Great Ming, was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history", was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...
, and Qing dynasties
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
, Xingtai was called Shunteh (Shundefu) and functioned as a prefecture in China.
Geography and climate
Xingtai has a continental, monsoonMonsoon
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 semi-arid climate (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...
BSk), characterised by hot, humid summers due to the East Asian monsoon, and generally cold, windy, very dry winters that reflect the influence of the vast Siberian anticyclone. Spring can bear witness to sandstorms blowing in from the Mongolian steppe, accompanied by rapidly warming, but generally dry, conditions. Autumn is similar to spring in temperature and lack of rainfall. The annual rainfall, more than half of which falls in July and August alone, is highly variable and not reliable. In the city itself, this amount has averaged to a meagre 493 millimetres (19.4 in) per annum.
Xingtai earthquake
A major earthquake, known as the Xingtai Earthquake, with magnitude 6.8 on the Richter scale and epicenter in Longyao CountyLongyao County
-Administrative Divisions:Towns:*Longyao Town , Weijiazhuang , Yincun , Shankou , Lianzi , Gucheng Townships:*Beilou Township , Dongliang Township , Shuangbei Township , Niujiaqiao Township , Qianhuying Township , Dazhangzhuang Township Liuxing Farm -External Links:...
occurred in the early morning of March 8, 1966. It was followed by 5 earthquakes above magnitude 6 on the Richter scale that lasted until March 29, 1966. The strongest of these quakes had a magnitude of 7.2 and took place in the southeastern part of Ningjin County on March 22. The earthquake damage included 8,064 dead, 38,000 injured and more than 5 million destroyed houses.
Administrative divisions
| Map | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Name | Hanzi | Hanyu Pinyin | Population (2004 est.) | Area (km²) | Density (/km²) |
| 1 | Qiaodong District Qiaodong District, Xingtai -Administrative Divisions:Subdistricts:*Ximenli Subdistrict , Nanchang Avenue Subdistrict , Xida Avenue Subdistrict , Beida Avenue Subdistrict Townships:*Dongguocun Township , Daliangzhuang Township -External Links:... |
桥东区 | Qiáodōng Qū | 230,000 | 37 | 6,216 |
| 2 | Qiaoxi District Qiaoxi District, Xingtai -Administrative Divisions:Subdistricts:*Gangtie Road Subdistrict , Zhongxing Road Subdistrict , Dahuoquan Subdistrict , Zhangkuan Subdistrict , Zhangcun Subdistrict Townships:*Nandaguo Township , Licun Township... |
桥西区 | Qiáoxī Qū | 330,000 | 96 | 3,438 |
| 3 | Nangong City Nangong Nangong is a city in the northern province of Hebei, China. It is administered by the prefecture-level city of Xingtai.The city's population was 82,500 as of 2005.-Administrative Divisions:Subdistricts:... |
南宫市 | Nángōng Shì | 450,000 | 854 | 527 |
| 4 | Shahe City Shahe Shahe is a county-level city in the prefecture-level city of Xingtai, in the southern part of Hebei province of the People's Republic of China.-Administrative Divisions:Subdistricts:... |
沙河市 | Shāhé Shì | 470,000 | 999 | 470 |
| 5 | Xingtai County Xingtai County Xingtai County is a county of Hebei, China. It is under the administration of Xingtai City.-Administrative Divisions:Subdistricts:*Yurangqiao Subdistrict Towns:... |
邢台县 | Xíngtái Xiàn | 450,000 | 1,983 | 227 |
| 6 | Lincheng County Lincheng County Lincheng County is a county of Hebei, People's Republic of China. It is under the administration of Xingtai City.-Administrative Divisions:Towns:*Lincheng Town , Dongzhen , Xishu , Haozhuang Townships:... |
临城县 | Línchéng Xiàn | 190,000 | 797 | 238 |
| 7 | Neiqiu County Neiqiu County Neiqiu County is a county in southwestern Hebei province, People's Republic of China. It is under the administration of Xingtai City and has a land area of , and a population of 250,000. Its postal code is 054200... |
内丘县 | Nèiqiū Xiàn | 260,000 | 775 | 335 |
| 8 | Baixiang County Baixiang County Baixiang County is a county of Hebei, China. It is under the administration of Xingtai City. The Baixiang County is famous because the capital Xiangguo of the Southern Huns state Later Zhao, described in the Fang Xuanling Book of Jin Chapter 104, was located in the territory of the county... |
柏乡县 | Bǎixiāng Xiàn | 180,000 | 268 | 672 |
| 9 | Longyao County Longyao County -Administrative Divisions:Towns:*Longyao Town , Weijiazhuang , Yincun , Shankou , Lianzi , Gucheng Townships:*Beilou Township , Dongliang Township , Shuangbei Township , Niujiaqiao Township , Qianhuying Township , Dazhangzhuang Township Liuxing Farm -External Links:... |
隆尧县 | Lóngyáo Xiàn | 490,000 | 749 | 654 |
| 10 | Ren County Ren County Ren County , is a county located around from Xingtai, Hebei, which administrates it. It has a land area of 431 square kilometers and a population of 300,000. Its postal code is 055150... |
任县 | Rén Xiàn | 320,000 | 431 | 742 |
| 11 | Nanhe County Nanhe County Nanhe County is a county of Hebei, China. It is under the administration of Xingtai City.-Administrative Divisions:Towns:*Heyang , Jiasong , Haoqiao Townships:... |
南和县 | Nánhé Xiàn | 320,000 | 418 | 766 |
| 12 | Ningjin County | 宁晋县 | Níngjìn Xiàn | 730,000 | 1,107 | 659 |
| 13 | Julu County Julu County Julu County is a county of Xingtai Xingtai, Hebei Province, China. Prior to the Sui Dynasty, Julu had been known as Nanyi County . The name was changed and became Julu, with the Chinese for Ju being written either as either 巨 or 钜... |
巨鹿县 | Jùlù Xiàn | 360,000 | 623 | 578 |
| 14 | Xinhe County Xinhe County Xinhe County is a county of Hebei, China. It is under the administration of Xingtai City.-Administrative Divisions:There are 2 towns and 4 townships Towns:*Xinhe Town , Xunzhai Townships:... |
新河县 | Xīnhé Xiàn | 160,000 | 366 | 437 |
| 15 | Guangzong County Guangzong County Guangzong County is under the jurisdiction of Xingtai in Hebei.-Administrative Divisions:The only town is Guangzong Town Townships:... |
广宗县 | Guǎngzōng Xiàn | 270,000 | 493 | 548 |
| 16 | Pingxiang County Pingxiang County Pingxiang County is a county of Xingtai Prefecture, Hebei Province, China. In the Han Dynasty, Pingxiang County was known as Julu County , the birthplace of Zhang Jiao, Zhang Bao and Zhang Liang.-Administrative Divisions:Towns:... |
平乡县 | Píngxiāng Xiàn | 280,000 | 406 | 670 |
| 17 | Wei County Wei County, Xingtai Wei County is a county of Hebei, China. It is under the administration of Xingtai City.-Administrative Divisions:Towns:*Mingzhou , Liyuantun , Zhangtai , Houguan , Qiji Townships:... |
威县 | Wēi Xiàn | 540,000 | 994 | 543 |
| 18 | Qinghe County | 清河县 | Qīnghé Xiàn | 360,000 | 501 | 719 |
| 19 | Linxi County | 临西县 | Línxī Xiàn | 330,000 | 542 | 609 |
Economy
Xingtai is the most important base for natural resources in North China, producing 20 million metric tonnes of coal annually. It also features the largest power plant in the southern part of this region of China, with an output of 2.06 MW.Transport
Located on the Beijing−GuangzhouJingguang Railway
The Beijing–Guangzhou Railway or Jingguang Railway is a major arterial railway in the China that connects Beijing in the north with Guangzhou in the south. This dual-track electrified line has a total length of 2,324 kilometres and spans five provinces through north, central and south China...
and the Beijing−Kowloon
Jingjiu Railway
The Beijing-Jiujiang-Kowloon Railway, also known as the Beijing-Jiujiang-Kowloon Railway or Jingjiu Railway) is a railway in the China connecting Beijing West Station in Beijing to Shenzhen Station in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province...
Railways, as well as the Beijing−Shenzhen
Jingshen Expressway
The Jingshen Expressway is an expressway in China which links Beijing to Shenyang. It is 658 km in length.It leaves Beijing heading east and is numbered G025...
, Qingdao−Yinchuan ( , and Xingtai−Linqing Expressways, Xingtai is a transport hub connecting the Eastern
East China
East China is a geographical and a loosely-defined cultural region that covers the eastern coastal area of China.Although an intangible and loosely defined concept, for administrative and governmental purposes, the region is defined by the government of the People's Republic of China to include...
, Northern, and Central China.