Langzhong
阆中市
County-level City
Location of Langzhong City (red) in Nanchong City (yellow) and Sichuan
Location of Langzhong City (red) in Nanchong City (yellow) and Sichuan
Langzhong is located in Sichuan
Langzhong
Langzhong
Location of the city centre in Sichuan
Coordinates (Langzhong government): 31°33′29″N 106°00′18″E / 31.558°N 106.005°E / 31.558; 106.005
CountryChina
ProvinceSichuan
Prefecture-level cityNanchong
Municipal seatQili Subdistrict
Area
 • County-level City1,877 km2 (725 sq mi)
Highest elevation
888 m (2,913 ft)
Lowest elevation
328 m (1,076 ft)
Population
 • County-level City880,000
 • Density470/km2 (1,200/sq mi)
 • Urban
250,000
Time zoneUTC+8 (China Standard Time)
Websitewww.langzhong.gov.cn
Langzhong
Traditional Chinese閬中
Simplified Chinese阆中
Literal meaningWithin the Dry Moat
Former names
Baoning
Traditional Chinese保寧
Simplified Chinese保宁
Literal meaningPacified-Protecting

Langzhong (formerly known as Paoning) is a county-level city in northeastern Sichuan province, China, located on the middle reaches of the Jialing River. It is administered as part of the prefecture-level city of Nanchong. Langzhong has a total population of 880,000, with 250,000 residing in the urban area.[1]

Langzhong is famous for its historic centre, home to 30,000 of its residents.[2][3][4] It is one of the best preserved historic towns of China, dating back to the Tang dynasty.[5] The city was also the seat of the former Anglican Diocese of Szechwan.

History

A bird's eye view of Langzhong Ancient Town

The site of present-day Langzhong served for a time as the capital of Ba, a native but sinicized Sichuan state during China's Warring States period. It takes its present name from its role as the seat of Langzhong County, established by Qin two years after[6] its 316 BC conquest of Shu and Ba. Under the Han and Tang, it was an important center for astronomical research. Under the Yuan, Ming, and Qing, it was known as Baoning.[a] Over the late imperial period, it served as Sichuan's provincial capital for a total of ten years. It was well known for its salt wells.[7] It has also long been an important military town of Sichuan.[8]

Since 1985, the PRC government has awarded Langzhong with various accolades on three separate occasions.[6] In 1986 the State Council named it a famous and historical town. In 1991, it was finally upgraded to county-level city status.

Geography

Langzhong is located in the northeast of the province and the northern part of the Sichuan Basin on the middle reaches of the Jialing River. Within the city's administrative area, elevations generally increase from southwest to northeast and range from 328 metres (1,076 ft) to 888 metres (2,913 ft), while rivers flow for 59.4 kilometres (36.9 mi).[6] The area is dominated by low-lying mountains and hills.

Climate

As with much of the rest of the province, Langzhong has a monsoon-influenced humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cwa), with dry, temperate winters, and long, hot, humid summers. The monthly daily average temperature ranges from 6.1 °C (43.0 °F) in January to 26.7 °C (80.1 °F) in July. The frost-free period lasts 290 days per year, while annual sunshine amounts to 1,400 hours.[6] Close to two-thirds of the annual rainfall occurs from June to September.

Climate data for Langzhong (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1971–2010)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 20.8
(69.4) 		23.6
(74.5) 		31.1
(88.0) 		34.9
(94.8) 		36.4
(97.5) 		36.3
(97.3) 		39.6
(103.3) 		40.6
(105.1) 		37.9
(100.2) 		31.3
(88.3) 		27.0
(80.6) 		18.6
(65.5) 		40.6
(105.1)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 9.9
(49.8) 		12.8
(55.0) 		17.8
(64.0) 		23.5
(74.3) 		27.2
(81.0) 		29.6
(85.3) 		32.0
(89.6) 		32.2
(90.0) 		26.7
(80.1) 		21.5
(70.7) 		16.5
(61.7) 		10.9
(51.6) 		21.7
(71.1)
Daily mean °C (°F) 6.3
(43.3) 		8.8
(47.8) 		12.9
(55.2) 		18.0
(64.4) 		21.9
(71.4) 		24.9
(76.8) 		27.2
(81.0) 		26.9
(80.4) 		22.4
(72.3) 		17.5
(63.5) 		12.6
(54.7) 		7.7
(45.9) 		17.3
(63.1)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 3.8
(38.8) 		6.0
(42.8) 		9.4
(48.9) 		13.9
(57.0) 		17.8
(64.0) 		21.2
(70.2) 		23.6
(74.5) 		23.2
(73.8) 		19.6
(67.3) 		15.1
(59.2) 		10.2
(50.4) 		5.5
(41.9) 		14.1
(57.4)
Record low °C (°F) −3.1
(26.4) 		−1.7
(28.9) 		−0.9
(30.4) 		4.0
(39.2) 		10.0
(50.0) 		14.3
(57.7) 		17.4
(63.3) 		17.0
(62.6) 		13.3
(55.9) 		2.6
(36.7) 		0.7
(33.3) 		−4.1
(24.6) 		−4.1
(24.6)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 13.9
(0.55) 		15.9
(0.63) 		30.9
(1.22) 		63.6
(2.50) 		112.4
(4.43) 		161.0
(6.34) 		190.0
(7.48) 		162.1
(6.38) 		147.8
(5.82) 		66.9
(2.63) 		30.7
(1.21) 		11.2
(0.44) 		1,006.4
(39.63)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) 7.5 7.0 9.7 10.2 12.3 13.1 13.3 11.0 13.4 13.4 8.2 6.5 125.6
Average snowy days 1.1 0.3 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.1 0.4 2
Average relative humidity (%) 79 75 72 72 71 76 78 76 81 83 81 80 77
Mean monthly sunshine hours 46.4 50.6 88.9 120.0 129.3 117.0 150.2 165.9 88.5 68.3 58.7 43.7 1,127.5
Percent possible sunshine 14 16 24 31 30 28 35 41 24 19 19 14 25
Source 1: China Meteorological Administration[9][10]
Source 2: Weather China[11]

Administrative divisions

Langzhong comprises 5 subdistricts, 19 towns, 3 townships and 1 ethnic township:[12]

Transport

Notes

  1. ^ Also romanized as Paou-ning Foo.[7]

References

  1. ^ "阆中概况 - 阆中市人民政府网". www.langzhong.gov.cn. Retrieved 2020-10-31.
  2. ^ "Ancient City of Langzhong, Facts about Langzhong in Sichuan China". www.icefestivalharbin.com. Retrieved 2021-12-13.
  3. ^ "Langzhong Ancient City Scenic Area". www.nanchong.gov.cn. Retrieved 2021-12-13.
  4. ^ Chen, Hsiu Chin (2006). 100 Wonders of China. Rebo International. ISBN 978-90-366-1660-7.
  5. ^ Zhongguo zi zhu you bian wei hui; 中国自助游编委会. (2012). Zhongguo zi zhu you : 2012 zui xin sheng ji (Di 1 ban ed.). Beijing: Zhongguo qing gong ye chu ban she. ISBN 978-7-5019-8528-9. OCLC 853440795.
  6. ^ a b c d 阆中 - 气象数据 -中国天气网 (in Chinese). Weather China. Retrieved 2011-12-21.
  7. ^ a b Baynes, T. S., ed. (1878), "China" , Encyclopædia Britannica, vol. 5 (9th ed.), New York: Charles Scribner's Sons
  8. ^ Zhou, Xiaohong (2020-08-27). Cultural Reverse I: The Past and Present of Intergenerational Revolution. Routledge. ISBN 978-0-429-82540-8.
  9. ^ 中国气象数据网 – WeatherBk Data (in Simplified Chinese). China Meteorological Administration. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  10. ^ 中国气象数据网 (in Simplified Chinese). China Meteorological Administration. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  11. ^ 阆中 - 气象数据 -中国天气网 (in Simplified Chinese). Weather China. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
  12. ^ 2023年统计用区划代码和城乡划分代码：阆中市 (in Simplified Chinese). National Bureau of Statistics of China.

Sources

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