Weichang Manchu and Mongol Autonomous County (Chinese: 围场满族蒙古族自治县) is a Manchu and Mongolautonomous county located in far northeastern Hebei province, China. It lies under the administration of Chengde City, and is the northernmost county of the province, bordering Inner Mongolia to the north. In terms of area, it is the largest county of Hebei, occupying an area of 9,058 km2 (3,497 sq mi), though, as it is located in mountainous terrain, it is rather sparsely populated, as of 2004[update], housing 520,000 people.
The area of the county was originally grazing grounds for Mongol tribes. In the early Qing Dynasty, the Auqan, Kharchin and Onnigud Mongols gave these lands as a gift to the Kangxi Emperor, who then created the Mulan Hunting Grounds in Weichang.[2] Thereafter, it became hunting ground for the Qing royal family, Eight Banners aristocrats and Mongols.
Geography and climate
Weichang is located in the northernmost part of Hebei, with a latitude range of 41° 35' to 42° 40' N and longitude range of 116° 32' to 118° 14' E. It borders Inner Mongolia's Chifeng city to the east, Hexigten Banner to the north, as well as Duolun County to the northwest. Within Hebei province, it borders Fengning County and Longhua County to the southwest and south.
Weichang has a rather dry, monsoon-influenced humid continental climate (KöppenDwb), with long, very cold and dry winters, and very warm, humid summers, and the elevation depresses temperatures. The 24-hour average in January is −12.3 °C (9.9 °F) and the same figure for July is 21.4 °C (70.5 °F), while the annual mean is 5.6 °C (42.1 °F). More than half of the annual precipitation occurs in July and August alone. The coldest temperature recorded in the province was −42.9 °C (−45 °F) on 12 January 1957 at Yudaokou Township (御道口乡).
Climate data for Weichang (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1971–2010)
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