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 622,667, with 303,044 residing in the urban area in 2020.
Langzhong is famous for its historic centre, home to 30,000 of its residents.
History
The site of present-day Langzhong served for a time as the capital of Ba, a native but
sinicization 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
its 316 BC conquest of Shu and Ba. Under the
Han dynasty and
Tang dynasty, it was an important center for astronomical research. Under the
Yuan dynasty,
Ming dynasty, and
Qing dynasty, it was known as
Baoning. 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.
It has also long been an important military town of Sichuan.
The old town of Langzhong is built according to Feng shui principles. The dedicated military, trade and residential quarters of the town are located in a location corresponding to a particular element in Feng shui. The town itself is position centrally with respect to 4 mountains around it.
Since 1985, the PRC government has awarded Langzhong with various accolades on three separate occasions.
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 to , while rivers flow for .
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 in January to in July. The frost-free period lasts 290 days per year, while annual sunshine amounts to 1,400 hours.
Close to two-thirds of the annual rainfall occurs from June to September.
Administrative divisions
Langzhong comprises 5 subdistricts, 19 towns, 3 townships and 1 ethnic township:
Transport
-
China National Highway 212
-
Langzhong Gucheng Airport
Notes
Sources
