Qingyuan, formerly romanized as Tsingyun, is a prefecture-level city in northern Guangdong province, China, on the banks of the Bei or Bei River. During the 2020 census, its total population was 3,969,473, out of whom 1,738,424 lived in the built-up (or metro) area made of urbanized Qingcheng and Qingxin District.
History
Qingyuan was a prefecture during Northern and Southern dynasties. However, the administration status of Qingyuan was downgraded to a county in the tenth year of the
Kaihuang Era of the
Sui dynasty (A.D. 590). Since then, until the formation of the Republic of China in 1911, Qingyuan was governed by
Guangzhou prefecture (廣州府).
Under the Qing Empire, the area was known as . It was later promoted to prefecture-level city status.
Geography
Qingyuan's administrative area ranges in latitude from 23° 26' 56" to 25° 11' 40" N, and in longitude from 111° 55' 17" to 113° 55' 34" E;
its urban area is located just north of the Tropic of Cancer, about from the urban area of Guangzhou and from both
Hong Kong and
Macau. Its area of over accounts for 10.6% of the total provincial area.
Qingyuan contains part of the southern
Nan Ling, and more than half of the area is mountainous, and elevations increase from southeast to northwest. Bordering prefectures are Guangzhou and Foshan to the southeast, Zhaoqing to the southwest, Shaoguan to the north and northeast,
Hezhou (
Guangxi) to the west, and
Yongzhou and
Chenzhou (
Hunan) to the north.
Qingyuan has a monsoon-influenced humid subtropical climate, with an average annual temperature of , of rainfall, 1662.2 hours of sunshine, and a frost-free period of 314.4 days.
Economy
Qingyuan is a major economic and transportation hub. The Beijing–Guangzhou Railway, National Highways 106 and 107, and the Bei or
Bei River cross through the city. The maritime infrastructure in Qingyuan plays a vital role in transporting goods to other regional centers in Guangdong,
Hong Kong, and
Macao. The major ports are Qingyuan Port,
Yingde Port,
Lianzhou Port and Yangshan Port.
Demographics
According to the 2010 Census, Qingyuan has a population of 3,698,394 inhabitants,
[ Compilation by LianXin website. Data from the Sixth National Population Census of the People's Republic of China ] 550,715 more than in 2000 (an annual growth rate of 1.63%).
Han Chinese comprise over 95% of the entire population, while there are some areas inhabited by the
Zhuang people and Yao minorities.
Notable people
Attractions
Qingyuan's attractions include Niuyuzui, Feilai Temple, Feixia Scenic Spots, Baojing Palace of Yingde, Taihe Ancient Cave of Qingxin, Sankeng Hot Spring in Qingxin County, Huanghua Lake in Fogang, Little Biejiang of Lianyang, Peak Shikengkong in Yangshan County, Underground River of Lianzhou,
Huangteng Gorge, Three Gorges of Huangchuan and Yinzhan Hot Springs.
Administration
The provincial and municipal administration is located in Qingcheng District. It oversees one other district, two county-level cities, four counties, and one economic development district.
|
|
|
| Qingcheng District | 清城区 | Qīngchéng Qū | 811,233 | 927.22 | 875 |
| Qingxin District | 清新区 | Qīngxīn Qū | 698,811 | 2,725.07 | 256 |
| Fogang County | 佛冈县 | Fógāng Xiàn | 302,906 | 1,292.92 | 234 |
| Yangshan County | 阳山县 | Yángshān Xiàn | 356,095 | 3,418.37 | 104 |
Lianshan Zhuang and
Yao Autonomous County | 连山壮族
瑶族自治县 | Liánshān Zhuàngzú
Yáozú Zìzhìxiàn | 90,515 | 1,164.84 | 78 |
Liannan Yao
Autonomous County | 连南瑶族
自治县 | Liánnán Yáozú
Zìzhìxiàn | 129,258 | 1,239.38 | 100 |
| Yingde | 英德市 | Yīngdé Shì | 941,952 | 5,671.02 | 166 |
| Lianzhou | 连州市 | Liánzhōu Shì | 367,642 | 2,664.09 | 138 |
Climate
Transportation
Qingyuan is served by Qingyuan railway station, opened in 2009 on the Wuhan–Guangzhou high-speed railway. It is located some distance east of the city.
The Qingyuan Maglev opened on January 25, 2025.
Notes
Citations
Bibliography
External links
