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Zhuozhou
View on WikipediaZhuozhou (Chinese: 涿州; pinyin: Zhuōzhōu; Wade–Giles: Cho1-chou1) is a county-level city with 628,000 inhabitants in central Hebei province, southwest of Beijing. It is administered by Baoding prefecture-level city. Zhuozhou has 3 subdistricts, 6 towns, 5 townships, and 1 development zone.[2]
Key Information
History
[edit]Zhuozhou was the birthplace of Bai Guang in 1921.
In 1928, the city was the site of a fierce battle between the forces of Fengtien clique warlord Chang Tso-lin and those of the Kuomintang's National Revolutionary Army, with the city falling to the Fengtien after eighty-six days of heavy bombardment.
In September 1937, General Count Hisaichi Terauchi, commander-in-chief of the North China Area Army, sent a column of mechanised infantry supported by cavalry to cut the Jinghan railway at Zhuozhou. The area was lightly defended by provincial troops without proper artillery or planes, as the Chinese strategy at the time rested on defending Paoting with better-equipped central government soldiers.[3]
Administrative divisions
[edit]Subdistricts:[2]
- Shuangta Subdistrict (双塔街道), Taoyuan Subdistrict (桃园街道), Qingliangsi Subdistrict (清凉寺街道)
Towns:[2]
- Songlindian (松林店镇), Matou (码头镇), Dongchengfang (东城坊镇), Gaoguanzhuang (高官庄镇), Dongxianpo (东仙坡镇), Baichigan (百尺竿镇)
Townships:[2]
- Yihezhuang Township (义和庄乡), Lintun Township (林屯乡), Sunzhuang Township (孙庄乡), Douzhuang Township (豆庄乡), Diaowo Township (刁窝乡)
Climate
[edit]Zhuozhou is at a high risk of floods. It was heavily impacted by the 2023 China floods, and more than a sixth of the city's 600,000 residents had to evacuate. [4]
Zhuozhou has been described by Hebei communist party secretary Ni Yuefeng as being able to "serve as a moat for the capital" using flood storage and detention areas in the aftermath of flooding in Beijing as a result of Typhoon Doksuri.[5]
| Climate data for Zhuozhou, elevation 29 m (95 ft), (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1981–2025) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 14.3 (57.7) |
17.0 (62.6) |
30.3 (86.5) |
31.5 (88.7) |
37.5 (99.5) |
40.4 (104.7) |
40.4 (104.7) |
36.2 (97.2) |
34.3 (93.7) |
30.8 (87.4) |
22.3 (72.1) |
14.8 (58.6) |
40.4 (104.7) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 2.0 (35.6) |
6.0 (42.8) |
13.8 (56.8) |
21.1 (70.0) |
27.3 (81.1) |
31.0 (87.8) |
31.9 (89.4) |
30.4 (86.7) |
26.5 (79.7) |
19.4 (66.9) |
10.3 (50.5) |
3.4 (38.1) |
18.6 (65.5) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −4.5 (23.9) |
−0.5 (31.1) |
7.3 (45.1) |
14.8 (58.6) |
21.0 (69.8) |
25.1 (77.2) |
26.9 (80.4) |
25.5 (77.9) |
20.4 (68.7) |
12.7 (54.9) |
4.1 (39.4) |
−2.7 (27.1) |
12.5 (54.5) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −9.5 (14.9) |
−5.7 (21.7) |
1.3 (34.3) |
8.3 (46.9) |
14.5 (58.1) |
19.5 (67.1) |
22.4 (72.3) |
21.2 (70.2) |
15.4 (59.7) |
7.4 (45.3) |
−0.7 (30.7) |
−7.2 (19.0) |
7.2 (45.0) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −22.0 (−7.6) |
−17.0 (1.4) |
−8.6 (16.5) |
−1.8 (28.8) |
6.1 (43.0) |
12.1 (53.8) |
15.7 (60.3) |
12.4 (54.3) |
5.8 (42.4) |
−5.0 (23.0) |
−9.8 (14.4) |
−20.0 (−4.0) |
−22.0 (−7.6) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 2.3 (0.09) |
5.3 (0.21) |
7.8 (0.31) |
25.2 (0.99) |
36.5 (1.44) |
78.3 (3.08) |
173.4 (6.83) |
110.3 (4.34) |
50.7 (2.00) |
30.3 (1.19) |
12.7 (0.50) |
2.4 (0.09) |
535.2 (21.07) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 1.8 | 2.2 | 2.7 | 4.9 | 6.2 | 9.4 | 12.3 | 10.8 | 7.5 | 5.1 | 3.0 | 1.5 | 67.4 |
| Average snowy days | 3.1 | 2.1 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.5 | 2.5 | 10.3 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 53 | 48 | 45 | 48 | 54 | 62 | 75 | 78 | 73 | 68 | 64 | 57 | 60 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 181.1 | 184.6 | 236.2 | 251.9 | 274.0 | 231.8 | 203.0 | 212.4 | 210.3 | 195.6 | 166.4 | 168.0 | 2,515.3 |
| Percentage possible sunshine | 60 | 61 | 63 | 63 | 62 | 52 | 45 | 51 | 57 | 57 | 56 | 58 | 57 |
| Source: China Meteorological Administration[6][7] | |||||||||||||
Transportation
[edit]Railroads
[edit]- Beijing–Guangzhou Railway: Zhuozhou Railway Station
- Beijing–Shijiazhuang High-Speed Railway: Zhuozhou East Railway Station
Highways
[edit]Places of interest
[edit]- Zhidu Temple Pagoda: A pagoda built in the Liao Dynasty.
References
[edit]- ^ a b Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, ed. (2019). China Urban Construction Statistical Yearbook 2017. Beijing: China Statistics Press. p. 46. Archived from the original on 18 June 2019. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
- ^ a b c d 2011年统计用区划代码和城乡划分代码:涿州市 (in Chinese). National Bureau of Statistics of the People's Republic of China. Retrieved 2012-07-21.
- ^ "WAR IN CHINA: Fall of Chochow". Time. 1937-09-27. Retrieved 2024-11-09.
- ^ Wang, Tingshu; Arslan, Josh (7 August 2023). "As floodwaters recede, Chinese city faces 'bitter' days ahead". Reuters. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
- ^ Hawkins, Amy (2023-08-04). "Anger in China over plan to use cities as 'moat' to save Beijing from floods". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-08-04.
- ^ 中国气象数据网 – WeatherBk Data (in Simplified Chinese). China Meteorological Administration. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
- ^ 中国气象数据网 (in Simplified Chinese). China Meteorological Administration. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
External links
[edit]Zhuozhou
View on GrokipediaZhuozhou (Chinese: 涿州; pinyin: Zhuōzhōu) is a county-level city administered by Baoding in Hebei Province, People's Republic of China.[1] Situated approximately 45 kilometers southwest of Beijing in the North China Plain, it spans 751 square kilometers with a population of around 700,000.[1][2] Established from a county in 1986, Zhuozhou boasts a history of over 2,300 years and was dubbed the "Best Prefecture Under Heaven" by Qing Emperor Qianlong for its prosperity and strategic location.[3][4] As a hub in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei coordinated development region and a radiation center for the Xiong'an New Area, the city features an economy focused on printing, publishing, dyeing industries, and emerging tourism, though it remains vulnerable to seasonal flooding in the plain.[1][5][6]
Geography
Location and Administrative Status
Zhuozhou is a county-level city under the administration of Baoding, a prefecture-level city in Hebei province, People's Republic of China.[7][8] It lies in central Hebei, bordering Beijing municipality to the north.[9][10] The city is positioned approximately 60 kilometers southwest of central Beijing, within the North China Plain.[10] Its geographic coordinates are roughly 39.48°N latitude and 115.97°E longitude.[9] As a county-level administrative division, Zhuozhou functions with municipal governance while remaining subordinate to Baoding for higher-level policy and oversight.[7] In the hierarchical structure of Chinese administration, Zhuozhou reports to Baoding, which in turn falls under Hebei provincial government.[8] This status has been consistent since its designation as a county-level city, enabling local autonomy in economic and urban planning matters within provincial frameworks.[9] The 2010 national census recorded a population of 577,978, which grew to approximately 628,000 by 2018.[10]Terrain and Hydrology
Zhuozhou occupies a transitional zone between the Taihang Mountains to the west and the Yanshan Mountains to the north, with its terrain characterized by alluvial plains that slope gently from northwest to southeast, facilitating drainage toward the Hai River basin.[11] The northwestern areas feature higher elevations and mountainous foothills, while the central and southeastern regions form low-lying plains prone to water accumulation during heavy rainfall due to the flat topography and sediment deposition from upstream rivers.[12] Hydrologically, Zhuozhou is intersected by six principal rivers belonging to the Hai River system's Daqing River subsystem and the Yongding River system: the Juma River (拒马河), Yongding River (永定河), Bai Gou River (白沟河), Xiao Qing River (小清河), Liuli River (琉璃河), and Huliang River (胡良河).[13] These waterways converge in the southeastern parts of the city, forming a dense network that exacerbates flooding risks, as evidenced by the 2023 deluge where peak discharges overwhelmed local channels, with flows in some segments reaching equivalents of major river capacities elsewhere in China.[14] The rivers originate from mountainous catchments upstream, carrying sediment and runoff that deposit on the plains, contributing to both fertile soils and vulnerability to inundation in low-gradient areas.[15]Climate
Zhuozhou has a monsoon-influenced hot-summer humid continental climate under the Köppen classification (Dwa), marked by cold, dry winters influenced by Siberian air masses and hot, humid summers driven by the East Asian monsoon.[16] The annual mean temperature averages approximately 13–15 °C, with extreme seasonal variation exceeding 30 °C between winter and summer months.[17] Winters from December to February feature frequent subzero nighttime lows, low humidity, and limited precipitation, primarily as snow or sleet, while spring transitions rapidly to warmer conditions with rising dust storms from the northwest. Summers from June to August bring peak heat, high humidity levels often above 70%, and the bulk of rainfall, supporting local agriculture but increasing vulnerability to convective storms and flooding.[17] The table below summarizes monthly average high and low temperatures based on historical data:| Month | Average High (°C) | Average Low (°C) |
|---|---|---|
| January | 2 | -7 |
| February | 6 | -4 |
| March | 14 | 3 |
| April | 22 | 9 |
| May | 29 | 15 |
| June | 33 | 21 |
| July | 33 | 23 |
| August | 31 | 21 |
| September | 27 | 16 |
| October | 20 | 10 |
| November | 11 | 2 |
| December | 3 | -5 |
History
Pre-Imperial and Imperial Eras
The territory encompassing modern Zhuozhou formed part of the state of Yan during the Warring States period (c. 475–221 BCE), a northeastern polity centered around present-day Beijing that engaged in territorial expansions and defensive wars against neighboring states like Qi and Zhao.[21] Archaeological evidence from the broader Yan region indicates bronze production, walled settlements, and agricultural advancements, though specific pre-Qin sites in Zhuozhou remain undocumented in major excavations. Following Qin's unification of China in 221 BCE, the area fell under centralized imperial control, with early administrative divisions likely mirroring Warring States boundaries. Under the Han dynasty, Emperor Gaozu (r. 202–195 BCE) formalized the region as Zhuo Commandery (涿郡), an administrative unit in the northern frontier province of Youzhou, tasked with border defense against nomadic incursions. The commandery included counties such as Zhuoxian, where a late Eastern Han census tallied substantial populations supporting grain taxation and military levies. Zhuo Commandery gained prominence as the birthplace of Liu Bei (161–223 CE) in Zhuoxian County, a Han imperial clansman who rose as a warlord, briefly restoring Han legitimacy through the Shu Han regime amid the Three Kingdoms fragmentation (220–280 CE).[22] Subsequent dynasties maintained the area's strategic role near the Central Plains' northern edge. During the Northern Wei (386–535 CE) and Sui (581–618 CE), it operated under variants like Beomyang Commandery, facilitating irrigation and transport along the Yongding River. The Tang dynasty (618–907 CE) reorganized it as Zhuo Prefecture (涿州) in 769 CE, emphasizing agricultural reclamation amid An Lushan Rebellion aftermath. This prefecture was among the Sixteen Prefectures ceded to the Khitan Liao dynasty in 938 CE via the Treaty of Gaoliang River, shifting control to non-Han rule until Song reconquest efforts. Zhuozhou's imperial significance peaked with native son Zhao Kuangyin (927–976 CE), born locally, who as a Zhou general seized power in the 960 CE Chenqiao Coup, proclaiming himself Emperor Taizu and founding the Song dynasty (960–1279 CE), thereby ending the Five Dynasties turmoil. Under Song, Yuan (1271–1368 CE), Ming (1368–1644 CE), and Qing (1644–1912 CE), the prefecture endured as a Hebei hub for grain tribute, flood control, and military garrisons, with Ming-era walls and Qing hydraulic projects underscoring its resilience against Yellow River shifts, though prone to inundations documented in local gazetteers.[23]Republican and Early PRC Periods
During the Republican era (1912–1949), Zhuozhou functioned primarily as an agricultural county within Hebei province, amid the political fragmentation and military strife that characterized much of northern China following the Xinhai Revolution. The province oscillated under control of competing warlord cliques, including the Zhili and Fengtian factions, which vied for dominance through intermittent conflicts that disrupted local economies reliant on grain production and trade.[24] Hebei's proximity to Beijing positioned it as a strategic zone in these power struggles, with Zhuozhou's rural populace bearing the burdens of conscription, taxation, and banditry prevalent in the warlord period.[25] The Kuomintang's Northern Expedition (1926–1928) extended central authority northward, engaging warlord armies in battles across Hebei, though nominal unification under Nanjing's government proved fragile.[26] Japanese aggression escalated with the Second Sino-Japanese War, as Imperial forces seized Beijing and surrounding areas after the Marco Polo Bridge Incident on July 7, 1937, placing Zhuozhou under occupation until Japan's surrender in 1945.[27] Local communities endured resource extraction, forced labor, and sporadic resistance by guerrilla units affiliated with both Nationalist and Communist forces, contributing to economic stagnation and population displacement in the region. The ensuing Chinese Civil War (1945–1949) saw People's Liberation Army advances capture north China, with Zhuozhou falling under Communist control during the Pingjin Campaign in early 1949 and formally incorporated into the People's Republic upon its founding on October 1, 1949, following the rapid fall of nearby urban centers.[28] In the early People's Republic (1949–1978), Zhuozhou implemented nationwide campaigns to restructure agrarian society. The Agrarian Reform Law of June 1950 initiated land redistribution, confiscating holdings from an estimated 10–15% of rural households classified as landlords and allocating plots to over 300 million peasants across China, including Hebei's farming districts like Zhuozhou, to dismantle feudal tenures and boost productivity.[29] Collectivization accelerated in 1953–1956 through mutual-aid teams and cooperatives, culminating in the Great Leap Forward (1958–1962), where people's communes amalgamated households into collective units for intensified agricultural and backyard industrial output; this policy, enforced rigidly despite local ecological limits in Hebei's plains, precipitated severe famine with national death tolls estimated at 15–55 million from starvation and related causes.[30] The Cultural Revolution (1966–1976) further destabilized the area via mass mobilizations, factional violence, and purges targeting perceived class enemies and bureaucratic elements, halting development and eroding traditional social structures until Mao Zedong's death in 1976.Post-Reform Era
Following the launch of China's economic reforms in 1978, Zhuozhou underwent gradual shifts from collective farming to the household responsibility system, which allocated land to individual families and incentivized output, contributing to increased agricultural yields across Hebei Province.[31] This transition aligned with broader rural reforms in the region, where agriculture remained a foundational sector, supporting local food production and rural livelihoods amid initial decollectivization efforts.[32] By the 2010s, Zhuozhou's proximity to Beijing—approximately 60 kilometers southwest—positioned it within the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (Jing-Jin-Ji) coordinated development strategy, formalized in 2014 to relieve Beijing's non-capital functions through infrastructure integration and economic spillover.[33] Key advancements included the completion of a 940-kilometer regional highway network encircling Beijing, enhancing logistics and trade links, and the introduction of high-speed rail service between Beijing and Zhuozhou in July 2022, reducing commute times to under one hour and facilitating cross-regional labor mobility.[34][35] These measures aimed to foster commerce and industry in Zhuozhou, leveraging its location for spillover industries while addressing Beijing's overcrowding, though local economic gains were uneven due to Hebei's historical emphasis on heavy industry over diversified growth.[36] A pivotal event occurred in late July 2023, when remnants of Typhoon Doksuri brought extreme rainfall exceeding 500 millimeters in parts of northern China, prompting authorities to release water from upstream reservoirs on the Yongding River to safeguard Beijing.[37] This deliberate diversion submerged large areas of Zhuozhou, the hardest-hit locality in Hebei, affecting over 130,000 residents across 146 villages and communities, with floodwaters reaching depths of several meters and displacing approximately 600,000 people citywide.[38] Official reports recorded nine deaths and six missing in the region, alongside widespread destruction of homes, farmland, and infrastructure, exacerbating vulnerabilities in flood-prone low-lying areas engineered for water regulation to protect the capital.[39] Recovery efforts highlighted tensions in regional resource prioritization, with residents facing prolonged displacement and economic disruption despite central government aid.[40][41]Demographics
Population Trends
According to China's Sixth National Population Census conducted on November 1, 2010, Zhuozhou's constant population (常住人口) stood at 603,535 residents.[42] This figure encompassed individuals residing in the county-level city for at least six months, reflecting both local hukou holders and migrants. The census highlighted a population density of approximately 806 persons per square kilometer across Zhuozhou's 748.8 square kilometers. The Seventh National Population Census, taken on November 1, 2020, reported a constant population of 667,678, marking a decadal increase of 64,143 people or 10.63%.[43][44] This growth translated to an average annual rate of 1.0%, surpassing the national average of 0.53% for the same period and indicating sustained demographic expansion driven by Zhuozhou's strategic location adjacent to Beijing. The 2020 data also showed 23.9 million family households citywide with an average household size of 2.63 persons, underscoring a shift toward smaller family units amid urbanization.[43] Urbanization contributed significantly to these trends, with the proportion of urban residents rising as rural-to-urban migration accelerated, fueled by industrial development and proximity to the capital's labor market.[44] Registered (hukou) population figures, which stood at 701,490 in 2018 and 704,000 in 2019, exceeded constant population counts in some years, highlighting a floating population dynamic where many residents maintained hukou elsewhere while living and working in Zhuozhou.[2] Post-2020 estimates suggest moderated growth amid China's broader fertility decline and policy shifts like the relaxation of hukou restrictions, though specific annual data remains limited outside official channels.[2]| Census Year | Constant Population | Decadal Growth (%) | Average Annual Growth (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 603,535 | - | - |
| 2020 | 667,678 | 10.63 | 1.0 |