Bazhong

Bazhong (Chinese: 巴中; pinyin: Bāzhōng; lit.: 'centre of Ba') is a prefecture-level city in north-eastern Sichuan province, China. Its population was 3,284,000 at the 2013 census. 1,126,790 lived in the Bazhou urban district, or metro area.

Bazhong

巴中市

Pachung
Prefecture-level city
Nickname(s): 
Bazhou
Location of Bazhong in Sichuan
Coordinates (Bazhong government): 31°52′05″N 106°44′53″E
CountryPeople's Republic of China
ProvinceSichuan
County-level divisions2 districts
3 counties
Municipal seatBazhou District
Area
 • Prefecture-level city12,301 km2 (4,749 sq mi)
 • Urban
1,404 km2 (542 sq mi)
 • Metro
1,404 km2 (542 sq mi)
Elevation
392 m (1,286 ft)
Highest elevation
2,507 m (8,225 ft)
Lowest elevation
208.3 m (683.4 ft)
Population
 (2010 census)
 • Prefecture-level city3,283,771
 • Density270/km2 (690/sq mi)
 • Urban
1,126,790
 • Urban density800/km2 (2,100/sq mi)
 • Metro
1,126,790
 • Metro density800/km2 (2,100/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+8 (China Standard)
Postal code
636600
Area code(s)0827
ISO 3166 codeCN-SC-19
Licence plate prefixes川Y
Websitecnbz.gov.cn

History

Bazhong became a prefecture-level city in 1993. Its history goes back further; during the Xia and Shang dynasties, it was purportedly a vassal territory of Liang State. In the Spring and Autumn period, it was called Bazi (巴子). In the Qin and Western Han dynasties it was called Ba County (巴郡). In the Eastern Han Dynasty, around the year 100 CE, this was changed to Hanchang County (漢昌縣). One hundred years later it reverted to Baxi County (巴西). Since then it has usually either been called Liang County (梁郡) or Yi County (益州).

Geography and climate

Bazhong is located at the southern end of the Daba Mountains, and borders Shaanxi province to the north, Dazhou to the east, Nanchong to the south, and Guangyuan to the west. Its area is 12,301 square kilometres (4,749 sq mi), which is mountainous with elevations up to 208.3 to 2,507 metres (683 to 8,225 ft) above sea level.[1]

Bazhong has a monsoon-influenced humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cwa) which is largely mild and humid, with four distinct seasons. Winter is short, mild, and foggy, though actual precipitation is low. January averages 5.8 °C (42.4 °F), and while frost may occur, snow is rare. Summers are long, hot and humid, with temperatures often reaching 33 °C (91 °F). The daily average in July and August is around 27 °C (81 °F), with August being slightly warmer. Spring is warm and temperatures rise quickly but unstably, and hail is common. Rainfall is light in winter and can be heavy in summer, and more than 70% of the annual total occurs between May and September. The annual frost-free period lasts between 260 and 280 days.

Administration

Bazhong has 2 cities, 3 counties, 188 township, and 2,354 villages. The population was 3,284,000 in 2013, with 1,127,000 of that urban.

Map
Name Hanzi Hanyu Pinyin Population (2010) Area (km²) Density (/km²)
Bazhou District 巴州区 Bāzhōu Qū 1,126,790 1,404 802
Enyang District 恩阳区 ēnyáng Qū 620,000(2013 est.) 1,156 536
Tongjiang County 通江县 Tōngjiāng Xiàn 687,369 4,116 167
Nanjiang County 南江县 Nánjiāng Xiàn 606,992 3,383 179
Pingchang County 平昌县 Píngchāng Xiàn 862,620 2,229 387

Economy

The city's GDP accounts for approximately 1.9% of Sichuan's total GDP and ranks nineteenth in the province.[3] In 2017, Bazhong's GDP reached RMB 60.1 billion, representing a rise of 8.1%.

References
  1. 巴中城市介绍 (in Chinese). Weather China. Retrieved 2011-06-02.
  2. 中国地面气候标准值月值(1981-2010) (in Chinese). China Meteorological Data Service Center. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
  3. 2010年巴中市国民经济和社会发展统计公报. chinaacc.com (in Chinese).
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