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 880,000, with 250,000 residing in the urban area.[1]

Langzhong 阆中市
County-level City
Location of Langzhong City (red) in Nanchong City (yellow) and Sichuan
Langzhong Location of the city centre in Sichuan
Coordinates (Langzhong government): 31°33′29″N 106°00′18″E
Country	People's Republic of China
Province	Sichuan
Provincial city	Langzhong
Administrative divisions of the People's Republic of China	52
Area
• County-level City	1,877 km2 (725 sq mi)
Highest elevation	888 m (2,913 ft)
Lowest elevation	328 m (1,076 ft)
Population
• County-level City	880,000
• Density	470/km2 (1,200/sq mi)
• Urban	250,000
Time zone	UTC+8 (China Standard Time)
Website	www.langzhong.gov.cn

Langzhong is famous for its historic centre, home to 30,000 of its residents.[2][3][4] It is one of the best preserved historic towns of China, dating back to the Tang dynasty.[5] The city was also the seat of the former Anglican Diocese of Szechwan.

History

The site of present-day Langzhong served for a time as the capital of Ba, a native but sinicized 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[6] its 316 BC conquest of Shu and Ba. Under the Han and Tang, it was an important center for astronomical research. Under the Yuan, Ming, and Qing, it was known as Baoning.[lower-alpha 1] 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.[7] Is has also long been an important military town of Sichuan.[8]

Since 1985, the PRC government has awarded Langzhong with various accolades on three separate occasions.[6] In 1986 the State Council named it a famous and historical town. In 1991, it was finally upgraded to county-level city status.

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 328 metres (1,076 ft) to 888 metres (2,913 ft), while rivers flow for 59.4 kilometres (36.9 mi).[6] The area is dominated by low-lying mountains and hills.

Administrative divisions

[9]

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 6.1 °C (43.0 °F) in January to 26.7 °C (80.1 °F) in July. The frost-free period lasts 290 days per year, while annual sunshine amounts to 1,400 hours.[6] Close to two-thirds of the annual rainfall occurs from June to September.

Transport

• China National Highway 212

Notes

References

Sources

•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Baynes, T. S., ed. (1878). "China". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 5 (9th ed.). New York: Charles Scribner's Sons.

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