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 | |
---|---|
Nickname(s): Bazhou | |
Location of Bazhong in Sichuan | |
Coordinates (Bazhong government): 31°52′05″N 106°44′53″E | |
Country | People's Republic of China |
Province | Sichuan |
County-level divisions | 2 districts 3 counties |
Municipal seat | Bazhou District |
Area | |
• Prefecture-level city | 12,301 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 city | 3,283,771 |
• Density | 270/km2 (690/sq mi) |
• Urban | 1,126,790 |
• Urban density | 800/km2 (2,100/sq mi) |
• Metro | 1,126,790 |
• Metro density | 800/km2 (2,100/sq mi) |
Time zone | UTC+8 (China Standard) |
Postal code | 636600 |
Area code(s) | 0827 |
ISO 3166 code | CN-SC-19 |
Licence plate prefixes | 川Y |
Website | cnbz |
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.
Climate data for Bazhong (1981–2010) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °C (°F) | 19.1 (66.4) |
22.6 (72.7) |
30.4 (86.7) |
34.0 (93.2) |
35.8 (96.4) |
37.1 (98.8) |
39.4 (102.9) |
40.6 (105.1) |
38.2 (100.8) |
32.8 (91.0) |
25.9 (78.6) |
17.5 (63.5) |
40.6 (105.1) |
Average high °C (°F) | 9.7 (49.5) |
12.9 (55.2) |
17.9 (64.2) |
23.3 (73.9) |
27.1 (80.8) |
29.3 (84.7) |
32.4 (90.3) |
31.8 (89.2) |
27.7 (81.9) |
21.7 (71.1) |
16.7 (62.1) |
10.6 (51.1) |
21.8 (71.2) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | 5.9 (42.6) |
8.6 (47.5) |
12.5 (54.5) |
17.6 (63.7) |
21.6 (70.9) |
24.5 (76.1) |
27.2 (81.0) |
26.4 (79.5) |
22.8 (73.0) |
17.5 (63.5) |
12.3 (54.1) |
7.0 (44.6) |
17.0 (62.6) |
Average low °C (°F) | 3.2 (37.8) |
5.6 (42.1) |
8.6 (47.5) |
13.2 (55.8) |
17.3 (63.1) |
20.8 (69.4) |
23.3 (73.9) |
22.6 (72.7) |
19.5 (67.1) |
14.8 (58.6) |
9.4 (48.9) |
4.6 (40.3) |
13.6 (56.4) |
Record low °C (°F) | −3.0 (26.6) |
−1.1 (30.0) |
0.3 (32.5) |
3.6 (38.5) |
10.1 (50.2) |
15.1 (59.2) |
18.6 (65.5) |
17.0 (62.6) |
13.3 (55.9) |
7.0 (44.6) |
0.9 (33.6) |
−3.6 (25.5) |
−3.6 (25.5) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 10.8 (0.43) |
16.6 (0.65) |
30.6 (1.20) |
68.1 (2.68) |
124.0 (4.88) |
160.8 (6.33) |
244.8 (9.64) |
170.8 (6.72) |
153.0 (6.02) |
84.9 (3.34) |
38.1 (1.50) |
14.7 (0.58) |
1,117.2 (43.97) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 7.3 | 7.4 | 10.8 | 12.3 | 13.5 | 13.6 | 14.8 | 11.4 | 14.0 | 13.8 | 10.2 | 7.7 | 136.8 |
Average relative humidity (%) | 79 | 76 | 72 | 71 | 71 | 77 | 77 | 76 | 79 | 83 | 82 | 82 | 77 |
Source 1: China Meteorological Data Service Center[2] | |||||||||||||
Source 2: Weather China[1](precipitation days 1971–2000) |
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
- 巴中城市介绍 (in Chinese). Weather China. Retrieved 2011-06-02.
- 中国地面气候标准值月值(1981-2010) (in Chinese). China Meteorological Data Service Center. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
- 2010年巴中市国民经济和社会发展统计公报. chinaacc.com (in Chinese).