Wuzhong (吴忠)

1. Introduction

Wuzhong City is a prefecture-level city under the jurisdiction of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China. It is located in the central part of Ningxia, on the eastern bank of the Yellow River. The city borders Yulin City in Shaanxi Province to the east, Qingyang City in Gansu Province to the south, Zhongwei City to the west, the Alxa League of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region to the northwest, and Yinchuan City to the north. Situated at the junction of the Yinchuan Plain, the Ordos Plateau, and the Loess Plateau, the terrain is higher in the south and lower in the north. The northwestern part is an alluvial plain of the Yellow River, representing the prime section of the Yellow River irrigation area, with the Niushou Mountain stretching across it. The central part features the Luo Mountain, while the northeastern part lies on the edge of the Mu Us Desert. The southern region consists of mountainous and hilly gully areas of the Loess Plateau. The Yellow River flows through the northwest, with the Kushui River in the north and the Qingshui River in the south. The Hui ethnic population accounts for over half of the city's total population, making it one of the major Hui residential areas in China. The municipal government is located in Litong District. Wuzhong boasts a well-developed agriculture and animal husbandry sector, serving as a primary grain-producing area in the autonomous region and renowned for its Tan sheep. It is often praised as the "Jiangnan Beyond the Great Wall" and the "Pearl Beyond the Great Wall."

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2. History

Wuzhong boasts a long history, being one of the birthplaces of Chinese civilization and an important component of the Hetao culture. Excavations at the Shuidonggou Site in Lingwu along the Yellow River indicate that as early as the Paleolithic Age 30,000 years ago, humans were already inhabiting this area. Ancient nomadic peoples such as the Qiang, Rong, and Xiongnu once roamed these lands.

In the 33rd year of Emperor Qin Shi Huang's reign (214 BCE), thirty-four counties were established along the Yellow River, among which the ancient site of Fuping County is located southwest of present-day Wuzhong City. In the fourth year of Emperor Hui of the Western Han Dynasty (191 BCE), Lingzhou County was established, with its ancient site located within the old city of present-day Wuzhong. During the Northern Wei Dynasty, Lingzhou was established, and it was also known as Lingwu during the Sui and Tang dynasties. Emperor Taizong of Tang once personally visited this area to accept the submission of foreign tribes. During the An Lushan Rebellion, Emperor Suzong of Tang, Li Heng, ascended the throne in Lingzhou, making it the national political and military center. At that time, Wuzhong was already quite prosperous. The heartland ruled by the Tangut leader and Emperor of the Western Xia, Li Yuanhao, was also in the area of present-day Wuzhong. After the Mongols conquered the Western Xia, they renamed the former Western Xia capital as Zhongxing Prefecture and changed it to Ningxia Circuit. In the 24th year of the Zhiyuan era (1287), the Ningxia Province was merged into Gansu Province.

During the Ming Dynasty, the area was part of the frontier defenses, and Wuzhong Fort was established under the jurisdiction of the Lingzhou Garrison Qianhu Office. The Jiajing Ningxia New Gazetteer records: "All the people of Ningxia were relocated to other places, and people from Qin, Jin, Jiang, and Huai were moved to populate the area. They were divided into garrisons, established as guards, and built forts to reside in." Citing the Ningxia Old Gazetteer, it states: "Ningxia forts and stockades were named after people, events, or places... They were named after the garrison commanders, such as Yesheng, Lijun, Wangtai, and the like." Therefore, it is believed that Wuzhong Fort was named after the garrison commander Wu Zhong.

In 1929, Ningxia Province was established. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, the Hedong Hui Autonomous Region was established in April 1954. In July of the same year, Ningxia Province was abolished and placed under the jurisdiction of Gansu Province. In 1955, it was renamed the Wuzhong Hui Autonomous Prefecture, administering five counties: Wuzhong County, Jinji County, Lingwu County, Yanchi County, and Tongxin County. In 1958, the prefecture was abolished and incorporated into the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. In 1972, the Yinnan Regional Administrative Office of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region was established. In May 1998, the Yinnan Regional Administrative Office was abolished, and the prefecture-level Wuzhong City was established. Lingwu City was once administered by Wuzhong City. In December 2001, Lingwu City was officially transferred to Yinchuan City.

3. Geography

Wuzhong City is located in the central part of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. It borders Zhongwei to the south, Yinchuan to the north, Dingbian County of Shaanxi Province to the east, the Ih Ju League and Alxa Left Banner of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region to the northeast and northwest respectively, and the Qingyang region of Gansu Province to the southeast. The city stretches longer from east to west than from north to south. Its terrain is higher in the south and lower in the north, with the Yinchuan Plain in the north and the Qingtongxia Plain along with hilly and mountainous areas in the south. The plains have an elevation of 1,100 meters, while the mountainous areas range from 1,300 to 1,900 meters.

The Yellow River is the most important river in Wuzhong, flowing through the plain areas of two cities (districts). The land along its banks is relatively flat. Major irrigation canals such as the Qin Canal, Han Canal, and Tanglai Canal, first excavated since the Qin and Han dynasties, have a history of over 2,000 years. This area features fertile land, a crisscross network of canals and ditches, and forest belts, making it free from worries of drought and flood. With its developed agriculture, it has long been praised as the "Land of Plenty North of the Great Wall." It abounds in wheat, rice, melons, fruits, and vegetables, and is a major commercial grain production base in Ningxia. The loess plateau in the south is suitable for forestry and animal husbandry, serving as an important production area for Ningxia's Tan sheep and sand-fur goats. The main mountain ranges include Luoshan Mountain and Niushou Mountain, with Luoshan Mountain being one of the three major natural forest areas in Ningxia.

Located in the inland northwest, Wuzhong City falls within the mid-temperate arid and semi-arid climate zone. It experiences four distinct seasons, with a dry climate, intense evaporation, concentrated precipitation, good atmospheric transparency, few clouds, ample sunshine, abundant heat, significant temperature variations, a short frost-free period, and frequent wind and sand. The multi-year average temperature is 9.3°C. The average annual precipitation historically ranges from 184.6 to 273.5 mm, with an average of 46.5 rainy days per year. Rainfall is concentrated between July and August each year. The total annual solar radiation is approximately 148.1 kcal/cm².

Average Meteorological Data for Wuzhong City (1981-2010)

| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year | |-----------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|----------|----------|----------|----------| | Avg high °C (°F) | 0.8 (33.4) | 5.2 (41.4) | 11.9 (53.4) | 19.9 (67.8) | 25.0 (77.0) | 28.7 (83.7) | 30.4 (86.7) | 28.5 (83.3) | 23.9 (75.0) | 17.6 (63.7) | 8.9 (48.0) | 2.1 (35.8) | 16.9 (62.4) | | Daily mean °C (°F) | -6.1 (21.0) | -2.1 (28.2) | 4.5 (40.1) | 12.2 (54.0) | 17.9 (64.2) | 22.0 (71.6) | 24.0 (75.2) | 22.0 (72.0) | 16.9 (62.4) | 10.1 (50.2) | 2.4 (36.3) | -4.2 (24.4) | 10.0 (50.0) | | Avg low °C (°F) | -11.4 (11.5) | -7.7 (18.1) | -1.3 (29.7) | 5.4 (41.7) | 11.2 (52.2) | 15.8 (60.4) | 18.4 (65.1) | 16.7 (62.1) | 11.4 (52.5) | 4.7 (40.5) | -2.2 (28.0) | -8.8 (16.2) | 4.3 (39.8) | | Avg precipitation mm (inches) | 1.2 (0.05) | 1.9 (0.07) | 5.4 (0.21) | 11.3 (0.44) | 20.0 (0.79) | 24.6 (0.97) | 37.2 (1.46) | 41.8 (1.65) | 24.2 (0.95) | 12.4 (0.49) | 2.7 (0.11) | 0.6 (0.02) | 183.3 (7.21) | | Avg relative humidity % | 49 | 45 | 44 | 40 | 47 | 54 | 61 | 66 | 65 | 59 | 57 | 52 | 53 |

4. Administrative Divisions

Wuzhong City currently administers 2 municipal districts and 2 counties, and also governs 1 county-level city on behalf of the province.

• Municipal Districts: Litong District, Hongsibao District
• County-level City: Qingtongxia City
• Counties: Yanchi County, Tongxin County

Additionally, Wuzhong City has established the Taiyangshan Immigrant Development Zone.

| Division Code | Division Name | Chinese Pinyin | Area (sq km) | Resident Population (2020 Census) | Government Seat | Postal Code | Subdistricts | Towns | Townships | |-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|------------------|--------------------------------------|---------------------|-----------------|------------------|-----------|---------------| | 640300 | Wuzhong City | Wúzhōng Shì | 16,757.59 | 1,382,713 | Litong District | 751100 | 3 | 29 | 15 | | 640302 | Litong District | Lìtōng Qū | 1,106.67 | 460,790 | Shengli Town | 751100 | | 8 | 4 | | 640303 | Hongsibao District | Hóngsìbǎo Qū | 2,756.22 | 197,604 | Xinmin Subdistrict | 751100 | 1 | 2 | 3 | | 640323 | Yanchi County | Yánchí Xiàn | 6,553.79 | 159,209 | Yanzhou Road Subdistrict | 751500 | 1 | 4 | 4 | | 640324 | Tongxin County | Tóngxīn Xiàn | 4,433.34 | 320,801 | Yuhai Town | 751300 | | 7 | 4 | | 640381 | Qingtongxia City | Qīngtóngxiá Shì | 1,907.57 | 244,309 | Yumin Subdistrict | 751600 | 1 | 8 | |

5. Economy

Currently, Wuzhong boasts eight advantageous industries: energy and power industry, new materials industry, dairy industry, wine industry, building materials industry, papermaking industry, fur and cashmere industry, and forage and livestock industry.

• Energy and Power Industry: The total installed capacity of the city's energy and power industry currently reaches 1.55 million KW, and is projected to reach 3.5 million KW by 2008.
• New Materials Industry (Aluminum, Magnesium, PVC, etc.): The production capacity currently stands at 280,000 tons of electrolytic aluminum, 25,000 tons of metallic magnesium, and 100,000 tons of PVC resin, with a projected threefold increase by 2008.
• Dairy Industry: There are 15 dairy product processing enterprises, whose production capacity accounts for over half of Ningxia's total. The output value of the dairy industry is expected to exceed 6 billion yuan by 2008.
• Wine Industry: Currently, wine production accounts for 50% of the region's total. The output value of the wine industry is projected to surpass 2 billion yuan by 2008.
• Building Materials Industry: Cement production in the building materials industry currently reaches 3.5 million tons, and the city's cement production capacity is expected to reach 6.6 million tons by 2008.
• Papermaking Industry: Wuzhong has established several papermaking enterprises of considerable scale, such as Yuhua Paper, Xiaguang Paper, and Wuzhong Paper Mill. By 2008, the regional papermaking capacity is expected to reach 280,000 tons, with an output value of 1.1 billion yuan.
• Fur and Cashmere Industry: Currently, the production of dehaired cashmere accounts for 60% of the region's total. By 2008, the annual production capacity of dehaired cashmere, with Tongxin County as a key area, is projected to reach 3,000 tons.
• Forage and Livestock Industry: By 2008, the high-quality forage planting area for the sheep and livestock industry, focusing on Yanchi, Tongxin, and Hongsibao, is expected to reach 4 million mu, with sheep and goat numbers reaching 6 million, beef cattle reaching 200,000, and the output value of the forage and livestock industry achieving 1 billion yuan.

6. Transportation

• National Highways 211, 338, and 344 pass through the area.
• Yinchuan–Xi'an High-Speed Railway, Yinchuan–Lanzhou High-Speed Railway

7. Education

• Ningxia Vocational and Technical College for Nationalities

8. Population

At the end of 2022, the city's permanent resident population was 1.3991 million, an increase of 7,100 people compared to the end of the previous year. Among them, the urban permanent resident population was 797,800.

According to the Seventh National Population Census in 2020, the city's permanent resident population was 1,382,713. Compared with the 1,273,792 people from the Sixth National Population Census, there was an increase of 108,921 people over the ten-year period, representing a growth of 8.55% and an average annual growth rate of 0.82%. Among them, the male population was 702,838, accounting for 50.83% of the total population; the female population was 679,875, accounting for 49.17% of the total population. The overall sex ratio (with females as 100) was 103.38. The population aged 0–14 was 317,406, accounting for 22.96% of the total population; the population aged 15–59 was 887,886, accounting for 64.21% of the total population; the population aged 60 and above was 177,421, accounting for 12.83% of the total population, of which those aged 65 and above numbered 127,259, accounting for 9.2% of the total population. The urban population was 771,119, accounting for 55.77% of the total population; the rural population was 611,594, accounting for 44.23% of the total population.

8.1 Ethnic Groups

Among the city's permanent resident population, the Han ethnic group numbered 618,594, accounting for 44.74%; the Hui ethnic group numbered 755,108, accounting for 54.61%; and other ethnic minorities numbered 9,011, accounting for 0.65%. Compared with the Sixth National Population Census in 2010, the Han population increased by 6,602, a growth of 1.08%, but its share of the total population decreased by 3.31 percentage points. The population of ethnic minorities increased by 102,319, a growth of 15.46%, and their share of the total population increased by 3.31 percentage points. Among them, the Hui population increased by 96,642, a growth of 14.68%, and its share of the total population increased by 2.92 percentage points.

9. Religion

In the urban area of Wuzhong, Ningxia, one can see mosques with unique and diverse architectural styles everywhere. Some are grand and imposing, while others are exquisite and delicate. Wuzhong is one of the main settlements for the Hui ethnic group in Ningxia, with a current Hui population of 580,000, accounting for approximately 47.2% of the city's total population. Mosques serve as the primary venues for worship and public activities among the Hui people, holding significant importance in the hearts of the Muslim community. The most famous mosques in the urban area are the South Grand Mosque, North Grand Mosque, and Central Grand Mosque. These structures feature both the vibrant and distinctive Arabic style and the solemn, classical, and symmetrical characteristics of traditional Chinese architecture. All of them face east and typically consist of a prayer hall, ablution rooms, and a minaret. The mosques offer a tranquil and elegant environment, with spacious and bright prayer halls that exude a solemn atmosphere. Tucked away in corners of the city and nestled among high-rise buildings, these mosques have become the most distinctive architectural landmarks in Wuzhong, attracting countless visitors.

At the same time, Wuzhong is also home to two famous Buddhist temples—Xingjiao Temple and Dongta Temple—as well as the Niushou Mountain Taoist temple complex.

9.1 Islam

• Small North Mosque
• Central Mosque
• South Grand Mosque

9.2 Buddhism

• Xingjiao Temple
• Dongta Temple
• Shifo Temple

9.3 Taoism

• Niushou Mountain

9.4 Catholicism

10. Culture

• Muslim Culture

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Litong District

Litong District

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