1. Introduction

Ankang City, historically known as Xicheng, Jinzhou, and Xing'an, is a prefecture-level city under the jurisdiction of Shaanxi Province, People's Republic of China. It is located in the southern part of Shaanxi Province, at the junction of four provinces and municipalities: Shaanxi, Sichuan, Chongqing, and Hubei. The city borders Shangluo City and Xi'an City to the north, Hanzhong City to the west, Chongqing Municipality and Dazhou City of Sichuan Province to the south, and Shiyan City of Hubei Province to the east. Situated in the transition zone between the Daba Mountains and the Qinling Mountains, the area features river valley basins in the middle, with the main ridge of the Qinling Mountains to the north and the foothills of the Daba Mountains to the south. The Han River flows from west to east across the city, with tributaries such as the Xun River, Yue River, Ba River, and Lan River. The city covers a total area of 23,536 square kilometers and has a population of 2.65 million. The municipal people's government is located in Hanbin District. On July 31, 1983, a catastrophic flood occurred in the Han River basin in Ankang, resulting in 870 fatalities and economic losses of approximately 410 million yuan.

2. Etymology

The name of Ankang City integrates multiple meanings from history, geography, and culture:

History: It carries the historical memory of the "Ankang Commandery" from the Tang Dynasty.

Geography: It reflects the beautiful natural environment of mountains and clear waters in the Ankang region.

Culture: It embodies the fusion of Han culture, Ba-Shu culture, and Jing-Chu culture.

3. History

During the Western Han Dynasty, Xicheng County was under the jurisdiction of Hanzhong Commandery. In the early Northern Zhou Dynasty of the Northern Dynasties, the county was abolished. The Sui Dynasty reinstated Xicheng County, which served as the seat of Jin Prefecture during the Tang Dynasty. Subsequently, the names of the prefecture and county changed multiple times. In the 48th year of the Qianlong era of the Qing Dynasty (1783), Ankang County was established. Ankang City was established in 1950, abolished in 1954, and reinstated in 1988.

Ankang has a long history, with its humanistic history traceable back to the Stone Age. During the Xia Dynasty, Ankang was part of Liangzhou. According to the earliest Chinese geographical work, Shangshu·Yugong, which divided the country into nine provinces, it stated, "South of Mount Hua and the Black River is Liangzhou." Tang Dynasty scholars believed that Liangzhou corresponds to the present-day areas of Hanzhong, Ankang, and Shangluo. During the Shang and Zhou Dynasties, Ankang became the fiefdom of the Yong State, historically known as Shangyong. According to Taiping Huanyu Ji, "Jin Prefecture was part of the Chu territory during the Warring States period, attached as a dependency, later annexed by Chu, and again became part of Chu."

In 312 BCE, King Hui of Qin established Xicheng County on the terrace north of the Han River in Ankang, with Hanzhong Commandery located in Xicheng. After Qin unified the six states (221 BCE), Xicheng County served as the seat of Hanzhong Commandery, governing seven counties: Ankang, Hanyin, Shiquan, Ziyang, Langao, Pingli, and Zhenping.

The Western Han Dynasty followed the Qin system, with Hanzhong Commandery administering five counties. In the first year of the Jianwu era of the Eastern Han Dynasty (25 CE), the seat of Hanzhong Commandery was moved to Nanzheng County in Hanzhong. In the 21st year of the Jian'an era of the Eastern Han Dynasty (215 CE), Cao Cao captured Hanzhong and divided the eastern part of the commandery, including Ankang, to establish Xicheng Commandery.

In the second year of the Huangchu era of the Cao Wei state during the Three Kingdoms period (221 CE), the Weixing Commandery was established, meaning "Cao Wei's prosperity," governing seven counties, a system continued by the Western Jin Dynasty. According to Xing'an Fu Zhi, in the first year of the Taikang era of Emperor Wu of Jin (280 CE), to resettle refugees from the Bashan area and with the meaning of "eternal prosperity, peace, and well-being," Anyang County was renamed Ankang County, giving rise to the name "Ankang."

During the Northern and Southern Dynasties, Ankang first belonged to the Southern Dynasties and later to the Northern Dynasties. Initially called Zhizhou, Jin Prefecture was established in the third year of the reign of Emperor Fei of Western Wei (554 CE), named after the "gold dust found in the Yuehe River," and was subordinate to Weixing Commandery.

The Sui Dynasty reinstated Xicheng Commandery. During the Tang, Five Dynasties, and Song periods, Jin Prefecture Ankang Commandery was established, governing six counties. The Yuan Dynasty established Jin Prefecture, which continued into the early Ming Dynasty. In the 11th year of the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty (1583), a flood of the Han River submerged Jin Prefecture city. Consequently, a new city was built at the foot of Zhaotai Mountain south of the old city, and it was renamed Xing'an Prefecture.

In the fourth year of the Shunzhi era of the Qing Dynasty (1647), the prefectural seat returned to the old city. In the 47th year of the Qianlong era (1782), it was reorganized as Xing'an Prefecture.

After the Xinhai Revolution, the prefecture system was abolished and replaced by circuits. Based on the six counties of the Qing Dynasty, four additional counties were added and placed under the Hanzhong Circuit. In the 22nd year of the Republic of China (1933), the circuit system was abolished, and the area came directly under provincial jurisdiction. In the 24th year (1935), it was designated as the Administrative Inspector's Office of the Fifth Administrative District of Shaanxi Province.

In the later stages of the Second Chinese Civil War, the Chinese Communist Party gradually captured counties under the jurisdiction of the Republic of China government. In 1949, the Ankang Subdistrict was established, subordinate to the Southern Shaanxi Administrative Region. The 19th Corps of the Southern Shaanxi Military Region captured Baihe County on May 24, Pingli County on July 10, and Ankang County for the first time on July 25. On November 28, the 55th Division of the 19th Corps captured Langao County, and on the 30th, captured Ziyang County. The 57th Division of the 19th Corps captured Xunyang County on November 26 and recaptured Ankang County on the 27th.

After the founding of the People's Republic of China, in December 1949, the Ankang Subdistrict was renamed the Ankang Administrative Inspector's Office of Shaanxi Province. In January 1950, the People's Liberation Army captured Zhenping County, the southernmost part of present-day Ankang City, marking the "liberation" of Ankang and the entire Shaanxi province. In July 1950, it was renamed the Ankang Special District of the Shaanxi Provincial People's Government. During the Cultural Revolution, it was renamed the Ankang Regional Revolutionary Committee, and in 1979, it became the Ankang Regional Administrative Office. The Ankang Prefectural Committee of the Chinese Communist Party and the Regional Administrative Office were located in Ankang County.

On July 31, 1983, a catastrophic flood occurred in Ankang. Official data indicate that the flood nearly destroyed the entire city, resulting in 870 deaths, 89,600 people affected, 3.2 square kilometers submerged, and economic losses exceeding 400 million yuan.

In 1988, Ankang County was abolished and established as a county-level city, known as Ankang City.

In 2000, the State Council of the People's Republic of China approved the conversion of Ankang Prefecture into a prefecture-level city. The newly established Ankang Municipal Committee of the Chinese Communist Party and the Ankang Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection officially began operations in December 2000. After the conversion, the former county-level Ankang City was renamed Hanbin District. The prefecture-level Ankang City was established on January 1, 2001.

3. Geography

Meteorological Data of Ankang City (1971–2000)

Climate Data

Monthly Statistics

| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year | |------|--------------|--------------|--------------|--------------|--------------|--------------|--------------|--------------|--------------|--------------|--------------|--------------|--------------| | Record high °C (°F) | 18.3 (64.9) | 23.2 (73.8) | 30.5 (86.9) | 35.0 (95.0) | 37.3 (99.1) | 40.2 (104.4) | 41.3 (106.3) | 40.4 (104.7) | 40.7 (105.3) | 32.4 (90.3) | 25.9 (78.6) | 16.4 (61.5) | 41.3 (106.3) | | Average high °C (°F) | 8.2 (46.8) | 11.1 (52.0) | 15.7 (60.3) | 22.4 (72.3) | 26.8 (80.2) | 30.1 (86.2) | 32.3 (90.1) | 32.3 (90.1) | 26.3 (79.3) | 20.5 (68.9) | 14.6 (58.3) | 9.4 (48.9) | 20.8 (69.5) | | Daily mean °C (°F) | 3.5 (38.3) | 6.0 (42.8) | 10.3 (50.5) | 16.4 (61.5) | 20.8 (69.4) | 24.6 (76.3) | 26.9 (80.4) | 26.7 (80.1) | 21.5 (70.7) | 16.0 (60.8) | 10.0 (50.0) | 4.9 (40.8) | 15.6 (60.1) | | Average low °C (°F) | 0.0 (32.0) | 2.1 (35.8) | 6.0 (42.8) | 11.5 (52.7) | 16.1 (61.0) | 20.1 (68.2) | 22.8 (73.0) | 22.7 (72.9) | 18.1 (64.6) | 12.8 (55.0) | 6.9 (44.4) | 1.6 (34.9) | 11.7 (53.1) | | Record low °C (°F) | -8.1 (17.4) | -5.9 (21.4) | -2.6 (27.3) | 1.7 (35.1) | 7.8 (46.0) | 11.9 (53.4) | 16.7 (62.1) | 16.0 (60.8) | 10.6 (51.1) | 1.0 (33.8) | -3.1 (26.4) | -9.7 (14.5) | -9.7 (14.5) | | Average precipitation mm (inches) | 5.5 (0.22) | 8.8 (0.35) | 33.0 (1.30) | 55.2 (2.17) | 83.1 (3.27) | 122.6 (4.83) | 150.0 (5.91) | 119.7 (4.71) | 122.2 (4.81) | 79.4 (3.13) | 27.8 (1.09) | 7.0 (0.28) | 814.3 (32.07)| | Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 4.4 | 4.3 | 8.2 | 10.3 | 11.9 | 11.3 | 12.8 | 10.8 | 13.2 | 12.0 | 9.1 | 5.4 | 113.7 |

China Weather Network

4. Administrative Divisions

Ankang City administers 1 district, 8 counties, and 1 county-level city on behalf of the province.

District: Hanbin District
County-level City: Xunyang City
Counties: Hanyin County, Shiquan County, Ningshan County, Ziyang County, Langao County, Pingli County, Zhenping County, Baihe County

Administrative Divisions Map of Ankang City

| Division Code | Division Name | Chinese Pinyin | Area (km²) | Resident Population (2020 Census) | Government Seat | Postal Code | Subdistricts | Towns | |-------------------|-------------------|--------------------------|----------------|---------------------------------------|---------------------|-----------------|------------------|-----------| | 610900 | Ankang City | Ānkāng Shì | 23,536.31 | 2,493,436 | Hanbin District | 725000 | 4 | 135 | | 610902 | Hanbin District | Hànbīn Qū | 3,645.91 | 894,853 | Laocheng Subdistrict| 725000 | 4 | 24 | | 610921 | Hanyin County | Hànyīn Xiàn | 1,365.16 | 240,188 | Chengguan Town | 725100 | | 10 | | 610922 | Shiquan County | Shíquán Xiàn | 1,516.40 | 153,221 | Chengguan Town | 725200 | | 11 | | 610923 | Ningshan County | Níngshǎn Xiàn | 3,666.89 | 59,905 | Chengguan Town | 711600 | | 11 | | 610924 | Ziyang County | Zǐyáng Xiàn | 2,240.34 | 260,971 | Chengguan Town | 725300 | | 17 | | 610925 | Langao County | Lángāo Xiàn | 1,957.26 | 135,006 | Chengguan Town | 725400 | | 12 | | 610926 | Pingli County | Pínglì Xiàn | 2,647.80 | 181,286 | Chengguan Town | 725500 | | 11 | | 610927 | Zhenping County | Zhèngpíng Xiàn | 1,502.45 | 47,356 | Chengguan Town | 725600 | | 7 | | 610929 | Baihe County | Báihé Xiàn | 1,453.44 | 162,774 | Chengguan Town | 725800 | | 11 | | 610981 | Xunyang City | Xúnyáng Shì | 3,540.66 | 357,876 | Chengguan Town | 725700 | | 21 |

5. Economy

The industry primarily focuses on silk spinning, chemicals, building materials, food processing, and mining. The city's electricity is entirely supplied by hydroelectric power plants built along the Lan River. However, as most of these stations are diversion-type power plants, their installed capacity is generally small. The generating units are installed beside the river channel, with dams constructed upstream. These dams intercept water, which is then channeled through artificial conduits into the generating units, utilizing natural elevation differences to generate electricity. Consequently, the scale of power generation is also relatively small.

6. Transportation

Three electrified railways—the Xiangyu Railway (Xiangyang, Hubei to Chongqing), the Xikang Railway (Xi'an, Shaanxi to Ankang, Shaanxi), and the Yang'an Railway (Yangpingguan, Hanzhong, Shaanxi to Ankang)—intersect here, making it a crucial transportation hub in southern Shaanxi Province.
National Highways 210, 316, and 346 pass through the city. The G65 Xikang Expressway (Xi'an, Shaanxi to Ankang) section of the G65 Baomao Expressway (Baotou, Inner Mongolia to Maoming, Guangdong) was officially opened to traffic on May 28, 2009.
In the future, construction and advancement will continue on the Shaanxi-Hubei Ankang to Zhuxi County, Shiyan, Hubei expressway; the Ankang to Beihai, Guangxi expressway; and the Ankang section of the Yinchuan, Ningxia to Baise, Guangxi expressway.
The nearest airports are Shiyan Wudangshan Airport in Hubei Province, located 205 kilometers east of Ankang, and Hanzhong Chenggu Airport in Shaanxi Province, located 210 kilometers northwest of Ankang.
Ankang Fuqiang Airport, located in Hanbin District, Ankang City, was officially opened on September 25, 2020, replacing the Ankang Wulipu Airport, which had been out of service since 2013. It offers flights to cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Hangzhou.
In the future, a high-grade regional waterway on the Han River will also be constructed and advanced.

7. Education

Hanbin High School
Ankang High School

8. Population

At the end of 2022, the city's permanent resident population was 2.4714 million, a decrease of 7,000 people compared to the previous year. The birth rate was 7.37‰, the death rate was 7.95‰, and the natural growth rate was -0.58‰.

According to the Seventh National Population Census in 2020, the city's permanent resident population was 2,493,436. Compared with the 2,629,906 people from the Sixth National Population Census, there was a total decrease of 136,470 people over the ten years, a decline of 5.19%, with an average annual growth rate of -0.53%. Among them, the male population was 1,292,620, accounting for 51.84% of the total population; the female population was 1,200,816, accounting for 48.16% of the total population. The overall sex ratio (with females as 100) was 107.65. The population aged 0–14 was 472,547, accounting for 18.95% of the total population; the population aged 15–59 was 1,497,817, accounting for 60.07% of the total population; the population aged 60 and above was 523,072, accounting for 20.98% of the total population, of which the population aged 65 and above was 372,438, accounting for 14.94% of the total population. The urban population was 1,244,784, accounting for 49.92% of the total population; the rural population was 1,248,652, accounting for 50.08% of the total population.

8.1. Ethnic Groups

Among the city's permanent resident population, the Han ethnic population was 2,473,156, accounting for 99.19%; the population of various ethnic minorities was 20,280, accounting for 0.81%. Compared with the Sixth National Population Census in 2010, the Han ethnic population decreased by 134,800, a decline of 5.17%, with its proportion of the total population increasing by 0.02 percentage points; the population of various ethnic minorities decreased by 1,670, a decline of 7.61%, with its proportion of the total population decreasing by 0.02 percentage points.

9. Religion

The religious culture of Ankang City is primarily characterized by Buddhism and Taoism, while also encompassing the presence of other religions such as Christianity and Islam. The coexistence of diverse religions adds rich connotations to the cultural diversity of Ankang City. In the future, Ankang City will continue to play an active role in promoting religious harmony and social stability.

10. Culture

The religious culture of Ankang City boasts a profound historical heritage and diverse characteristics. Various religions, including Buddhism, Taoism, Christianity, and Islam, coexist harmoniously, forming a unique religious cultural landscape. Religious buildings, historical sites, and festival activities not only reflect religious beliefs but also constitute an important part of the local cultural heritage.

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Eternal prosperity and peace, with well-being and tranquility.

Hanbin District

Hanbin District

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