Meishan (眉山)

1. Introduction

Meishan City (Sichuanese Pinyin: Mi2shan1; local pronunciation: [mi21sã55]), abbreviated as Mei, historically known as Meizhou, is a prefecture-level city under the jurisdiction of Sichuan Province, People's Republic of China, located in the central part of Sichuan Province. The city borders Chengdu to the north, Ziyang and Neijiang to the east, Leshan to the south, and Ya'an to the west. Situated in the western part of the Sichuan Basin, its eastern area lies within the Chengdu Plain, while the western region consists of low hills and mountains. The Min River flows through the city from north to south, and the Qingyi River traverses its western part. The city covers a total area of 7,140 square kilometers with a population of 3.0013 million. The municipal people's government is located in Dongpo District. Meishan is the hometown of the three renowned Northern Song Dynasty literary figures—Su Xun, Su Shi, and Su Zhe. The Three Su Temple, built in their honor, is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

2. Origin of the Name

The name "Meishan" has three possible origins:

1. Named after Mount Emei.
2. There is a mountain in the suburbs with two peaks on the left and right, which from a distance resemble eyebrows; hence the name "Meishan" (Eyebrow Mountain).
3. Originating from Su Dongpo. It is said that someone observed his eyebrows resembling hills and his wisdom surpassing all, feeling that his features aligned with heavenly signs, and thus suggested to the county magistrate to rename the place "Meishan."

3. History

During the Qin Dynasty, Wuyang County was established (governed in present-day Jiangkou Subdistrict, Pengshan District) and belonged to Qianwei Commandery. In the first year of the Yongchu era of the Eastern Han Dynasty (107 AD), the seat of Qianwei Commandery was moved to Wuyang County. During the Eastern Jin Dynasty, Jiangyang County was established in exile within Wuyang County. In the third year of the Jianwu era of the Southern Qi Dynasty (496 AD), Qitong County was established (governed in present-day Dongpo District) and served as the seat of Qitong Left Commandery. During the Southern Liang Dynasty, Jiangzhou and Jiangyang Commandery were established in Jiangyang County; Jiangyang County was renamed Qianwei County (governed in present-day Pengshan District); Huairen County was established (governed in present-day Renshou County), and during the Putong era, Huairen Commandery was established in Huairen County. In the second year of the Taiqing era (548 AD), Qingzhou was established in Qitong County, and Qitong Left Commandery was renamed Qitong Commandery. During the Western Wei Dynasty, Qianwei County was renamed Longshan County. In the second year of the Feidi era (553 AD), Huairen County was renamed Puning County. In the third year of the Feidi era (554 AD), Qingzhou was renamed Meizhou. During the Northern Zhou Dynasty, Meizhou was renamed Jiazhou; Longshan Commandery was established in Longshan County; Jiangzhou and Jiangyang Commandery were abolished. In the first year of the Xiaomin Emperor's reign (557 AD), Lingzhou was established in Puning County. In the second year of the Baoding era (562 AD), Qingshen County was established, along with Qingshen Commandery. In the second year of the Tianhe era (567 AD), Hongya Garrison (present-day Hongya County) was established. During the reign of Emperor Ming, Qile County was established, and Emperor Wu renamed Qile County to Hongya County (present-day Danling County).

At the beginning of the Sui Dynasty's Kaihuang era, Qitong Commandery was abolished, and Qitong County was renamed Guangtong County; Longshan Commandery was merged, and Jiangyang County was incorporated into Longshan County; Qingshen Commandery was abolished, and Qingshen County was placed under the jurisdiction of Jiazhou. In the 13th year of the Kaihuang era (593 AD), Hongya County was renamed Danling County, and a new Hongya County was established at the Hongya Garrison, both belonging to Jiazhou. In the 18th year of the Kaihuang era (598 AD), Puning County was renamed Renshou County. In the first year of the Renshou era (601 AD), Guangtong County was renamed Tongyi County. At the beginning of the Daye era, Jiazhou was renamed Meizhou but was soon abolished; Meishan Commandery was established in Tongyi County; Lingzhou was renamed Longshan Commandery. In the first year of the Wude era of the Tang Dynasty (618 AD), Longshan Commandery was renamed Lingzhou; Qianzhou was established in Hongya County. In the second year of the Wude era (619 AD), Meizhou was re-established in Tongyi County. In the first year of the Zhenguan era (627 AD), Qianzhou was abolished, and Hongya County was placed under the jurisdiction of Meizhou. In the eighth year of the Zhenguan era (634 AD), Qingshen County moved its seat to its present location and was placed under Meizhou. In the first year of the Xiantian era of Empress Wu Zetian (712 AD), to avoid the taboo of Li Longji's name, Longshan County was renamed Pengshan County, belonging to Meizhou, named after the Pengwang Mountain (present-day Fairy Mountain) within the county. In the first year of the Taiping Xingguo era of the Northern Song Dynasty (976 AD), Tongyi County was renamed Meishan County, which remained the seat of Meizhou under the Xichuan Circuit. The Yuanhe Junxian Zhi states regarding Meizhou: "Named after Mount Emei." In the fifth year of the Xining era (1072 AD), Lingzhou was renamed Xianjing Garrison. In the first year of the Longxing era of the Southern Song Dynasty (1163 AD), Lingzhou was renamed Longzhou.

In the 20th year of the Zhiyuan era of the Yuan Dynasty (1283 AD), Meishan County and Danling County were merged into Meizhou; Hongya County was merged into Jiajiang County; Longzhou was abolished, and Renshou County was placed under the jurisdiction of Chengdu Route. In the ninth year of the Hongwu era of the Ming Dynasty (1376 AD), Meizhou was downgraded to Mei County, belonging to Jiading Prefecture; Pengshan County was abolished. In the tenth year of the Hongwu era (1377 AD), Qingshen County was abolished. In the 13th year of the Hongwu era (1380 AD), Meizhou was re-established, directly under Sichuan Province, and Pengshan County, Danling County, and Qingshen County were re-established. In the 18th year of the Chenghua era (1482 AD), Hongya County was re-established, belonging to Jiading Prefecture. In the first year of the Kangxi era of the Qing Dynasty (1662 AD), Pengshan County was merged into Meizhou. In the sixth year of the Kangxi era (1667 AD), Qingshen County was merged into Meizhou. In the fifth year of the Yongzheng era (1727 AD), Renshou County was transferred to the directly-administered Zizhou. In the sixth year of the Yongzheng era (1728 AD), Pengshan County and Qingshen County were re-established.

In the second year of the Republic of China (1913 AD), the prefecture system was abolished, and Meizhou was replaced by Meishan County. Along with Pengshan, Hongya, Danling, and Qingshen counties, it belonged to the Upper Southern Sichuan Circuit, which was renamed Jianchang Circuit the following year; Renshou County belonged to the Lower Southern Sichuan Circuit, renamed Yongning Circuit the following year. The circuit system was abolished in 1930. In the 24th year of the Republic of China (1935 AD), except for Renshou County, which belonged to the Second Administrative Inspectorate District of Sichuan Province, the other counties all belonged to the Fourth Administrative Inspectorate District.

After the establishment of the People's Republic of China, the Meishan Special District was established in 1950, with its administrative office located in Meishan County. It belonged to the Western Sichuan Administrative Region and governed 10 counties: Meishan, Pengshan, Qingshen, Jiajiang, Hongya, Danling, Mingshan, Pujiang, Qionglai, and Dayi. In 1951, Xinjin County was transferred to the Meishan Special District, and Dayi County was transferred to the Wenjiang Special District. In 1952, the Meishan Special District came under the leadership of Sichuan Province. In March 1953, the Meishan Special District was abolished. The six counties of Meishan, Pengshan, Qingshen, Jiajiang, Hongya, and Danling were transferred to the Leshan Special District, while the four counties of Mingshan, Pujiang, Qionglai, and Xinjin were transferred to the Wenjiang Special District. In 1958, Renshou County was transferred from the Neijiang Special District to the Leshan Special District. In 1959, Pengshan and Qingshen counties were merged into Meishan County, but they were re-established in 1962. In 1968, the Leshan Special District was renamed the Leshan Prefecture. In May 1985, the Leshan Prefecture was reorganized into Leshan City. In August 1997, the six counties of Meishan, Pengshan, Renshou, Qingshen, Hongya, and Danling were separated from Leshan City to establish the Meishan Prefecture, with its administrative office located in Meishan County. In June 2000, the Meishan Prefecture and Meishan County were abolished and replaced by the prefecture-level Meishan City; the former Meishan County was reorganized into Dongpo District. In October 2014, Pengshan County was abolished and Pengshan District was established.

4. Geography

Meishan City is located in the middle reaches of the Min River. It borders Chengdu to the north, overlooks Leshan to the south, adjoins Ziyang to the east, and faces Ya'an to the west. The majority of its administrative area lies within the Chengdu Plain. Dongpo District, Pengshan District, and Qingshen County are primarily situated on the Chengdu Plain, while the remaining three counties feature mountainous or hilly terrain.

Meteorological Data of Meishan City (1981–2010)

| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year | |-----------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|----------|----------|----------|----------| | Record High (°C / °F) | 19.2 (66.6) | 24.1 (75.4) | 32.1 (89.8) | 34.3 (93.7) | 36.1 (97.0) | 36.5 (97.7) | 37.7 (99.9) | 38.1 (100.6) | 36.6 (97.9) | 30.7 (87.3) | 26.1 (79.0) | 18.7 (65.7) | 38.1 (100.6) | | Average High (°C / °F) | 10.1 (50.2) | 12.5 (54.5) | 17.3 (63.1) | 22.9 (73.2) | 27.2 (81.0) | 28.7 (83.7) | 30.7 (87.3) | 30.3 (86.5) | 26.4 (79.5) | 21.4 (70.5) | 16.8 (62.2) | 11.2 (52.2) | 21.3 (70.3) | | Daily Mean (°C / °F) | 6.6 (43.9) | 8.8 (55.0) | 12.8 (64.0) | 17.8 (72.1) | 22.3 (75.9) | 24.4 (79.2) | 26.2 (78.1) | 25.6 (72.5) | 22.5 (64.6) | 18.1 (56.1) | 13.4 (46.6) | 8.1 (63.0) | 17.2 | | Average Low (°C / °F) | 4.1 (39.4) | 6.2 (49.1) | 9.5 (57.2) | 14.0 (65.3) | 18.5 (70.2) | 21.2 (73.2) | 22.9 (72.3) | 22.4 (67.6) | 19.8 (60.4) | 15.8 (51.6) | 10.9 (42.3) | 5.7 (57.7) | 14.3 | | Record Low (°C / °F) | -3.3 (26.1) | -1.7 (28.9) | -0.5 (31.1) | 5.5 (41.9) | 8.5 (47.3) | 14.8 (58.6) | 16.7 (62.1) | 17.0 (62.6) | 13.7 (56.7) | 5.3 (41.5) | 0.9 (33.6) | -3.2 (26.2) | -3.3 (26.1) | | Average Precipitation (mm / inches) | 11.8 (0.46) | 16.3 (0.64) | 30.2 (1.19) | 57.6 (2.27) | 87.9 (3.46) | 144.0 (5.67) | 231.1 (9.10) | 255.3 (100.5) | 130.4 (5.13) | 46.0 (1.81) | 20.0 (0.79) | 9.0 (0.35) | 1,039.6 (40.92) | | Average Relative Humidity (%) | 84 | 82 | 78 | 77 | 74 | 80 | 83 | 84 | 83 | 84 | 83 | 84 | 81 |

5. Administrative Divisions

Meishan City administers 2 municipal districts and 4 counties.

• Municipal Districts: Dongpo District, Pengshan District
• Counties: Renshou County, Hongya County, Danling County, Qingshen County

| Division Code | Division Name | Chinese Pinyin | Area (sq km) | Resident Population (2020 Census) | Government Seat | Postal Code | Subdistricts | Towns | Townships | |----------|----------|----------|----------------|-----------------------|----------|----------|----|----|----| | 511400 | Meishan City | Méishān Shì | 7,139.86 | 2,955,219 | Dongcheng Subdistrict | 620000 | 13 | 61 | 5 | | 511402 | Dongpo District | Dōngpō Qū | 1,335.92 | 904,412 | Suci Subdistrict | 620000 | 3 | 13 | | | 511403 | Pengshan District | Péngshān Qū | 462.10 | 328,236 | Fengming Subdistrict | 620800 | 5 | 3 | | | 511421 | Renshou County | Rénshòu Xiàn | 2,607.92 | 1,110,017 | Wenlin Subdistrict | 620500 | 4 | 26 | 2 | | 511423 | Hongya County | Hóngyǎ Xiàn | 1,897.54 | 295,744 | Hongchuan Town | 620300 | | 12 | | | 511424 | Danling County | Dānlíng Xiàn | 449.27 | 148,820 | Qile Town | 620200 | | 4 | 1 | | | 511425 | Qingshen County | Qīngshén Xiàn | 387.09 | 167,990 | Qingzhu Subdistrict | 620400 | 1 | 3 | 2 |

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6. Transportation

The Chengdu-Kunming Railway, Chengdu-Guiyang High-Speed Railway, G0512 Chengdu-Leshan Expressway, Provincial Highway 103, Provincial Highway 106, National Highway 213, and National Highway 351 pass through the area. The municipal government is located in Dongpo District, approximately 80 kilometers from Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport. The Chengdu-Guiyang High-Speed Railway commenced operations on December 20, 2014, with the Meishan East Station in the urban area handling passenger services.

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7. Population

According to the Seventh National Population Census in 2020, the city's permanent resident population was 2,955,219. Compared with the 2,950,545 people from the Sixth National Population Census, there was an increase of 4,674 people over the past ten years, representing a growth rate of 0.16% and an average annual growth rate of 0.02%. Among them, the male population was 1,477,604, accounting for 50% of the total population; the female population was 1,477,615, also accounting for 50% of the total population. The overall sex ratio (with females as 100) was 100. The population aged 0–14 was 414,057, accounting for 14.01% of the total population; the population aged 15–59 was 1,810,388, accounting for 61.26% of the total population; the population aged 60 and above was 730,774, accounting for 24.73% of the total population, of which the population aged 65 and above was 591,500, accounting for 20.02% of the total population. The urban population was 1,481,605, accounting for 50.14% of the total population; the rural population was 1,473,614, accounting for 49.86% of the total population.

7.1 Ethnic Groups

Among the city's permanent resident population, the Han ethnic group population was 2,928,733, accounting for 99.1%; the population of various ethnic minorities was 26,486, accounting for 0.9%. Compared with the Sixth National Population Census in 2010, the Han ethnic group population decreased by 9,306, a decline of 0.32%, and its proportion of the total population decreased by 0.47 percentage points; the population of various ethnic minorities increased by 13,980, a growth of 111.79%, and its proportion of the total population increased by 0.47 percentage points.

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Named after Mount Emei—"Yuanhe Junxian Zhi" (Geographical Records of the Prefectures and Counties in the Yuanhe Era)

Dongpo District

Renshou County

The Han population accounts for 99.1%; the various ethnic minority populations account for 0.9%.

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