Shizuishan (石嘴山)

1. Introduction

Shizuishan City is a prefecture-level city under the jurisdiction of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China, located in the northern part of Ningxia. The city borders Yinchuan City to the south, and is adjacent to the Alxa League, Wuhai City, and Ordos City of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region to the west, north, and east, respectively. Situated in the northern part of the Yinchuan Plain, it lies to the west of the Helan Mountains, borders the Ordos Plateau to the east, and features the Yellow River alluvial plain in its central region, with the Yellow River running through the eastern part of the city. Shizuishan is an emerging coal industrial city, rich in coal reserves and renowned for producing "Taixi Coal." Known as the "Coal City on the Frontier," it serves as a key base for energy, heavy chemical, and raw material industries in Ningxia. The People's Government of Shizuishan City is located in Dawukou District.

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2. History

2.1 Ancient Era

In the 33rd year of Emperor Qin Shi Huang's reign (214 BC), the Qin forces attacked the Xiongnu in the north and captured the "Henan lands." Present-day Shizuishan belonged to Fuping County in the Beidi Commandery. During the Western Han Dynasty, the eastern part of Shizuishan (east of the Yellow River) belonged to Fuping County in Beidi Commandery, while the western part (west of the Yellow River) was established as Lian County (governed from present-day Nuanquan Village, Chonggang Town, Pingluo County).

During the Northern Zhou Dynasty, present-day Shizuishan belonged to Lingzhou. The western part was under Huaiyuan County in Huaiyuan Commandery, and the eastern part saw the establishment of Jian'an County in Licheng Commandery (renamed Guangrun County in the 18th year of the Kaihuang era, 598 AD; renamed Lingwu County in the 1st year of the Renshou era, 601 AD). In the 2nd year of the Xiantian era (713 AD), Dingyuan Fortress (located in present-day Yaofu Town, Pingluo County) was established under Lingzhou, later elevated to Dingyuan County. In the 2nd year of the Jingfu era (893 AD), it was elevated to Jingzhou. In the 7th year of the Tianfu era of the Later Jin Dynasty (942 AD), Jingzhou was downgraded to Weisuo Army. In the 1st year of the Daqing era of the Western Xia (1036 AD), it was changed to Dingzhou (commonly known as Tianzhou), with Dingyuan County still established. During the Yuan Dynasty, present-day Shizuishan belonged to the Ningxia Fu Route under the Gansu Branch Secretariat, with Dingzhou still in place.

During the Ming Dynasty, it belonged to the Ningxia Guard under the Shaanxi Provincial Administration Commission. Around the early years of the Yongle era (circa 1405), a city wall was built (present-day Chengguan Town, Pingluo County), and military horse patrols were stationed. In the 6th year of the Hongzhi era (1493 AD), the new city was expanded and named Pinglu City. Around the Hongzhi period (circa 1500 AD), the eastern part of present-day Pingluo County, being located outside the Great Wall (referred to as "outer land beyond the frontier"), became pastureland for the Mongol Ordos tribe. In the 30th year of the Jiajing era (1551 AD), the Pinglu Garrison Qianhu Office was established under the Shaanxi Regional Military Commission. After the construction of the northern Great Wall in the 20th year of the Jiajing era (1541 AD), the area north of the Great Wall on the western bank of the river was also occupied by Mongol tribes.

In the 1st year of the Shunzhi era of the Qing Dynasty (1644 AD), Pinglu Office was renamed "Pingluo Office." In the 52nd year of the Kangxi era (1713 AD), the Mongol Ordos tribe moved from the western bank to the eastern bank of the river. In the 2nd year of the Yongzheng era (1724 AD), Pingluo Office was elevated to Pingluo County. In the third year after the county's establishment, the Huinong and Changrun canals were dug to recruit settlers for cultivation. In the 5th year of the Yongzheng era (1727 AD), the southeastern Yellow River floodplain of Pingluo County was separated to establish Xinqu County (administrative seat near present-day Yaofu Town). In the 7th year of the Yongzheng era (1729 AD), the northeastern Yellow River floodplain of Pingluo County was separated to establish Baofeng County (administrative seat at present-day Baofeng Town). In the 4th year of the Qianlong era (1739 AD), a major earthquake destroyed the county seats of both Xinqu and Baofeng counties. The imperial court ordered the abolition of the two counties and their merger into Pingluo County. The southern forts of Pingluo County were transferred to Ningxia County (present-day Helan County). The area of present-day Taole County was pastureland for the Mongol Ordos tribe. In the 49th year of the Qianlong era (1784 AD), the Yellow River shifted its course westward, leaving an 18-li long and 4-li wide strip of land and its residents on the eastern bank (called "Wuduizi Land"), leading to a boundary dispute. In the 50th year of the Qianlong era (1785 AD), upon the request of the Governor-General of Shaanxi and Gansu, the Qing court sent officials to survey and demarcate the boundary, deciding that "Wuduizi Land" would remain part of Pingluo County, with a boundary stone erected. Subsequently, farmers from the western bank gradually moved to reclaim the wasteland, gradually forming a cultivated area along the eastern bank. In the 11th year of the Jiaqing era (1806 AD), the Mongol Alxa prince presented the Jilantai Salt Lake to be officially managed and placed under the jurisdiction of Pingluo County.

2.2 Modern Era

In the early Republic of China period, Pingluo County belonged to the Ningxia Circuit of Gansu Province. In 1929, Ningxia Province was established; Dengkou County was carved out from Pingluo County, with its seat at "Old Dengkou" (present-day Bayan Murin Sumu, Alxa Left Banner). The Wuduizi narrow strip on the eastern bank of the Yellow River in Pingluo County was established as the Taole Administrative Bureau, with its seat at Gaoren Town, covering an area 150 km long from Hengcheng in the south to Wangyuandi in the north and 20 km wide. In April 1941, eight townships including Baofeng, Huangquqiao, Shizuishan, Gaozhuang, Huibei, and Lingsha in the northern part of Pingluo County were separated to establish Huinong County (seat at Baofeng City). In July 1941, the Taole Administrative Bureau on the eastern bank was upgraded to Taole County. In March 1945, the "Third District Administrative Inspector's Office of Ningxia Province" was established in Huangquqiao, Huinong County, overseeing Pingluo, Huinong, Taole, and Dengkou counties. In May 1945, it was renamed the Yinbei Administrative Inspector's Office, adding Helan County under its jurisdiction. It was soon abolished, and the counties returned to direct administration by Ningxia Province. In 1949, Dengkou County moved its seat to Sanshenggong (present-day Niangtai, Bayan Gol Town, Dengkou County).

After the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, Pingluo, Huinong, and Taole counties were directly administered by Ningxia Province. In 1951, Shizuishan was designated as one of the "urban areas" of Huinong County. In 1954, Ningxia Province was abolished and merged into Gansu Province, with Pingluo, Huinong, and Taole counties belonging to the Yinchuan Prefecture of Gansu Province.

At the end of 1955, the Ministry of Coal Industry decided to develop the Shizuishan mining area (15 mining areas of the Helan Mountains-Zhuozi Mountains coalfield) to build the Helan Mountains coal base. The state listed the Shizuishan mining area as one of the ten key new mining areas nationwide during the First Five-Year Plan period. In March 1960, Shizuishan City was officially established.

At the end of 1976, Shizuishan City established a suburban district (county-level) (seat at Majiawanzi), overseeing six communes: Weizha, Yanzidun, Miaotai, Xiayingzi, Lihe, and Xiyonggu. Shizuishan City administered 4 districts and 3 counties.

In January 1987, the State Council approved the abolition of the suburban district of Shizuishan City. Most of the former suburban area was used to re-establish Huinong County, with its seat at Majiawan. The Dawukou Township under the former suburban district was transferred to Dawukou District, and the Yanhuan Village of Yuanyi Township was placed under the jurisdiction of Shizuishan District. Shizuishan City administered 3 districts and 3 counties.

In October 2002, the State Council approved the abolition of Shitanjing District of Shizuishan City. The administrative area of Shitanjing District was placed under the jurisdiction of Dawukou District. Longhu Diaozhuang Township of Pingluo County and the three administrative villages of Changsheng, Jiuquan, and Chaohu from Chonggang Township were transferred to Dawukou District. The area of Dawukou District expanded from 66 square kilometers to 1007.5 square kilometers. The city administered 2 districts and 3 counties.

In July 2003, the autonomous region approved the transfer of Yuanyi Town of Huinong County (area 1.3 sq km, population 4707) to Shizuishan District. In November 2003, the autonomous region approved the transfer of the Longhu Economic Development Zone (area 108 sq km, population 26860) to the management of Shizuishan City. In December 2003, the State Council approved the abolition of Shizuishan District and Huinong County of Shizuishan City, merging them to establish Huinong District of Shizuishan City; the abolition of Taole County, with the northern part of the former Taole County (north of Yueyahu, comprising one town and two townships: Mataigou Town, Hongyazi Township, and Gaoren Township) transferred to Pingluo County, and the southern part (Yueyahu Township) transferred to Xingqing District of Yinchuan City. Shizuishan City administered 2 districts and 1 county.

3. Geography

Shizuishan City is located on the western bank of the Yellow River, bordering Yinchuan City to the east and south, and adjacent to the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region to the north and west. The city lies east of the Ordos Plateau and occupies the northern part of the Yinchuan Plain. Its elevation ranges between 1,090 meters and 3,475.9 meters. Within its territory, the highest peak of the Helan Mountains reaches 3,475.9 meters, covering an area of 1,605.7 square kilometers, which accounts for 30.24% of Shizuishan's total land area. The surface water system consists of the main channel of the Yellow River, the Dusitu River, the Shuidonggou, the gullies of the Helan Mountains, the Yellow River diversion and drainage channels, and the lowland lakes and marshes of the plain. The primary sources of groundwater recharge are seepage from the Yellow River and rainfall storage in the mountains, which accumulates in the alluvial fans at the mountain front and the plain areas; a small amount of weathered fissure water is stored in the weathered shallow mountain zones of the Helan Mountains; groundwater storage in the Ordos Plateau is minimal. Shahu Lake, located in Pingluo County, is now a national 5A-level tourist attraction. It covers an area of 50 square kilometers, including approximately 10 square kilometers of water area and 20 square kilometers of desert. It combines the scenery of water towns and vast deserts and is also an important habitat for birds.

Shizuishan City has a temperate arid to semi-arid climate, characterized by cold winters and hot summers, relatively low precipitation, abundant sunshine throughout the year, concentrated rainfall, intense evaporation, dry air, significant temperature variations, and a short frost-free period. Summers are hot and brief, springs are warm and windy, autumns are cool and short, and winters are cold and long. The annual average temperature ranges from 8.4°C to 9.9°C. The annual lowest average temperature ranges from -19.4°C to -23.2°C, while the annual highest average temperature ranges from 32.4°C to 36.1°C. The geographical distribution of annual average precipitation is relatively uniform, with the city's annual average precipitation ranging from 167.5 mm to 188.8 mm. The annual evaporation ranges from 1,708.7 mm to 2,512.6 mm, which is 10 to 14 times the precipitation, placing it in an arid to semi-arid region.

Average Meteorological Data for Shizuishan City (1981-2010)

| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year | |-----------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|----------|----------|----------|----------| | Avg High °C (°F) | -0.3 (31.5) | 4.3 (39.7) | 11.2 (52.2) | 19.4 (66.9) | 25.4 (77.7) | 29.6 (85.3) | 31.3 (88.3) | 29.2 (84.6) | 24.1 (75.4) | 17.3 (63.1) | 8.3 (46.9) | 1.0 (33.8) | 16.7 (62.1) | | Daily Mean °C (°F) | -7.0 (19.4) | -2.5 (27.5) | 4.5 (40.1) | 12.4 (54.3) | 18.8 (65.8) | 23.3 (73.9) | 25.1 (77.2) | 22.9 (73.2) | 17.4 (63.3) | 10.0 (50.0) | 1.6 (34.9) | -5.3 (22.5) | 10.1 (50.2) | | Avg Low °C (°F) | -12.5 (9.5) | -8.2 (17.2) | -1.6 (29.1) | 5.5 (41.9) | 11.6 (52.9) | 16.2 (61.2) | 18.9 (66.0) | 17.2 (63.0) | 11.6 (52.9) | 4.1 (39.4) | -3.7 (25.3) | -10.3 (13.5) | 4.1 (39.3) | | Avg Precipitation mm (inches) | 1.3 (0.05) | 2.2 (0.09) | 5.0 (0.20) | 4.7 (0.19) | 15.1 (0.59) | 24.1 (0.95) | 40.2 (1.58) | 40.2 (1.58) | 23.6 (0.93) | 8.1 (0.32) | 1.8 (0.07) | 0.8 (0.03) | 167.1 (6.58) | | Avg Relative Humidity % | 51 | 44 | 39 | 32 | 37 | 43 | 52 | 58 | 58 | 53 | 53 | 54 | 48 |

4. Administrative Divisions

Shizuishan City administers 2 municipal districts and 1 county.

• Municipal Districts: Dawukou District, Huinong District
• County: Pingluo County

Additionally, Shizuishan City has established the following economic management zones: National-level Shizuishan Economic and Technological Development Zone, Longhu Poverty Alleviation Economic Development Zone

| Division Code | Division Name | Hanyu Pinyin | Area (km²) | Resident Population (2020 Census) | Government Seat | Postal Code | Subdistricts | Towns | Townships | |-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|----------------|---------------------------------------|---------------------|-----------------|------------------|-----------|---------------| | 640200 | Shizuishan City | Shízuǐshān Shì | 4,074.47 | 751,389 | Dawukou District | 753000 | 16 | 11 | 9 | | 640202 | Dawukou District | Dàwǔkǒu Qū | 949.89 | 298,292 | Renminlu Subdistrict | 753000 | 10 | 1 | | | 640205 | Huinong District | Huìnóng Qū | 1,064.79 | 178,891 | Beijie Subdistrict | 753600 | 6 | 3 | 3 | | 640221 | Pingluo County | Píngluó Xiàn | 2,059.79 | 274,206 | Chengguan Town | 753400 | | 7 | 6 |

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5. Transportation

Shizuishan City is located 100 kilometers from Yinchuan Hedong Airport. It is traversed north-south by over 60 kilometers of the Baotou-Lanzhou Railway, 74 kilometers of the G6 Beijing-Lhasa Expressway, 70 kilometers of National Highway 109, and 90 kilometers of National Highway 110. Major east-west highways include Daping, Pingtao, Hongli, and Yaoru. The Pingru Line, dedicated railway lines for factories and mines, along with 79 branch highways, form an extensive road (and rail) network. The total operational mileage is approximately 1,200 kilometers, creating a crisscrossing transportation framework.

For Yellow River shipping, there are 39 ferries, 2 floating bridges, 11 ferry crossings, and a 144-kilometer navigation route. The Taole Yellow River Bridge has been completed, serving as another vital transportation link between Shizuishan City and Yinchuan City. Additionally, the Shizuishan Yellow River Bridge acts as a key cross-regional transportation hub connecting the Ningxia and Inner Mongolia regions.

6. Education

• Ningxia Institute of Science and Technology
• Shizuishan Industry and Trade Vocational Technical College

7. Population

By the end of 2022, the permanent resident population of Shizuishan City was 751,800, a decrease of 1,200 from the end of the previous year. Among them, the urban population was 599,200, the rural population was 152,600, and the urbanization rate was 79.7%. The male population was 383,200, accounting for 51%; the female population was 368,600, accounting for 49%. The birth rate was 7.31‰, the death rate was 8.77‰, and the natural growth rate was -1.46‰.

According to the Seventh National Population Census in 2020, the city's permanent resident population was 751,389. Compared with the 725,482 people from the Sixth National Population Census, there was an increase of 25,907 people over the ten years, a growth of 3.57%, with an average annual growth rate of 0.35%. Among them, the male population was 384,491, accounting for 51.17% of the total population; the female population was 366,898, accounting for 48.83% of the total population. The sex ratio of the total population (with females as 100) was 104.8. The population aged 0-14 was 115,843, accounting for 15.42% of the total population; the population aged 15-59 was 508,393, accounting for 67.66% of the total population; the population aged 60 and above was 127,153, accounting for 16.92% of the total population, of which the population aged 65 and above was 91,081, accounting for 12.12% of the total population. The population residing in urban areas was 585,502, accounting for 77.92% of the total population; the population residing in rural areas was 165,887, accounting for 22.08% of the total population.

7.1 Ethnic Groups

Shizuishan City is home to 24 ethnic groups, including Han, Hui, Mongol, and Manchu. Among the city's permanent resident population, the Han population was 568,238, accounting for 75.63%; the population of various ethnic minorities was 183,151, accounting for 24.37%, of which the Hui population was 176,176, accounting for 23.45%. Compared with the Sixth National Population Census in 2010, the Han population decreased by 10,134, a decline of 1.75%, and its proportion of the total population decreased by 4.1 percentage points; the population of various ethnic minorities increased by 36,041, a growth of 24.5%, and its proportion of the total population increased by 4.1 percentage points. Among them, the Hui population increased by 35,036, a growth of 24.82%, and its proportion of the total population increased by 3.99 percentage points.

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8. Sister Cities

• France Paray-le-Monial

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Dawukou District

Dawukou District

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