Weinan (渭南)

1. Introduction

Weinan City is a prefecture-level city under the jurisdiction of Shaanxi Province, the People's Republic of China. Located in the eastern part of Shaanxi Province, it derives its name from its position on the south bank of the Wei River. The city borders Yan'an to the north, Tongchuan, Xianyang, and Xi'an to the west, Shangluo to the south, and Sanmenxia in Henan Province to the east. Across the Yellow River, it faces Yuncheng and Linfen in Shanxi Province. Situated in the eastern part of the Guanzhong Plain, its terrain primarily consists of the alluvial plain of the Wei River and loess tablelands. The southern part is mountainous, belonging to the Qinling Mountains, while the northern part is characterized by the Beishan Mountains. The Wei River flows eastward through the central region into the Yellow River, and the North Luo River runs diagonally from the northwest to the southeast, eventually joining the Wei River. The city covers a total area of 13,031 square kilometers with a population of 5.3599 million. The municipal people's government is located in Linwei District. Weinan lies at the easternmost end of the Guanzhong–Tianshui Economic Zone, representing the widest section of the Guanzhong Plain. It serves as a gateway from the Central Plains to northwestern China and is acclaimed as the "Eastern Gateway of Shaanxi." With its well-developed transportation network, it has long been known as the "Vital Thoroughfare of Three Qin and Hub Connecting Eight Provinces."

2. Etymology

Wei River: Weinan City is named for its location south of the Wei River. The Wei River is the largest tributary of the Yellow River, flowing through the central part of Shaanxi Province and serving as a vital water system of the Guanzhong Plain. Locative Word: Weinan City is situated on the southern bank of the Wei River, hence the name "Nan" (south). In ancient times, locative words (such as east, west, south, north) were commonly used in place names to indicate geographical location.

3. History

For over two millennia from the Zhou and Qin dynasties to the Han and Tang dynasties, Weinan was consistently a vital area of the capital region and one of the birthplaces of Chinese civilization. With a history of county establishment spanning more than 2,600 years, Weinan has produced six emperors, including Emperor Wen of Sui, Yang Jian; over 80 prime ministers, most notably Kou Zhun of the Song Dynasty; and more than 300 generals, among them the famous anti-Japanese patriotic general Yang Hucheng.

Dongfu was the ancient name for Weinan, and its origin involves a complex historical evolution. Historical records indicate that in the first year of the Taichu era of Emperor Wu of the Western Han Dynasty (104 BC), the Guanzhong region was initially divided into three major administrative areas: Jingzhao, Zuopingyi, and Youfufeng. Because these areas were part of the capital's vicinity, they were collectively referred to as the "Three Auxiliary Regions." Although the administrative offices of the Three Auxiliary Regions were all located in the capital, Chang'an, their jurisdictions differed. Jingzhao governed the capital Chang'an, Zuopingyi governed the area east of the capital, and Youfufeng governed the area west of the capital. This marked the initial formation of the Dongfu (Eastern Prefecture) and Xifu (Western Prefecture) structure in Guanzhong, dating back over 2,100 years. Later, Zuopingyi moved its administrative office to Gaoling, with jurisdiction over areas east of the Jing River, south of the Huanglong Mountains, and north of the Wei River in what is now Weinan City. In the fifth year of the Jian'an era of Emperor Xian of the Eastern Han Dynasty (200 AD), the Zuopingyi administrative office moved east to Linjin, present-day Dali. By the first year of the Huangchu era of the Cao Wei state during the Three Kingdoms period (220 AD), Zuopingyi was renamed Fengyi Commandery, governing eight counties: Linjin, Heyang, Xiayang (present-day Hancheng), Zhongquan (present-day Pucheng), Suyi (present-day Baishui), Xia Gui (the area north of the Wei River in present-day Linwei District), Lianzhao (northern part of present-day Linwei District), and Pinyang (present-day Fuping). By this time, the framework of the Dongfu region was largely established, a history spanning over 1,800 years. After numerous changes, following the third year of Yuanqin of the Western Wei during the Northern and Southern Dynasties (554 AD), Fengyi Commandery was gradually replaced by Tongzhou. From the Northern and Southern Dynasties through the Sui, Tang, Five Dynasties, Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties until the early Republic of China, Tongzhou remained largely unchanged for approximately 1,300 years. The ten major counties of Tongzhou, along with the counties south of the Wei River, which had long been under the jurisdiction of Jingzhao since the Western Han Dynasty, such as Weinan (present-day Linwei), and the counties of Erhua and Tong, underwent many historical changes but were under Huazhou for a relatively long period. Huazhou was essentially a small prefecture, governing no more than three counties in most dynasties. From the Han to Sui dynasties, it was mostly subordinate to Jingzhao. After the Jin and Yuan dynasties until the late Qing and early Republic of China, it was under the jurisdiction of Xi'an Prefecture, totaling about 1,300 years. The historical periods of Huazhou and Tongzhou are largely concurrent, so it can be said that Dongfu in Guanzhong refers to the combined area of these two prefectures. In the 13th year of the Yongzheng era of the Qing Dynasty (1735 AD), Tongzhou was changed to Tongzhou Prefecture, and Huazhou was downgraded to a subordinate prefecture, with its originally governed counties incorporated into Tongzhou Prefecture. At this point, Tongzhou Prefecture governed eight counties, one prefecture, and one sub-prefecture: Dali, Chaoyi, Heyang, Chengcheng, Pucheng, Hancheng, Baishui, and Huayin counties, as well as Huazhou and Tongguan Sub-prefecture. This is the origin of the folk saying "Erhua Guan Da Shui, San Cheng Chao He Yang," referring to the ten major counties of Dongfu. By then, the jurisdictional area of Dongfu had solidified into what is now Weinan City.

3.1 Ancient Times

The earliest inhabitants in the area of present-day Weinan City can be traced back to the Dali Man, who lived approximately 200,000 years ago. The cave deposits at Yukou are sites from the Paleolithic Age. Legend has it that Cangjie, the historian of the Yellow Emperor, created Chinese characters in Weinan, earning him the title "Sage of Characters."

3.2 Pre-Qin Period

During the Xia Dynasty in the 20th century BC, Weinan was the territory of the Youhu tribe. By the Shang Dynasty in the 16th century BC, it became part of the Lirong state. As the vassal state of the Western Zhou grew stronger toward the end of the Shang Dynasty, Weinan's role as a military stronghold was reinforced. When the Zhou Dynasty officially established its capital in Haojing (present-day Xi'an), Weinan's status as a vital area of the capital region was further strengthened, and its agricultural economy developed rapidly.

During the Spring and Autumn Period, Weinan belonged to the Jin state. In the tenth year of Duke Wu of Qin (688 BC), the Qin state sent troops to subdue the Tuji Rong and established Xia Gui County north of the present-day Wei River. The following year, Zheng County was established to govern the area south of the Wei River. During the Warring States Period, Weinan first belonged to the Wei state. In the fifth year of King Xiang of Wei (314 BC), Wei ceded the territory to Qin. In the sixteenth year of King Ying Zheng of Qin (231 BC), Liyi County was established to govern the area south of the Wei River.

3.3 Qin and Han Dynasties

In the 27th year of Qin Shi Huang (220 BC), the Neishi (Capital Region) was established, governing Liyi, Xia Gui, and other areas.

In the first year of Emperor Gaozu of Han (206 BC), Xiang Yu advanced into Guanzhong and divided it into three states, enfeoffing Sima Xin as the King of Sai, with his capital at Yueyang. Weinan belonged to the Sai Kingdom. In the second year of Emperor Gaozu, Weinan Commandery and Heshang Commandery were established. Zheng County and Liyi County were under Weinan Commandery, while Lianzhao County was under Heshang Commandery. In the ninth year of Emperor Gaozu (198 BC), the two commanderies were abolished, and the area reverted to the Neishi.

In July 197 BC, Liyi County was renamed Xinfeng County. In the sixth year of the Jianyuan era (135 BC), the Neishi was divided into left and right sections. Xinfeng County, Zheng County, and Xia Gui County belonged to the Right Neishi, while Lianzhao County belonged to the Left Neishi. In the first year of the Taichu era (104 BC), the Right Neishi was renamed Jingzhao Yin, and the Left Neishi was renamed Zuopingyi. Xinfeng County, Xia Gui County, and Zheng County were under Jingzhao Yin, while Lianzhao County was under Zuopingyi.

From the first year of the Shijianguo era to the fourth year of the Dihuang era of the Xin Dynasty (9–23 AD), Lie Commandery was established, governing Xinfeng, Xia Gui, Lianzhao, and other counties.

In the 15th year of the Jianwu era of the Eastern Han Dynasty (39 AD), Xia Gui County was merged into Zheng County under Jingzhao Yin, while Lianzhao County remained under Zuopingyi. Mizhi County was merged into Xinfeng County at this time, under Jingzhao Yin. In the first year of the Jianhe era (147 AD), Xia Gui County was restored and placed under Zuopingyi.

3.4 Wei, Jin, and Northern and Southern Dynasties

During the Cao Wei period, Jingzhao Yin was changed to a commandery, and Zuopingyi was renamed Fengyi Commandery. Xinfeng County and Zheng County were under Jingzhao Commandery of Yongzhou, while Xia Gui County and Lianzhao County were under Fengyi Commandery of Yongzhou.

In the first month of the second year of the Ganlu era of Former Qin's Fu Jian (360 AD), parts of Xinfeng County and Zheng County were separated to establish Weinan County, marking the formal establishment of Weinan as a city under Jingzhao Commandery of Yongzhou.

In the third year of the Xiaochang era of the Northern Wei Dynasty (527 AD), Weinan County was renamed Nanxinfeng County, and Weinan Commandery was established. In the third year of the Datong era of the Western Wei Dynasty (537 AD), Xiafeng County was reestablished, along with Lianzhao County, under Fengyi Commandery of Yongzhou. In the second year of the Feidi era (553 AD), Nanxinfeng County was renamed back to Weinan County.

3.5 Sui, Tang, and Five Dynasties

In the tenth year of the Daye era of the Sui Dynasty (614 AD), the seat of Xia Gui County was moved to present-day Xia Gui Town (renamed from Xiaji Town back to Xia Gui Town in 2012) under Tongzhou.

In the first year of the Wude era of the Tang Dynasty (618 AD), Weinan was placed under Huazhou. In the first year of the Dazu era (701 AD), Weinan was placed under Yongzhou. In the first year of the Kaiyuan era (713 AD), Weinan was placed under Jingzhao Commandery of Jingzhao Prefecture. The Tang Dynasty had twenty imperial mausoleums, ten of which are located on the Weibei Plateau in Weinan City, including the Dingling Mausoleum of Emperor Zhongzong, the Qiaoling Mausoleum of Emperor Ruizong, and the Tailing Mausoleum of Emperor Xuanzong.

During the Later Liang period of the Five Dynasties, Weinan was under Da'an Prefecture. During the Later Tang, Later Jin, and Later Han periods, it remained under Jingzhao Prefecture. In the second year of the Xiande era of the Later Zhou Dynasty (956 AD), it was placed under Huazhou. Xia Gui County remained under Huazhou throughout this period.

3.6 Song, Jin, Yuan, Ming, and Qing Dynasties

In the first year of the Jianlong era of the Northern Song Dynasty (960 AD), Huazhou was renamed Zhenguo Army. In the fifth year of the Huangyou era (1053 AD), Zhenguo Army was renamed Zhentong Army, and Weinan was placed under it. In the sixth year of the Xining era (1073 AD), Weinan County was abolished and merged into Zheng County. In the first year of the Yuanfeng era (1078 AD), Weinan County was restored and placed under Huayin Commandery of Huazhou in the Yongxing Army Circuit. Xia Gui County remained under Huayin Commandery of Huazhou. In the second year of the Huangtong era of the Jin Dynasty (1142 AD), the Yongxing Army Circuit was renamed Jingzhao Prefecture Circuit, and Zhentong Army was renamed Jin'an Army. Weinan and Xia Gui were placed under it.

In the first year of the Zhongtong era of the Yuan Dynasty (1260 AD), Jin'an Army was renamed Huazhou. In the first year of the Zhiyuan era (1264 AD), Xia Gui was merged into Weinan, a system known as "joint administration." In the 16th year of the Zhiyuan era (1279 AD), Jingzhao Circuit was renamed Anxi Circuit. In the 23rd year (1286 AD), the Shaanxi Branch Secretariat was established. In the first year of the Huangqing era (1312 AD), Anxi Circuit was renamed Fengyuan Circuit, and Weinan was placed under Huazhou of Fengyuan Circuit in the Shaanxi Branch Secretariat.

In the 14th year of the Hongwu era of the Ming Dynasty (1381 AD), the "joint administration" system was abolished, and Xia Gui County was incorporated into Weinan County. Weinan County then spanned both sides of the Wei River for the first time, under Huazhou of Xi'an Prefecture in the Shaanxi Provincial Administration Commission. On January 23, 1556, during the 34th year of the Jiajing era, a major earthquake struck Huaxian County, affecting 97 counties across nine provinces and causing at least 830,000 deaths (excluding unregistered residents). It remains the deadliest earthquake in recorded history. In the 38th year of the Jiajing era (1559 AD), Weinan County was placed directly under Xi'an Prefecture.

During the Qing Dynasty, Weinan County was under Xi'an Prefecture in the Xiganlu Circuit of Shaanxi Province.

3.7 Post-Republic of China Era

After the establishment of the Republic of China, Weinan County was initially under the Guanzhong Circuit. In 1928, it was placed directly under Shaanxi Province. In the same year, the Weihua Uprising, led by Liu Zhidan of the Chinese Communist Party, broke out in Weinan and Huaxian County. The uprising was suppressed and ultimately failed.

When the People's Republic of China was founded, Weinan County was under the Weinan Division of the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region Government. On September 3, 1968, the Weinan Division was renamed Weinan Prefecture. In October 1983, Weinan County was upgraded to a county-level city, and Hancheng County was upgraded to a county-level city. In December 1990, Huayin County was upgraded to a county-level city. In April 1995, Weinan Prefecture was renamed Weinan City, and the former county-level Weinan City became Linwei District. In December 2015, Huaxian County was renamed Huazhou District.

4. Geography

Weinan, the eastern gateway of Shaanxi, is located at the geographical center of China. The entire city of Weinan is situated in the eastern part of the Guanzhong Plain. Apart from some undulating terrain near the northern foothills of the Qinling Mountains in the south, the rest of the area is flat and expansive, making it excellent land for crop cultivation. It has long been recognized as one of the finest agricultural ecological zones in Shaanxi and even nationwide, as well as a crucial national base for agricultural production.

4.1 Topography

Weinan City is located on the lower reaches of the Wei River Plain. Most of the urban area lies within the flattest and most fertile region of Guanzhong, while parts of the southern area are situated at the northern foothills of the Qinling Mountains. The geological structure of Weinan City is complex, with significant variations in elevation. On a large scale, the landform is of the basin type, characterized by higher elevations in the north and south, lower in the middle, and open from east to west, with the Wei River traversing the central area. On a medium scale, the terrain rises stepwise from the Wei River Plain towards the northern and southern mountainous areas: the lowest level consists of the alluvial plains of the lower reaches of the Wei and Luo Rivers; surrounding the plains are loess tablelands; in front of the mountains are piedmont slope deposits and alluvial fan aprons; and at the northern and southern edges are earth-rock mountainous areas.

4.2 Rivers and Hydrology

All rivers in Weinan City belong to the Yellow River system. The main transboundary surface water flows include the Yellow River, while incoming surface water flows include the Wei River and the North Luo River. Among the primary tributaries of the Yellow River, the Wei River is the largest, with its basin area within the city accounting for 65% of the city's total area. There are approximately 30 rivers within the city with an average annual runoff exceeding 10 million cubic meters.

4.3 Yellow River System

The Yellow River serves as the boundary river between Shaanxi and Shanxi provinces. The Weinan section of the Yellow River faces Linfen City and Yuncheng City of Shanxi Province across the river. It flows from north to south through Hancheng City, Heyang County, Dali County, and Tongguan County before entering Henan Province. In the Weinan section, the Yellow River valley widens, and the water flow slows. The average annual sediment inflow over many years is 550 million tons. The multi-year average water level at the Longmen Station on the Yellow River is 378.379 meters above sea level, while the average water level at Tongguan is 325 meters [4]. The 132.5-kilometer river course from Yukou to Tongguan in the Weinan section of the Yellow River experiences intense erosion and deposition changes, with an unstable, shifting channel. Near Tongguan, constrained by mountains, the valley suddenly narrows, forming a natural bottleneck only about 1,000 meters wide. The elevation of the Tongguan riverbed is closely related to the erosion and deposition changes in the lower reaches of the Yellow River's Xiaobei Main Stream and the Wei River, hence the hydrological term "Tongguan Elevation." Additionally, the典故 of "Carp Leaping over the Dragon Gate" refers to the Longmen (Dragon Gate) in the Weinan section of the Yellow River.

4.4 Wei River System

The Wei River, known as the "Mother River of Shaanxi," traverses the entire territory of Weinan from west to east. It flows through Linwei District, Huazhou District, Dali County, Huayin City, and finally joins the Yellow River in Tongguan County. The Weinan section of the Wei River is 138 kilometers long, with a basin area of 3,816.9 square kilometers and a multi-year average annual runoff of 9.33 billion cubic meters. After the completion of the Sanmenxia Reservoir on the Yellow River in 1957, due to the impact of backwater sedimentation, the elevation at which the Wei River enters the Yellow River at Tongguan once reached a maximum of 329 meters. Consequently, the lower reaches of the Wei River also experienced sedimentation and elevation rise, leading to frequent flooding. Therefore, along the 208 kilometers below the Wei Sedimentation Section 36, embankments have been built on both banks for control, along with some bank protection and flow guidance projects. However, the flood control task for the Weinan section of the Wei River remains severe. Between August and September 2003, the Wei River experienced four flood peaks. The floodwaters flowed backward into 12 southern mountain tributaries in the Weinan section, destroying 1.02 million mu of farmland and 55 villages, submerging 250 square kilometers of land in eastern Weinan, and affecting 560,000 people. In 2011, Weinan City began comprehensive management of the Wei River section within its jurisdiction. This included widening 160.86 kilometers of embankments, expanding 7 traffic bridges at tributary mouths, constructing 2 new traffic bridges at tributary mouths, clearing river channel obstacles, and initiating pollution control projects. The goal is to achieve a flood control standard of once in 100 years for the urban sections of the Wei River and once in 50 years for the agricultural protection sections.

4.5 Luo River System

The North Luo River flows through Baishui County, Chengcheng County, and Pucheng County before joining the Wei River in Dali County. The ground in the Weinan section of the Luo River is gentle, the land fertile, the degree of irrigation high, and agricultural production well-developed. Historically, the Luo River changed its course between flowing into the Yellow River and the Wei River multiple times, only stabilizing its flow into the Wei River in 1947, where it remains today.

4.6 Resources

Weinan is rich in resources. The geological reserves of raw coal are 25.5 billion tons, with proven reserves of 5.03 billion tons, famously known nationwide as the "Weibei Black Belt." The proven molybdenum reserves in Jindui Town, Huazhou District, are 1.5 million metal tons, ranking second in the country. The annual production of molybdenum concentrate powder is about 15,000 tons, accounting for approximately half of the national output, making it the largest molybdenum concentrate powder production base in Asia. Gold reserves are abundant, with production accounting for over half of the province's total and ranking third nationally. Proven reserves of limestone are 108 million tons, and marble reserves are 2.283 million tons. Geothermal water and medicinal/drinking mineral water sources distributed across 9 counties (cities) are abundant. Among them, the mineral water in Dali has a daily output of 60,000 tons, is rich in various elements needed by the human body, and is acclaimed as "the best in China."

4.7 Climate

Weinan City is located deep in the continental interior, over 800 kilometers from the sea, with strong continental influences, resulting in a temperate monsoon climate. The continentality of precipitation in the city is 48.4%, and the continentality of temperature is 61.6%. The climate is mild with moderate precipitation, simultaneous occurrence of rain and heat, and four distinct seasons. Spring temperatures rise quickly, and autumn often brings continuous rain. The annual average temperature in Weinan City ranges from 11.5°C to 13.6°C. The accumulated temperature above 0°C is between 4250°C and 5023°C, and above 10°C is between 3781°C and 4509°C. The average annual precipitation is between 508.0 mm and 608.9 mm, with a humidity index of 0.51 to 0.72. Sunshine resources are abundant, with annual sunshine hours averaging between 2001 and 2528 hours, and a sunshine percentage between 46% and 57%.

4.8 Air Quality

Data from the Weinan Environmental Protection Bureau shows that in 2012, environmental air quality in the urban area of Weinan was monitored for 366 days, with 310 days meeting standards, resulting in an 86.0% compliance rate. This included 64 days rated excellent, 246 days good, 44 days slightly polluted, 10 days lightly polluted, and 2 days moderately polluted. Weinan City began publishing monitoring data for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) on January 1, 2013. Monitoring results in the first half of January 2013 once showed only two days meeting standards, indicating relatively poor air quality conditions.

4.9 Temperature and Precipitation

Average Meteorological Data for Weinan City (1981–2010)

| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Average High °C (°F) | 5.1(41.2) | 9.3(48.7) | 15.1(59.2) | 22.0(71.6) | 27.3(81.1) | 31.9(89.4) | 32.5(90.5) | 30.5(86.9) | 25.9(78.6) | 19.9(67.8) | 12.7(54.9) | 6.4(43.5) | 19.9(67.8) | | Daily Mean °C (°F) | −0.3(31.5) | 3.4(38.1) | 8.6(47.5) | 15.2(59.4) | 20.4(68.7) | 25.3(77.5) | 26.8(80.2) | 25.0(77.0) | 20.0(68.0) | 14.0(57.2) | 6.8(44.2) | 0.9(33.6) | 13.8(56.9) | | Average Low °C (°F) | −4.4(24.1) | −1.3(29.7) | 3.2(37.8) | 9.1(48.4) | 14.0(57.2) | 18.9(66.0) | 21.7(71.1) | 20.4(68.7) | 15.6(60.1) | 9.6(49.3) | 2.2(36.0) | −3.2(26.2) | 8.8(47.9) | | Average Precipitation mm (inches) | 5.6(0.22) | 10.3(0.41) | 22.9(0.90) | 41.8(1.65) | 51.3(2.02) | 62.4(2.46) | 93.3(3.67) | 96.2(3.79) | 94.1(3.70) | 62.5(2.46) | 23.5(0.93) | 5.5(0.22) | 569.4(22.43) | | Average Relative Humidity (%) | 67 | 64 | 65 | 66 | 67 | 63 | 74 | 80 | 82 | 79 | 75 | 71 | 71 |

Data Source China Meteorological Data Network

5. Administrative Divisions

Weinan City administers 2 municipal districts, 7 counties, and manages 2 county-level cities on behalf of the province. The built-up area of its central city reaches 71 square kilometers (as of 2014).

Municipal Districts: Linwei District, Huazhou District County-level Cities: Hancheng City, Huayin City Counties: Tongguan County, Dali County, Heyang County, Chengcheng County, Pucheng County, Baishui County, Fuping County Additionally, Weinan City has established the following administrative management zones: Weinan High-Tech Industrial Development Zone (National Level), Weinan Economic and Technological Development Zone (Provincial Level), and Luyang Lake Modern Industrial Development Zone (Provincial Level).

Administrative Division Map of Weinan City

| Division Code | Division Name | Chinese Pinyin | Area (sq km) | Resident Population (2020 Census) | Government Seat | Postal Code | Township-level Divisions | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 610500 | Weinan City | Wèinán Shì | 13,030.56 | 4,688,744 | Linwei District | 714000 | 26 Subdistricts, 108 Towns | | 610502 | Linwei District | Línwèi Qū | 1,263.76 | 920,044 | Duqiao Subdistrict | 714000 | 13 Subdistricts, 14 Towns | | 610503 | Huazhou District | Huàzhōu Qū | 1,132.46 | 268,620 | Huazhou Subdistrict | 714100 | 1 Subdistrict, 9 Towns | | 610522 | Tongguan County | Tóngguān Xiàn | 427.35 | 125,317 | Chengguan Subdistrict | 714300 | 1 Subdistrict, 4 Towns | | 610523 | Dali County | Dàlì Xiàn | 1,690.60 | 592,888 | Chengguan Subdistrict | 715100 | 1 Subdistrict, 15 Towns | | 610524 | Heyang County | Héyáng Xiàn | 1,317.15 | 360,683 | Chengguan Subdistrict | 715300 | 1 Subdistrict, 11 Towns | | 610525 | Chengcheng County | Chéngchéng Xiàn | 1,121.64 | 304,089 | Chengguan Subdistrict | 715200 | 1 Subdistrict, 9 Towns | | 610526 | Pucheng County | Púchéng Xiàn | 1,579.81 | 662,603 | Chengguan Subdistrict | 715500 | 1 Subdistrict, 15 Towns | | 610527 | Baishui County | Báishuǐ Xiàn | 983.95 | 223,832 | Chengguan Subdistrict | 715600 | 1 Subdistrict, 7 Towns | | 610528 | Fuping County | Fùpíng Xiàn | 1,245.99 | 642,452 | Chengguan Subdistrict | 711700 | 2 Subdistricts, 14 Towns | | 610581 | Hancheng City | Hánchéng Shì | 1,591.60 | 383,097 | Xincheng Subdistrict | 715400 | 2 Subdistricts, 6 Towns | | 610582 | Huayin City | Huàyīn Shì | 676.26 | 205,119 | Taihualu Subdistrict | 714200 | 2 Subdistricts, 4 Towns |

6. Economy

Weinan City is a relatively underdeveloped economic region within Shaanxi Province. In 2013, the city's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) exceeded 130 billion yuan for the first time, reaching 134.901 billion yuan, ranking sixth in Shaanxi Province with a year-on-year growth of 12%. Specifically, the added value of the primary industry was 20.238 billion yuan, an increase of 4.7%; the secondary industry added 74.323 billion yuan, growing by 15.3%; and the tertiary industry added 40.34 billion yuan, with a growth rate of 9.6%. The industrial structure ratio of the primary, secondary, and tertiary sectors was 15.0:55.0:29.9. The per capita GDP was 25,327 yuan, ranking eighth in the province and representing an 11.7% increase from the previous year. For a long time, Weinan's industrial structure has been highly imbalanced, with an excessively large proportion of agriculture and relatively slow development in the secondary and tertiary sectors. Although this trend has improved in recent years, structural issues persist.

6.1 Agriculture

Weinan boasts vast land, a mild climate, ample sunlight, and moderate yet abundant rainfall, making it suitable for the development of agriculture, forestry, and animal husbandry. The city has an agricultural population of 3.89 million and an agricultural labor force of 2.51 million. Its total land area is 13,000 square kilometers, with a cultivated area of 8.73 million mu. The per capita cultivated land is 2 mu, and arable land accounts for 96% of the total. Historically, Weinan has been an excellent production base for grain crops such as wheat and corn. The city raises over ten types of livestock and poultry, with notable quantities and quality in Qinchuan cattle, Guanzhong donkeys, and dairy goats. There are more than 80 varieties of agricultural and forestry crops, particularly abundant in wheat, corn, beans, cotton, rapeseed, peanuts, apples, crisp pears, vegetables, flue-cured tobacco, Sichuan pepper, and watermelons. As a major agricultural city, Weinan is an important agricultural production area and base in Shaanxi and even nationwide, often referred to as the "Granary of Shaanxi" and the "Cotton Warehouse of Shaanxi." It has established 7 national-level commercial grain base counties (districts/cities); 4 national-level high-quality cotton base counties; 8 national-level high-quality wheat base counties; 3 national dairy goat base counties; 3 national commercial fish base counties; and 6 provincial-level high-quality apple base counties.

6.2 Industry

Due to the construction of the Sanmenxia Reservoir in the 1950s and 1960s, Weinan City was long unable to develop its industry, resulting in an economic development level far behind cities like Xianyang and Baoji within the province. It was only after the reform and opening-up that industrial development gradually began. With the implementation of the "Western Development" strategy in 1999, Weinan's industrial economy started to develop rapidly, with output value soaring. Industries such as energy, chemicals, food, building materials, non-ferrous metals, machinery, and pharmaceuticals developed quickly, establishing Weinan as an important energy and heavy chemical industry base in Shaanxi and nationwide. In 2013, the output value of industrial enterprises above a designated size in the city reached 172.847 billion yuan, an increase of 8.1% from the previous year; the added value completed was 60.33 billion yuan, growing by 16.3%.

The Weinan High-Tech Industrial Development Zone was established in 1988 and is one of the earliest high-tech zones in Shaanxi Province. Covering an area of 49 square kilometers, it is an important component of the national Guanzhong High-Tech Industrial Development Belt. On September 26, 2010, it was officially upgraded to a national-level high-tech industrial development zone with the approval of the State Council, becoming the third national-level high-tech zone in Shaanxi Province. Weinan City also has 14 other industrial parks, including the Weinan Economic and Technological Development Zone and the Luyang Lake Modern Industrial Development Zone.

6.3 Tertiary Industry

In recent years, Weinan has promoted strategic adjustments to its economic structure, leading to some development in the tertiary sector. The city focuses on developing producer services such as logistics, finance, and information, while also striving to expand and strengthen the logistics industry.

7. Transportation

Since ancient times, Weinan has been a crucial area near the capital, serving as the gateway to Chang'an. It has long been known as the "vital thoroughfare of the Three Qins and the hub connecting eight provinces."

7.1 Urban Transportation

Urban public transportation in Weinan is in a developmental stage. As of March 2015, the Weinan Public Bus system operated 20 routes. In recent years, vehicles on some routes have been upgraded. Buses serve major urban areas and some suburban towns. Except for Route 1 (air-conditioned) and Route 2 (electric), which cost 2 yuan, all other urban bus fares are 1 yuan. On December 25, 2012, Weinan introduced IC cards for buses. The standard swipe fare is 0.90 yuan per ride, while student cards cost 0.65 yuan per ride, and concession cards cost 0.40 yuan per ride.

There are 1,000 taxis operating in the urban area. The taxi starting fare is 6 yuan. The rental rate is 0.75 yuan per 0.5 kilometers for engines below 1.6 liters, and 0.80 yuan per 0.5 kilometers for engines 1.6 liters and above.

7.2 Road Transportation

Weinan boasts excellent and convenient road transportation, situated at the intersection of National Highways 108 and 310. Within its territory are two major national expressways: G5 Beijing-Kunming Expressway and G30 Lianyungang-Khorgas Expressway. Additionally, G6521 Weinan-Pucheng Expressway, the first provincial-level expressway in Shaanxi Province, was completed and opened to traffic in 2010. Currently, all counties, districts, and cities within Weinan, except for Baishui County, are connected by expressways.

Weinan Passenger Transport Center Station is a first-class bus station located on Weiqing Road in the western part of the city. It commenced operations on October 26, 2010. Buses depart from here to destinations within Shaanxi Province such as Xi'an, Xianyang, Baoji, Tongchuan, Shangluo, and Yan'an. It also operates inter-provincial long-distance buses to cities like Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Dongguan.

There are three road bridges spanning the Wei River within the Weinan urban area: the Weifu Wei River Bridge, the Shawang Wei River Bridge, and the Weipu Wei River Bridge. Additionally, the original Shangzhangdu Wei River Bridge was demolished at the end of 2010.

7.3 Railway

Multiple railway lines pass through Weinan, including the Longhai Railway, Baotou-Xi'an Railway, Nanjing-Xi'an Railway, Houma-Xi'an Railway, and Datong-Puzhou Railway. The Zhengzhou-Xi'an High-Speed Railway, the first high-speed railway in western China which opened in 2010, also passes through Weinan, making it one of the earliest cities in western China to have high-speed rail service. The Datong-Xi'an Passenger Dedicated Line, opened in July 2014, also traverses the city. Furthermore, the Guanzhong Intercity Railway is planned for future construction within the city's jurisdiction. The Weinan Wei River Super Major Bridge on the Zhengzhou-Xi'an High-Speed Railway is 79,732 meters long, currently ranking as the third-longest bridge in the world.

There are three railway stations within the Weinan urban area: Weinan Station (Longhai Line), Weinan North Station (Xuzhou-Lanzhou Line, Datong-Xi'an Line), and Weinan West Station (Nanjing-Xi'an Line). Weinan Station, located on the Longhai Line, was originally built in 1933. It primarily serves trains with the prefix 'K', along with a small number of 'T' and 'Z' prefix trains. Weinan North Station is a high-speed rail station, with high-speed trains connecting to major stations such as Xi'an North, Zhengzhou East, Taiyuan South, Wuhan, Changsha South, Nanchang West, Guangzhou South, Shenzhen North, Shijiazhuang, and Beijing West. Weinan South Station is a station on the Nanjing-Xi'an Line, located east of the Youhe Reservoir in the southern suburbs of the city, and is currently out of service.

Other major stations within the city's jurisdiction include Huashan North Station (Xuzhou-Lanzhou High-Speed Line), Dali Station (Datong-Xi'an Line), Pucheng East Station (Baotou-Xi'an Line), Huashan Station (Longhai Line), Zhangqiao Station (Baotou-Xi'an Line, Houma-Xi'an Line), and Hancheng Station (Houma-Xi'an Line).

7.4 Aviation

Weinan Pucheng Neifu Airport is the only general aviation airport in Northwest China to have obtained an operating license. Meanwhile, Weinan City plans to construct the Huashan Branch Airport in Huazhou District. The project is currently in the preliminary land acquisition and construction phase. The site for Weinan Huashan Airport is located in the Luyang Lake Modern Industrial Development Zone, Weinan City, Shaanxi Province. It is approximately 40 kilometers from the main urban area of Weinan and about 65 kilometers from the Huashan Scenic Area. To the east, it connects to the G6521 Yulin-Lantian Expressway, and to the north, it links to the G5 Beijing-Kunming Expressway. The planned Xi'an-Hancheng Intercity Railway and Weinan-Huangling Intercity Railway will have a hub station at Luyang Lake Station, facilitating transfers to Weinan Huashan Airport. Weinan Huashan Airport will be constructed by expanding and modifying the existing infrastructure of the National Civil Aircraft Research and Test Flight Base, including its runway, navigation, and approach lighting systems. The total planned area covers over 6,000 mu (approximately 400 hectares). The flight zone is rated 4E, with a runway 4,000 meters long and 80 meters wide. Main construction includes supporting facilities such as the apron, terminal building, control tower, and civil aviation taxiways. Weinan Huashan Airport can not only divert some traffic from Xi'an Xianyang International Airport but also serve as an alternate airport for it in the near term. Upon completion, it will function as a civil transport airport for passengers and cargo in the Jin-Shaan-Yu Yellow River Golden Triangle region. In the long term, it can be positioned as the "Second Airport for Xi'an." Currently, other passengers must travel to Xi'an Xianyang International Airport for flights. Direct express buses connect Weinan Railway Station to the airport.

8. Education

8.1 Higher Education

Currently, there are three higher education institutions in Weinan City: Weinan Normal University, Shaanxi Railway Institute, and Weinan Vocational & Technical College. Weinan Normal University was established in March 2000 through the merger of the former Weinan Teachers College and the former Weinan Education College. It is a multidisciplinary regular higher education institution primarily focused on teacher education. The university is included in the second batch of undergraduate admissions and is the only undergraduate-level higher education institution in Weinan City. Shaanxi Railway Institute was founded in 1973 and mainly trains specialized talents in railway construction and related fields. Weinan Vocational & Technical College offers 21 higher vocational programs and 5 secondary vocational programs. Both institutions are higher vocational colleges at the specialist (zhuanke) level.

8.2 Basic Education

By the end of 2012, Weinan City had a total of 2,859 schools at all levels and types. These included 75 regular senior high schools, 70 vocational schools, 310 junior high schools, 1,266 primary schools, 1,002 kindergartens, and 7 special education schools. The city had 7 provincial-level exemplary senior high schools and 33 upgraded standardized senior high schools. Schools meeting provincial standardization or above accounted for 53% of all senior high schools in the city. The nine Shaanxi Provincial Exemplary Regular Senior High Schools are: Ruiquan Middle School, Xiangshan Middle School, Heyang Middle School, Weinan Senior High School, Chengcheng Middle School, Yaoshan Middle School in Pucheng County, Duqiao Middle School in Weinan City, Baishui Middle School in Baishui County, and Yishan Middle School in Fuping County. The enrollment rates for school-age populations in primary school and junior high school were 99.72% and 98.99%, respectively.

8.3 Science and Technology

The Xi'an Satellite Control Center was located in Weinan from January 1968 to March 1988. It relocated to Xi'an in March 1988 and was officially named the Xi'an Satellite Control Center, but a control station remains at the original site in Weinan. Within Weinan City, there is currently one "Fixed Control Station" and the first and second "Mobile Control Stations" under the Xi'an Satellite Control Center. The Weinan Aerospace Measurement and Control Equipment Museum is located at the original site of the Xi'an Satellite Control Center at the southern Qinling Mountain pass in Qiaonan Town, Linwei District. It is China's first aerospace measurement and control museum. The museum covers an area of over 10,000 square meters and is divided into seven exhibition areas: measurement and control equipment, meteorological equipment, vehicle-mounted equipment, recovery equipment, communication equipment, teaching materials and achievements, and antennas. It encapsulates the five major technological leaps in China's aerospace measurement and control endeavors: "flying into space, returning to Earth, geostationary orbit positioning, spacecraft recovery, and multi-satellite management." The museum also houses 2,832 sets of equipment that once served the aerospace measurement and control cause, including the remote control and telemetry antenna for the Chang'e-1 satellite and the re-entry module of the Shenzhou-6 manned spacecraft.

9. Population

By the end of 2022, the city's permanent resident population was 4.619 million, a decrease of 12,000 from the previous year. The number of births was 30,600, with a birth rate of 6.62‰; the number of deaths was 38,800, with a mortality rate of 8.41‰; the natural growth rate was -1.79‰.

According to the Seventh National Population Census in 2020, the city's permanent resident population was 4,688,744. Compared with the 5,286,077 people from the Sixth National Population Census, there was a total decrease of 597,333 people over the ten years, a decline of 11.3%, with an average annual growth rate of -1.19%. Among them, the male population was 2,355,147, accounting for 50.23% of the total population; the female population was 2,333,597, accounting for 49.77% of the total population. The overall sex ratio (with females as 100) was 100.92. The population aged 0–14 was 789,027, accounting for 16.83% of the total population; the population aged 15–59 was 2,825,916, accounting for 60.27% of the total population; the population aged 60 and above was 1,073,801, accounting for 22.9% of the total population, of which the population aged 65 and above was 740,713, accounting for 15.8% of the total population. The urban population was 2,311,932, accounting for 49.31% of the total population; the rural population was 2,376,812, accounting for 50.69% of the total population.

9.1. Ethnic Groups

Among the city's permanent resident population, the Han ethnic group numbered 4,682,654, accounting for 99.87%; ethnic minorities numbered 6,090, accounting for 0.13%. Compared with the Sixth National Population Census in 2010, the Han population decreased by 597,507, a decline of 11.32%, with its proportion of the total population decreasing by 0.02 percentage points; the ethnic minority population increased by 174, a growth of 2.94%, with its proportion of the total population increasing by 0.02 percentage points.

Surnames

The Yang surname originated in Huayin City, and the "Hongnong Yang Clan" has long been a prominent and influential family.

The Zheng surname originated in Huazhou, which was originally the location of the State of Zheng.

The Yin surname originated in Dali, as Duke Mu of Zheng had the courtesy name Ziyin, and his descendants took his courtesy name as their surname.

10. Religion

The religious culture of Weinan City exhibits characteristics of diversity and inclusiveness, with various religions such as Buddhism, Taoism, Christianity, Islam, and folk beliefs coexisting here. Religious activities not only enrich the cultural life of Weinan City but also provide spiritual solace for local residents.

11. Culture

Weinan City, located in eastern Shaanxi Province, is one of the important birthplaces of Chinese civilization, boasting profound historical and cultural heritage as well as rich cultural relics. Since ancient times, Weinan has been a center of Huaxia civilization, with abundant historical sites spanning from ancient times to the modern era, such as the Xiyue Temple, Cangjie Temple, and Sima Qian Temple, all of which bear witness to the glorious history of Chinese civilization.

Weinan is not only the hometown of the "Three Sages" (Cangjie, who created Chinese characters; Du Kang, who brewed wine; and Sima Qian, who authored historical records) but also the cradle of numerous intangible cultural heritages, such as Qin Opera, Huayin Laoqiang, and shadow puppetry. These art forms showcase the unique cultural charm of Weinan. Additionally, Weinan's culinary culture is exceptionally rich, renowned for delicacies like Shuipen Lamb, Shichen Baozi, and Tofu Pudding.

In recent years, Weinan has actively promoted the protection and inheritance of cultural heritage. By organizing traditional festival activities such as the Lantern Festival and integrating cultural innovations with modern art forms, the city has further enhanced its cultural confidence and influence.

12. Sister Cities

International

Szeged, Hungary (Established in 1999) Gumi, South Korea (Established in 2014) Changwon, South Korea (Established in 2015) North Las Vegas, USA (Established in 2015) Komsomolsk-on-Amur, Russia (Established in 2016)

Domestic

Xuzhou City, People's Republic of China (Established in 1997) Zhenjiang City, People's Republic of China (Established in 1997) Shiyan City, People's Republic of China (Established in 2007) Beihai City, People's Republic of China (Established in 2009) Yangzhou City, People's Republic of China (Established in 2010)

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South of the Wei River

No. 69 Chelei Street, Linwei District

Linwei District

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