Yuncheng (运城)

1. Introduction

Yuncheng, historically known as Hedong, is a prefecture-level city under the jurisdiction of Shanxi Province, People's Republic of China. It is located in the southwestern part of Shanxi Province, within the Qin-Jin-Yu Yellow River Golden Triangle. The city borders Linfen to the north, Jincheng and Henan Province's Jiyuan and Luoyang to the east, Henan Province's Sanmenxia to the south, and Shaanxi Province's Weinan across the Yellow River to the west. Situated in the southeastern part of the Loess Plateau, Yuncheng lies in the Yuncheng Basin between the Lüliang Mountains, Taiyue Mountains, and Zhongtiao Mountains. The Fen River flows into the Yellow River in the northern part of the city, while the Sushui River traverses the area from northeast to southwest. The Municipal People's Government is located at No. 248 Hedong Street, Yanhu District.

Yuncheng is a significant cradle of Chinese civilization. In historical research, the capitals of Emperor Shun (Puban) and Emperor Yu (Yangcheng) are believed to have been located within the present-day boundaries of Yuncheng.

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2. History

Archaeological discoveries suggest that Yuncheng might have been the site of the ancient Battle of Banquan between the Yellow Emperor and the Yan Emperor. Human activities and settlements have existed here for approximately 1.8 million years. The capitals of Emperor Shun (Puban), Emperor Yu (Yangcheng), and the Xia Dynasty were all located in this area. During the Spring and Autumn period, it was part of the State of Jin. Duke Xian of Jin established his capital in Jiang (present-day Jiang County) in 669 BCE. After the partition of Jin by the states of Han, Zhao, and Wei, Yuncheng fell under the State of Wei. At that time, the early capital of Wei, Anyi, was located in present-day Xia County. Following Qin Shi Huang's unification of China, 36 commanderies were established, with Yuncheng belonging to Hedong Commandery, administered from Anyi County. Over the next two millennia, administrative divisions changed frequently, but the region was consistently referred to as "Hedong." From the Ming and Qing dynasties onward, it has been part of Shanxi.

In the late Yuan dynasty, due to the government's management of the salt industry, the Hedong Salt Distribution Commission was established. For administrative convenience, its headquarters were relocated from Xiezhou City to Lucun (also known as Lucun). During the Yanyou era, Lucun was renamed Shenghui Town. In the 16th year of the Zhizheng era (1356), when Na Haidejun served as the Salt Distribution Commissioner, the construction of a city wall began. Initially named Fenghuang City, it was later renamed Yuncheng because it was the seat of the Salt Distribution Commission. The Ming dynasty continued the Yuan system and continuously repaired the city walls of Yuncheng. In the 9th year of the Chenghua era (1473), the government additionally stationed a Salt Censor in Yuncheng to oversee salt administration. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, although Yuncheng "was administratively under Anyi County," it operated as an independent system in governmental affairs.

Starting in April 1947, the North China Field Army led by the Chinese Communist Party launched the Yuncheng Campaign, attacking Yuncheng three times. Simultaneously, the 4th Column of the Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan Field Army and troops from the Taiyue Military Region successively captured various counties within present-day Yuncheng City. On December 28, they captured Yuncheng, the main urban area of present-day Yuncheng City. On December 29, the 2nd Column of the Northwest Field Army besieged Anyi County. Zhang Yutong, the county magistrate appointed by the Republic of China government, fled with his troops. On December 31, the People's Liberation Army eliminated the fleeing enemy forces. The Communist regime gained control over the entire Yuncheng area. In 1949, the Yuncheng Special Administrative Region was established. In 1954, the Yuncheng and Linfen Special Administrative Regions were merged to form the Jinnan Special Administrative Region. In 1958, Anyi County, Xieyu County, and Linyi County were merged to form Yuncheng County. In 1970, the Jinnan Region was dissolved, and the Yuncheng Region was re-established.

In June 2000, with the approval of the State Council, the Yuncheng Region was abolished and replaced by Yuncheng City.

3. Geography

Located in the southwestern part of Shanxi Province, it borders Linfen City to the north with the Lüliang Mountains as a natural boundary, neighbors Jincheng City to the east with the Zhongtiao Mountains standing between them, and faces Weinan City in Shaanxi Province and Sanmenxia City in Henan Province across the Yellow River to the west and south. The terrain is flat, the climate is mild, and it is traditionally a major agricultural region.

3.1 Climate

Yuncheng has a warm temperate monsoon climate with four distinct seasons. Winters and summers are longer, while spring and autumn are shorter. Winters are relatively cold, and summers are hot. The average temperature in January is -0.9°C, with an extreme minimum of -18.9°C (recorded on January 23, 1971). The average temperature in July is 27.4°C, with an extreme maximum of 42.7°C (recorded on June 21, 1966). The average annual precipitation is about 530 mm. The annual sunshine duration is 2,218.6 hours, with an average sunshine percentage of 45%-55%.

Meteorological Data for Yanhu District, Yuncheng City (Average data from 1981 to 2010, extreme data from 1951 to 2010)

| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year | |-----------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|----------|----------|----------|----------| | Record High °C (°F) | 16.4 (61.5) | 25.2 (77.4) | 29.6 (85.3) | 37.6 (99.7) | 40.2 (104.4) | 42.7 (108.9) | 41.4 (106.5) | 40.8 (105.4) | 40.0 (104.0) | 33.2 (91.8) | 25.3 (77.5) | 17.5 (63.5) | 42.7 (108.9) | | Average High °C (°F) | 5.1 (41.2) | 9.2 (48.6) | 15.1 (59.2) | 22.4 (72.3) | 27.7 (81.9) | 32.0 (89.6) | 32.8 (91.0) | 31.0 (87.8) | 26.3 (79.3) | 20.3 (68.5) | 12.6 (54.7) | 6.3 (43.3) | 20.1 (68.1) | | Daily Mean °C (°F) | -0.6 (30.9) | 3.3 (37.9) | 8.8 (47.8) | 15.9 (60.6) | 21.3 (70.3) | 25.9 (78.6) | 27.5 (81.5) | 25.9 (78.6) | 21.0 (69.8) | 14.5 (58.1) | 6.7 (44.1) | 0.6 (33.1) | 14.2 (57.6) | | Average Low °C (°F) | -5.3 (22.5) | -1.6 (29.1) | 3.5 (38.3) | 9.8 (49.6) | 15.0 (59.0) | 20.0 (68.0) | 22.9 (73.2) | 21.7 (71.1) | 16.6 (61.9) | 9.8 (49.6) | 2.0 (35.6) | -3.8 (25.2) | 9.2 (48.6) | | Record Low °C (°F) | -18.9 (-2.0) | -16.2 (2.8) | -10.8 (12.6) | -5.0 (23.0) | 2.9 (37.2) | 11.0 (51.8) | 15.4 (59.7) | 12.3 (54.1) | 2.6 (36.7) | -4.9 (23.2) | -11.6 (11.1) | -16.0 (3.2) | -18.9 (-2.0) | | Average Precipitation mm (inches) | 4.5 (0.18) | 6.9 (0.27) | 16.4 (0.65) | 31.4 (1.24) | 52.2 (2.06) | 63.5 (2.50) | 95.0 (3.74) | 88.7 (3.49) | 82.8 (3.26) | 53.2 (2.09) | 19.1 (0.75) | 4.6 (0.18) | 518.3 (20.41) | | Average Precipitation Days (≥0.1 mm) | 2.8 | 3.0 | 4.8 | 6.4 | 7.6 | 8.0 | 9.7 | 8.7 | 9.0 | 7.6 | 4.7 | 2.4 | 74.7 | | Average Relative Humidity % | 56 | 54 | 54 | 54 | 57 | 56 | 66 | 70 | 70 | 69 | 67 | 61 | 61 | | Mean Monthly Sunshine Hours | 149.0 | 147.1 | 166.0 | 199.6 | 232.9 | 226.6 | 227.7 | 223.8 | 177.0 | 166.7 | 151.5 | 150.7 | 2,218.6 | | Possible Sunshine % | 48 | 48 | 45 | 51 | 54 | 52 | 52 | 54 | 48 | 48 | 49 | 50 | 50 - |

4. Administrative Divisions

Yuncheng City currently administers 1 municipal district, 10 counties, and manages 2 county-level cities on behalf of the province.

• Municipal District: Yanhu District
• County-level Cities: Yongji City, Hejin City
• Counties: Linyi County, Wanrong County, Wenxi County, Jishan County, Xinjiang County, Jiang County, Yuanqu County, Xia County, Pinglu County, Ruicheng County

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5. Transportation

• National Highway 209 passes through the area.

Yuncheng Salt Lake International Airport (IATA code: YCU; ICAO code: ZBYC) is an airport located in Zhangxiao Village, Taocun Town, Yanhu District, Yuncheng City, Shanxi Province, People's Republic of China. It is 11 kilometers from the city center and commenced operations on February 7, 2005.

Yuncheng North Railway Station is located in Taoshang Village, Yaomeng Township, Yanhu District, Yuncheng City, Shanxi Province. It is a newly built station on the Datong–Xi'an High-Speed Railway and the second railway station in Yuncheng. It began operations on July 1, 2014. The station building covers an area of 7,999 square meters and has 4 platforms.

6. Education

The main higher education institutions include Yuncheng University, Yuncheng Vocational and Technical University, and Yuncheng Nursing Vocational College. Key secondary schools include Kangjie Middle School and Yuncheng Middle School, among others.

7. Population

As of the end of 2022, the permanent resident population of Yuncheng City was 4.7185 million, a decrease of 14,700 from the end of the previous year. Among them, the urban permanent resident population was 2.4029 million, accounting for 50.93% of the total permanent resident population.

According to the Seventh National Population Census in 2020, the city's permanent resident population was 4,774,508. Compared with the 5,134,779 people from the Sixth National Population Census, there was a total decrease of 360,271 people over the ten years, a decline of 7.02%, with an average annual growth rate of -0.72%. Among them, the male population was 2,410,247, accounting for 50.48% of the total population; the female population was 2,364,261, accounting for 49.52% of the total population. The overall sex ratio (with females as 100) was 101.95. The population aged 0–14 was 802,712, accounting for 16.81% of the total population; the population aged 15–59 was 3,018,752, accounting for 63.23% of the total population; the population aged 60 and above was 953,044, accounting for 19.96% of the total population, of which the population aged 65 and above was 654,104, accounting for 13.7% of the total population. The population residing in urban areas was 2,352,523, accounting for 49.27% of the total population; the population residing in rural areas was 2,421,985, accounting for 50.73% of the total population.

7.1 Ethnic Groups

Among the city's permanent resident population, the Han ethnic population was 4,764,709, accounting for 99.79%; the combined population of various ethnic minorities was 9,799, accounting for 0.21%. Compared with the Sixth National Population Census in 2010, the Han ethnic population decreased by 361,552, a decline of 7.05%, with its proportion of the total population decreasing by 0.04 percentage points; the combined population of various ethnic minorities increased by 1,281, a growth of 15.04%, with its proportion of the total population increasing by 0.04 percentage points.

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8. Culture

8.1 Scenic Spots and Historical Sites

The city boasts over 1,600 cultural and tourism attractions, including 102 national-level protected cultural heritage sites, ranking first among all prefecture-level cities in China. Among the world-renowned sites are the Xiezhou Guandi Temple (the ancestral temple of martial temples), the Yongji Guanque Tower (one of the Four Great Towers), the Yongle Palace (an artistic palace dedicated to Lüzu in Ruicheng), the Yongji Pujiu Temple (where the story of The Romance of the West Chamber took place), the Wanrong Houtu Temple (a sacred site for Chinese ancestral worship), the Yuncheng Salt Lake (China's Dead Sea), as well as the Salt Lake Shun Mausoleum, the Yellow River Iron Ox, the Wanrong Autumn Wind Tower, and the Xia County Sima Guang Tomb.

9. Sister Cities

• Lanciano, Italy - September 20, 1995
• Araraquara, Brazil - 2005
• Nankai District, Tianjin, China - May 27, 2011
• Marmande, France - May 28, 2011
• Stepanavan, Armenia - November 16, 2011

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Named after Yuncheng, where the salt transport administration office of the Yuan Dynasty was located.

Yanhu District

Yanhu District

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Sophora japonica

Rose