Quzhou (衢州)

1. Introduction

Quzhou City, abbreviated as Qu and also known as Kecheng, is a prefecture-level city under the jurisdiction of Zhejiang Province, People's Republic of China, located in the western part of Zhejiang Province. The city borders Hangzhou City to the north, Jinhua City to the east, Lishui City to the southeast, Nanping City of Fujian Province to the south, Shangrao City of Jiangxi Province to the west, and Huangshan City of Anhui Province to the northwest, earning it the reputation as a "hub connecting four provinces and converging five routes." Situated in the western part of the Jinqu Basin, the city is surrounded by mountains on the southern, western, and northern sides, with a landscape dominated by hills and mountains. The southeastern part belongs to the Xianxia Ridge, the northwestern part to the Baiji Mountains, the northern part to the Qianligang Mountains, and the central area is the Qujiang River Valley. The Changshan River and Jiangshan River converge in the urban area to form the Qujiang River, which flows eastward through the city. Historically described as "occupying the upper reaches of western Zhejiang, controlling the flank of Poyang, commanding the throat of Fujian and Guangdong, and connecting the influence of Xuancheng and Shexian," Quzhou is also a member of both the Yangtze River Delta Urban Agglomeration and the West Coast of the Taiwan Strait Urban Agglomeration. The Municipal People's Government is located at No. 28 Sanjiang East Road, Baiyun Subdistrict, Kecheng District.

Quzhou is a National Historical and Cultural City, established in the third year of the Chuping era of the Eastern Han Dynasty (192 AD). It boasts over six thousand years of civilization and more than eighteen hundred years of city history. In 1994, it was designated as a National Historical and Cultural City, with a rich and continuous cultural heritage. Notable historical and cultural sites include the Quzhou Prefectural City, the best-preserved ancient prefectural-level city wall in the Jiangnan region, the Quzhou Prefectural City Wall (a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit), as well as reconstructed historical landmarks such as the Tianwangta Temple and the Wenchang Pavilion.

2. Etymology

The name "Quzhou" of Quzhou City originates from its geographical environment and historical background. According to historical records, the name of Quzhou City can be traced back to the Tang Dynasty. During the Tang Dynasty, the Quzhou region became an important military stronghold and economic center due to its strategic geographical location. The name "Quzhou" is composed of the two characters "Qu" and "Zhou," symbolizing "a place that connects in all directions."

3. History

Quzhou boasts a long history, with human habitation dating back to the Neolithic Age. During the Spring and Autumn period, it was part of the Gumei territory of the Yue state, and during the Warring States period, it belonged to the Chu state. In the 25th year of the reign of Qin Shi Huang (222 BC), after the conquest of Chu, the Kuaiji Commandery was established, and Taimo County was set up in the Quzhou area, marking the founding of present-day Longyou County. The Han dynasty followed the Qin system, and from the Han to the Jin dynasty, the Quzhou region was under the jurisdiction of the Kuaiji Commandery in the Yangzhou Inspectorate. In the third year of the Chuping era of the Eastern Han dynasty (192 AD), Xin'an County was established by partitioning Taimo County, marking the founding of Qu County.

In the 23rd year of the Jian'an era (218 AD), Dingyang County was established by partitioning Xin'an County, marking the founding of Changshan County. In the first year of the Taikang era of the Jin dynasty (280 AD), Xin'an was renamed Xinan to avoid confusion with another Xin'an County in the Hongnong Commandery. During the Tang dynasty, it was successively part of the Jiangnan Circuit and the Jiangnandong Circuit, and in the Yuanhe era's military governor map, it was under the Zhedong Observation Commissioner. In the fourth year of the Wude era of the Tang dynasty (621 AD), Quzhou was established as a prefecture, and Dingyang and Xujiang counties were created, marking the founding of Quzhou Prefecture and the beginning of its city walls, nearly 1,400 years ago. In the early Tang dynasty, it was also known as Xinan Commandery. In the first year of the Zhengsheng era (695 AD), parts of Xujiang and Dingyang counties were used to establish Yushan County. In the first year of the Qianyuan era (758 AD), Yushan County was transferred to Xinzhou. Since then, its administrative boundaries have remained largely unchanged. During the Xiantong era (860–874 AD), Xinan County was renamed Xi'an County. During the Five Dynasties period, it was part of the Wuyue Kingdom. In the Northern Song dynasty, it was under the Liangzhe Circuit. In the fourth year of the Qiande era (966 AD), Kaihua Garrison was established by partitioning Changshan County, marking the founding of present-day Kaihua County. In the Southern Song dynasty, it was part of the Liangzhedong Circuit. During the Yuan dynasty, it was under the Jiangzhe Branch Secretariat as Quzhou Route. In the Ming dynasty, it was part of Zhejiang Province as Quzhou Prefecture, and the Qing dynasty followed the Ming system. In the 23rd year of the Kangxi era (1684 AD), it became the seat of the Jin-Qu-Yan Circuit.

After the Xinhai Revolution, the Quzhou Military-Government Subprefecture was established. In the first year of the Republic of China (1912 AD), the Quzhou Military-Government Subprefecture was abolished, and Xi'an County was renamed Qu County. In the third year of the Republic of China (1914 AD), Quzhou Prefecture was abolished and placed under the Jinhua Circuit. In the 16th year (1927 AD), the circuit system was abolished, and a two-tier provincial-county system was implemented, with counties directly under Zhejiang Province. In 1935, Quzhou became the Fifth Administrative Inspectorate of Zhejiang Province, governing eight counties: Qu, Longyou, Jiangshan, Changshan, Kaihua, Shouchang, Suichang, and Chun'an. In 1946, the Quzhou Pacification Office was established. In 1948, it was renamed the Third Commissioner's Office of Zhejiang Province, with its seat moved to Jinhua.

From May 4 to 7, 1949, the People's Liberation Army successively occupied the counties of Quzhou. Quzhou City was established in Qu County, and the Quzhou Commissioner's Office was set up, governing six counties (Qu, Long, Chang, Kai, Jiang, Suichang) and Quzhou City. In 1952, Songyang and Xuanping counties were incorporated into the jurisdiction of the Quzhou Commissioner's Office. In early March 1955, the Quzhou Special District was abolished, and counties such as Qu, Long, Chang, and Jiang were transferred to the Jinhua Regional Commissioner's Office.

In May 1985, the State Council of China approved the abolition of the Jinhua Regional system, and Quzhou was elevated to a prefecture-level city directly under the provincial government, governing four counties (Qu, Jiangshan, Changshan, Kaihua), Jiangshan City, and Kecheng District. In 2001, Qu County was abolished and Qujiang District was established.

4. Geography

4.1 Topography

Quzhou City's geological structure belongs to the southern side of the Jiangnan Old Land and the northern edge of the Cathaysia Old Land, meaning it straddles two first-order tectonic units, with the central part being the Qiantang River depression zone. The overall topographic features are high in the south and north, low in the center; high in the west, low in the east. The central area constitutes the western half of Zhejiang Province's largest inland basin—the Jinqu Basin—which gradually widens from west to east. Within the city, plains account for 15%, hills for 36%, and mountains for 49%. The northern part is dominated by the Qianligang Mountain Range, the western part by the Huaiyu Mountain Range, and the southern part by the city's largest mountain range, the Xianxia Ling Mountain Range. The highest point in the city is Dalonggang in Jiangshan City, with an elevation of 1500.3 meters. The lowest point is in Xiatong Village, Longyou County in the east, with an elevation of 33 meters.

4.2 Climate

The Quzhou region falls within the subtropical monsoon climate zone. The four seasons are distinct throughout the year, with long winters and summers, and short springs and autumns. It features ample sunlight and heat, abundant precipitation, moderate temperatures, and a long frost-free period, characterized by "early spring, short autumn, long summer and winter, comfortable temperatures, sufficient sunlight, and distinct droughts and floods." The winter monsoon is stronger than the summer monsoon throughout the year. The prevailing wind direction in the urban area and Changshan is northeasterly; in Longyou and Jiangshan, it is northerly; and in Kaihua, it is northerly. The diverse topography within the region, during the spring-summer transition, aids in the stagnation of stationary fronts, increasing precipitation opportunities. During midsummer, typhoons find it difficult to penetrate deeply into the area, resulting in lesser impact and more frequent still, hot weather.

The annual average temperature ranges from 16.3°C (Kaihua) to 17.4°C (urban area). The average temperature in January is 4.5°C to 5.3°C; in July, it is 27.6°C to 29.2°C. The accumulated temperature for periods with temperatures >10°C is 5152 to 5508°C, lasting 237 to 248 days. The historical average date of the first frost is November 19th, and the last frost is March 5th, with a frost-free period of 251 to 261 days. The extreme maximum temperature recorded was 41.2°C (August 11, 2013), and the extreme minimum temperature was -10.4°C (January 16, 1970). Within the region, the extreme maximum temperature was 41.8°C (Tianma Town, Changshan County), and the extreme minimum temperature was -11.4°C (Longyou Town, Longyou County). A temperature of -13.9°C was once recorded in Wucun, at an elevation of 440 meters.

Precipitation shows significant regional variation. The average annual precipitation across different areas ranges from 1500 to 2300 mm. It is below 1700 mm in the river valley plains along the rivers and increases towards the hilly and mountainous areas on both sides, with an increase rate of 40 to 80 mm per 100 meters of elevation, with the highest increase rate occurring from March to June. Precipitation in the northern and southern mountainous areas is greater than in the central plains, and precipitation in the west is greater than in the east.

Meteorological Data for Quzhou City (1971–2000) | Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year | |------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|--------|--------|--------|--------|-------|-------|-------|----------| | Record high °C (°F) | 26.1 | 28.2 | 34.2 | 34.6 | 36.8 | 39 | 40.9 | 41.2 | 39.6 | 36.1 | 31.9 | 26.4 | 41.2 | | | (79) | (82.8)| (93.6)| (94.3)| (98.2)| (102.2)| (105.6)| (106.2)| (103.3)| (97) | (89.4)| (79.5)| (106.2) | | Average high °C (°F) | 9.4 | 11 | 15 | 21.6 | 26.4 | 29.2 | 33.5 | 33.1 | 28.5 | 23.7 | 18 | 12.5 | 21.8 | | | (48.9)| (51.8)| (59) | (70.9)| (79.5)| (84.6) | (92.3) | (91.6) | (83.3) | (74.7)| (64.4)| (54.5)| (71.3) | | Daily mean °C (°F) | 5.4 | 6.9 | 10.8 | 17 | 21.8 | 25.1 | 28.7 | 28.4 | 24.1 | 18.9 | 13.1 | 7.5 | 17.3 | | | (41.7)| (44.4)| (51.4)| (62.6)| (71.2)| (77.2) | (83.7) | (83.1) | (75.4) | (66) | (55.6)| (45.5)| (63.1) | | Average low °C (°F) | 2.4 | 3.9 | 7.6 | 13.3 | 18.1 | 21.8 | 24.9 | 24.7 | 20.7 | 15.2 | 9.3 | 3.7 | 13.8 | | | (36.3)| (39) | (45.7)| (55.9)| (64.6)| (71.2) | (76.8) | (76.5) | (69.3) | (59.4)| (48.7)| (38.7)| (56.8) | | Record low °C (°F) | −10.4 | −8.9 | −2.9 | 2.1 | 9.4 | 14.4 | 19.3 | 18 | 12 | 2.1 | −3.6 | −7 | −10.4 | | | (13.3)| (16) | (26.8)| (35.8)| (48.9)| (57.9) | (66.7) | (64.4) | (53.6) | (35.8)| (25.5)| (19) | (13.3) | | Average precipitation mm (inches) | 79.8 | 111.5 | 202.7 | 214.8 | 235.2 | 316.3 | 153.1 | 101.6 | 99.9 | 76.9 | 62 | 51.2 | 1,705 | | | (3.14)| (4.39)| (7.98)| (8.46)| (9.26)| (12.45)| (6.03) | (4) | (3.93) | (3.03)| (2.44)| (2.02)| (67.13) | | Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 13.7 | 14.5 | 19 | 18.1 | 16.8 | 16.8 | 11.7 | 12.1 | 10.3 | 9.7 | 8.2 | 8.6 | 159.5 |5 | | Average Relative Humidity (%) | 80 | 80 | 82 | 80 | 79 | 82 | 77 | 76 | 79 | 78 | 77 | 76 | 79 | | Monthly Sunshine Hours | 101.3 | 90.2 | 92.8 | 118 | 145.5 | 150.2 | 237.9 | 239.6 | 181.5 | 166.1 | 145.1 | 141.6 | 1,809.80 | | Percentage of Possible Sunshine | 31 | 29 | 25 | 31 | 35 | 36 | 56 | 59 | 49 | 47 | 45 | 44 | 41 |

4.3 River Systems

Most rivers within Quzhou City belong to the Qiantang River system, with a basin area of 8,332.6 square kilometers. In the western region near the borders with Jiangxi and Fujian, some rivers flow into the Lean River and Xin River, which are part of the Poyang Lake system of the Yangtze River, covering a basin area of approximately 515.8 square kilometers. Major Rivers

Qu River: The southern source of the upper reaches of the Qiantang River. It flows from west to east through the Kecheng District, Qujiang District, and Longyou County starting from Shuanggangkou, and joins the Lan River after converging with the Jinhua River in Lanxi City. The main channel length is 81.5 kilometers, with an average gradient of 0.47‰ and a basin area of 6,030 square kilometers. Including upstream tributaries such as the Changshan River, Jiangshan River, and Wuxi River, from its origin in Xiuning County, Anhui Province to its confluence in Lanxi, the main channel length is 232.9 kilometers, with a total basin area of 11,138 square kilometers. Changshan River: The northern source of the Qu River. It originates from Qingzhidianjian in Longtian Township, Xiuning County, southern Anhui, enters the city at Qixi in Kaihua County, and converges with the Jiangshan River at Shuanggangkou west of Quzhou city before joining the Qu River. The main channel length is 164 kilometers, with a basin area of 3,355 square kilometers and a main channel gradient of 0.72‰. Jiangshan River: The southern source of the Qu River. It originates from Longmengang on Suzhou Ridge at the northern foot of the Xianxia Mountains, and converges with the Changshan River at Shuanggangkou west of Quzhou city before joining the Qu River. The main stream length is 134 kilometers, with a basin area of 1,970 square kilometers and a main channel gradient of 0.94‰. Wuxi River: It originates from Dafu Luofeng in Pucheng County, Fujian Province, and Qingjing in Longquan County, and joins the Qu River at Shenjia east of Quzhou city. The main stream length is 161.5 kilometers, with a basin area of 2,632 square kilometers. Within the city, its length is 63 kilometers, covering a basin area of 610 square kilometers, and the main channel gradient is 1.5‰. The water quality of the Wuxi River is classified as Grade I, Category I surface water, serving as the main source of tap water for the urban area.

4.4 Panoramic View of the Qu River Outside Shuiming Gate

Vegetation

The vegetation belongs to the eastern subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest zone. The area can be divided into two vegetation regions: the northern mountainous area is part of the Zhejiang-Anhui hills Cyclobalanopsis glauca and Castanopsis sclerophylla forest vegetation region; the southern mountainous area belongs to the Zhejiang-Fujian hills Castanopsis eyrei and Schima superba vegetation region. Due to human activities, some natural primary vegetation has been replaced by secondary vegetation and cultivated vegetation. Currently, the main vegetation types include coniferous forests dominated by pine and fir, evergreen broad-leaved forests dominated by Castanopsis eyrei, Cyclobalanopsis glauca, Castanopsis carlesii, and Schima superba, as well as bamboo forests and fuelwood forests. Precious tree species in the region include Ginkgo biloba, Metasequoia glyptostroboides, Cycas revoluta, Taxus chinensis var. mairei, Pseudotaxus chienii, Pseudolarix amabilis, Liriodendron chinense, Cercidiphyllum japonicum, Eucommia ulmoides, Emmenopterys henryi, Ulmus elongata, Magnolia officinalis subsp. biloba, Phoebe bournei, Ormosia henryi, Toona ciliata, Disanthus cercidifolius var. longipes, Cinnamomum camphora, Phoebe chekiangensis, Torreya grandis, Taiwania cryptomerioides, Camptotheca acuminata, Fokienia hodginsii, Magnolia officinalis, Euchresta japonica, Heptacodium miconioides, Glycine soja, etc. There are 3 national-level nature reserves and 27 provincial-level nature reserve areas. Economic forests include oil tea, chestnut, citrus, tea, persimmon, etc. It is a production area in Zhejiang for timber, bamboo, citrus, oil tea, and tea. The city's forest coverage rate reaches 71.5%, making it one of the ten prefecture-level cities in China with a relatively high forest coverage rate; it was recognized as a National Forest City in 2012.

5. Administrative Divisions

Quzhou City currently administers 2 municipal districts and 3 counties, and manages 1 county-level city on behalf of the province.

Municipal Districts: Kecheng District, Qujiang District County-level City: Jiangshan City Counties: Changshan County, Kaihua County, Longyou County

| Division Code | Division Name | Chinese Pinyin | Area (km²) | Resident Population (2020 Census) | Government Seat | Postal Code | Subdistricts | Towns | Townships | Ethnic Townships | |-------------------|-------------------|--------------------------|----------------|---------------------------------------|---------------------|-----------------|------------------|-----------|---------------|----------------------| | 330800 | Quzhou City | Qúzhōu Shì | 8,844.55 | 2,276,184 | Kecheng District | 324000 | 18 | 43 | 39 | 1 | | 330802 | Kecheng District | Kēchéng Qū | 606.57 | 528,847 | Xin'an Subdistrict | 324000 | 8 | 2 | 8 | | | 330803 | Qujiang District | Qújiāng Qū | 1,747.53 | 373,920 | Zhangtan Subdistrict| 324000 | 2 | 10 | 8 | | | 330822 | Changshan County | Chángshān Xiàn | 1,097.32 | 259,966 | Tianma Subdistrict | 324200 | 3 | 6 | 5 | | | 330824 | Kaihua County | Kāihuà Xiàn | 2,230.77 | 258,810 | Huabu Town | 324300 | | 8 | 6 | | | 330825 | Longyou County | Lóngyóu Xiàn | 1,143.33 | 360,229 | Longzhou Subdistrict| 324400 | 2 | 6 | 7 | 1 | | 330881 | Jiangshan City | Jiāngshān Shì | 2,019.03 | 494,412 | Shuangta Subdistrict| 324100 | 3 | 11 | 5 | |

6. Economy

The main industries in Quzhou include chemical industry, building materials, papermaking, and agriculture. Among them, the characteristic industries are fluorine chemical industry, cement, papermaking, and new silicon materials. In agriculture, citrus cultivation is also quite famous. The Juhua Group Corporation, established in 1958 and located within the city, is a large-scale enterprise ranked among the top 500 in China and serves as the largest chemical production base in Zhejiang Province. The CNNC Zhejiang Quzhou Uranium Industry Company (formerly the 771 Uranium Mine), located in Houzhu Village, Dazhou Town, provided uranium ore materials for China's first atomic bomb. In 2012, the city's GDP reached 98.275 billion yuan, with total retail sales of consumer goods amounting to 39.636 billion yuan. The total import and export volume was 3.018 billion U.S. dollars, of which exports accounted for 1.859 billion U.S. dollars and imports 1.159 billion U.S. dollars. By the end of the year, the balance of local and foreign currency deposits in financial institutions was 129.952 billion yuan, and the balance of local and foreign currency savings deposits of urban and rural residents was 60.873 billion yuan. The number of civilian vehicles owned by the end of the year was 177,300, with private vehicles accounting for 150,500. The per capita disposable income of urban residents in the city was 26,232 yuan, while that of urban residents in the urban area was 28,187 yuan. The per capita net income of rural residents in the city was 10,714 yuan. The per capita housing floor area for urban residents was 38.95 square meters, while that for rural residents was 66 square meters.

7. Transportation

7.1 Aviation

Quzhou Airport is a 4C-class airport located about three kilometers east of the city center in the old urban area of Quzhou. It was constructed in the 22nd year of the Republic of China (1933). Currently, it mainly operates routes to cities such as Beijing, Xiamen, Shenzhen, Qingdao, and Kunming. The relocation of Quzhou Airport has been included in the 14th Five-Year Plan for civil aviation and is expected to commence construction by the end of 2024.

The nearest international airport to Quzhou is Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport.

7.2 Railway

The electrified double-track Shanghai-Kunming Railway, with a maximum speed of 200 km/h, and the Shanghai-Kunming Passenger Dedicated Line, with a maximum speed of 350 km/h, traverse the city. Their predecessor was the Hangjiang Railway, which was initially built in the 1930s. Along the route, there are three major stations: Longyou Station, Quzhou Station, and Jiangshan Station. Among them, Quzhou Station is a second-class station, while Longyou and Jiangshan Stations are third-class stations.

The Quzhou-Jiujiang Railway is a double-track electrified mixed passenger and freight railway with a maximum speed of 200 km/h. It serves as a new corridor connecting Quzhou to Jingdezhen, Jiujiang, Wuhan, and other places. New stations such as Changshan Station and Kaihua Station were built, and the railway opened on December 28, 2017.

The Quzhou-Ningde Railway runs from Quzhou City in Zhejiang Province to Ningde City in Fujian Province. It starts at Quzhou Station and passes through Suichang, Songyang, Longquan, Qingyuan, Songxi, Zhenghe, Jian'ou, Pingnan, and Zhouning before terminating at Ningde Station (the section from Quzhou to Songyang shares the line with the Quzhou-Lishui Railway). With a total length of 361.54 km and a maximum speed of 160 km/h, it is an electric-powered regional railway primarily focused on freight while also accommodating passenger transport. It opened in September 2020.

The under-construction Quzhou-Lishui Railway is a rapid railway connecting Quzhou City and Lishui City in Zhejiang Province, serving as an extension of the Quzhou-Jiujiang Railway. It starts from Songyang Station on the Quzhou-Ningde Railway, passes through Songyang County and Liandu District in Lishui City, and terminates at Lishui Station on the Jinhua-Wenzhou Line. The newly built main line is 65.30 km long.

Quzhou West Station and the Hangzhou-Quzhou High-Speed Railway are planned to be completed in 2023.

The Quzhou Rail Transit project has been temporarily suspended. Since August 2021, the National Development and Reform Commission has imposed strict controls on rail transit construction and introduced new requirements. Currently, the feasibility study report for the Quzhou Rail Transit Line 1 project has been completed, but the urban rail transit project has been temporarily suspended due to national policy reasons.

7.3 Highway

• Highway Construction

The main east-west highways in Quzhou include the G60 Hangzhou-Jinhua-Quzhou Expressway, G6021 Hangzhou-Xinchang-Jingdezhen Expressway, and National Highway 351. The main north-south highways include the G3 Huangshan-Quzhou-Nanping Expressway, G4012 Longyou-Lishui-Wenzhou Expressway, National Highway 205, National Highway 320, and Provincial Highway 46. Currently, travel from Quzhou to various cities within Zhejiang Province takes less than 3 hours.

• Long-Distance Passenger Transport

The Quzhou Long-Distance Passenger Transport Center is located at No. 411 Hehua Middle Road, 1 km north of Quzhou Railway Station. It operates buses to various locations within the province and to places outside the province such as Wuyuan, Pucheng, Yushan, and Dexing.

The Zhejiang Province Road Transport Public Information Service Website can be consulted for schedules, ticket information, etc.

• Inland Waterway Transport

Historically, Quzhou was a hub for waterway transport on the Qiantang River. In ancient times, the flow of people and goods entering and leaving Fujian mainly passed through Quzhou. In the 1960s, the construction of the Fuchunjiang Hydropower Station disrupted upstream and downstream navigation on the Qiantang River, leading to the decline of Quzhou's shipping industry.

The development of Qiantang River navigation involves building canalized hubs, ultimately forming a Class IV 500-ton waterway from Hangzhou to Quzhou on the Qiantang River. The expansion and renovation project of the Fuchunjiang Ship Lock began in December 2011. Among the four hubs on the Qujiang River, Tadi and Xiaoxitan have been completed, while Hongchuandou and Anrenpu are under construction.

In January 2019, the entire mid-upper reaches of the Qiantang River waterway became navigable, enabling Quzhou to "connect to the river and reach the sea." Waterway transport has shown rapid growth. As of 00:00 on April 13, 2022, Quzhou Port had handled 4.8666 million tons of cargo throughput for the year, with the cumulative cargo throughput since the port's opening exceeding 10 million tons for the first time. Existing port areas include Longyou Port Area and Qujiang Port Area.

• Urban Public Transportation

Urban public buses in Quzhou mainly operate routes between the old urban area, Juhua, Qujiang District, and the West District, as well as rural routes to the countryside. Buses in the old urban area typically have one or two-digit numbers. Those heading to Juhua mostly start with 1, buses to the new Qujiang District mostly start with 3, rural buses mostly start with 5, and intercity buses to Jiangshan, Longyou, and Changshan urban areas mostly start with 6.

• Taxis

Taxis in Quzhou are primarily green Fukang, red Elysee, and Santana Zhijun models. The starting fare is 8 yuan for 2.5 km. Beyond that, the fare is 2.2 yuan per km. For distances over 8 km on a one-way trip, a 50% surcharge is added to the base rate of 1.8 yuan per km, with an additional 20% night surcharge. Waiting charges during the trip remain unchanged: waiting is free for the first 3 minutes during operation, and after 3 minutes, every 3 minutes is equivalent to 1 km in fare. Currently, most taxis in Quzhou's urban area use natural gas as their energy source.

8. Education

Quzhou currently has two higher education institutions: Quzhou University and Quzhou College of Technology.

Existing high schools include: Quzhou No. 2 High School, Quzhou No. 1 High School, Quzhou No. 3 High School, Quzhou Senior High School, Jiangshan High School, Longyou High School, Kaihua High School, Changshan No. 1 High School, among others.

9. Population

According to the Seventh National Population Census in 2020, the city's resident population was 2,276,184. Compared with the 2,122,661 people from the Sixth National Population Census, there was an increase of 153,523 people over the ten-year period, representing a growth of 7.23%, with an average annual growth rate of 0.7%. Among them, the male population was 1,161,813, accounting for 51.04% of the total population; the female population was 1,114,371, accounting for 48.96% of the total population. The overall sex ratio (with females as 100) was 104.26. The population aged 0–14 was 335,773, accounting for 14.75% of the total population; the population aged 15–59 was 1,361,259, accounting for 59.8% of the total population; the population aged 60 and above was 579,152, accounting for 25.44% of the total population, of which the population aged 65 and above was 420,138, accounting for 18.46% of the total population. The urban population was 1,310,498, accounting for 57.57% of the total population; the rural population was 965,686, accounting for 42.43% of the total population.

9.1. Ethnic Groups

9.1.1. Overview

Quzhou City is located in the western part of Zhejiang Province and is a city inhabited by multiple ethnic groups. The main ethnic group in Quzhou City is the Han Chinese, while there are also small populations of ethnic minorities residing in the area. All ethnic groups coexist harmoniously in Quzhou City, jointly promoting the city's economic and social development.

9.1.2. Major Ethnic Groups

9.1.2.1. Han Chinese

The Han Chinese are the dominant ethnic group in Quzhou City, constituting the vast majority of the city's total population. The Han Chinese have a long history and profound cultural heritage in Quzhou City, playing a leading role in the city's economic and social development.

9.1.2.1. Ethnic Minorities

The ethnic minority population in Quzhou City is relatively small, but there are still some ethnic minorities residing here. The main ethnic minorities include:

• She Ethnic Group: The She people are one of the main ethnic minorities in Quzhou City, primarily distributed in some mountainous areas of the city. The She people have unique culture and traditions, such as their clothing, songs and dances, and festivals.
• Hui Ethnic Group: The Hui people also have a certain distribution in Quzhou City, mainly residing in some towns and urban areas. The Hui people have distinct religious beliefs and cultural customs, such as Islam and Hui dietary culture.
• Miao Ethnic Group: The Miao people are less distributed in Quzhou City, but there is still a certain Miao population. The Miao people have rich cultural traditions, such as their clothing, songs and dances, and festivals.

9.1.3. Ethnic Policies

The Quzhou Municipal Government places high importance on ethnic unity, actively implements national ethnic policies, and safeguards the legitimate rights and interests of all ethnic groups. Through various measures, the Quzhou Municipal Government promotes exchanges and cooperation among different ethnic groups, fostering common prosperity and development for all.

9.1.4. Ethnic Culture

The ethnic culture in Quzhou City is rich and diverse, with the cultures of all ethnic groups being fully respected and protected. The Quzhou Municipal Government organizes various ethnic cultural activities, such as ethnic festival celebrations and ethnic cultural exhibitions, to showcase and preserve the excellent cultural traditions of all ethnic groups.

10. Religion

10.1 Overview

Quzhou City, located in western Zhejiang Province, is a city where multiple ethnic groups and religions coexist. The religious culture in Quzhou is diverse, primarily including Buddhism, Taoism, Christianity, and folk beliefs. Each religion has a certain base of followers and places for activities in Quzhou, forming a unique religious and cultural landscape.

10.2 Buddhism

Buddhism has a long history and widespread influence in Quzhou City. There are several famous Buddhist temples in Quzhou, such as:

• Tianning Temple: Located in the urban area of Quzhou, it is one of the famous Buddhist sacred sites in the city.
• Longyou Grottoes: Located in Longyou County, it is a historical Buddhist cultural site in Quzhou.

10.3 Taoism

Taoism also holds a certain influence in Quzhou City. There are several Taoist temples in Quzhou, such as:

• Jianglangshan Taoist Temple: Located in Jiangshan City, it is one of the famous Taoist sacred sites in Quzhou.

10.4 Christianity

The spread of Christianity in Quzhou City began relatively late but has developed rapidly in recent years. There are several Christian churches in Quzhou, such as:

• Quzhou Christian Church: Located in the urban area of Quzhou, it is one of the main Christian activity venues in the city.

10.5 Folk Beliefs

Folk beliefs in Quzhou City are rich and diverse, primarily involving the worship of ancestors, natural deities, and local gods. There are several temples dedicated to folk beliefs in Quzhou, such as:

• Quzhou City God Temple: Located in the urban area of Quzhou, it is one of the famous folk belief sites in the city.

10.6 Religious Activities

Religious activities in Quzhou City are diverse and vibrant. Various religious groups regularly organize ceremonies and events, such as Buddhist Dharma assemblies, Taoist rituals, Christian worship services, and folk belief temple fairs. These activities not only meet the religious needs of followers but also enrich the cultural life of Quzhou City.

10.7 Religious Policies

The Quzhou municipal government respects and protects freedom of religious belief, manages religious affairs in accordance with the law, and supports religious groups in carrying out activities legally. At the same time, the Quzhou municipal government actively guides religions to adapt to socialist society, promoting religious harmony and social stability.

11. Culture

Poems related to Quzhou include "Visiting Wushi Mountain in Quzhou to View Landscape Paintings in Monk's Quarters," "Parting with Scholar Li on the Quzhou River," "A Piece Composed in Response to the Fine Gift of White Silk and a Bamboo Bookcase from Attendant Xu of Quzhou," "Thoughts on the Heavy Snow from Yuliang Post Station to Quzhou," "On the Road to Quzhou," "Sent to Younger Brother Pingfu on the Road to Quzhou," "Outside Quzhou City," "Orchards Near Quzhou City," "One of Two Miscellaneous Poems on Quzhou," "Memorial Requesting to Stay at the Huanghua Lodge in Quzhou Awaiting Orders While Serving at the Temple," "Seeing Off Kong Mingda Who is Leaving for the Prefectural School in Quzhou, Composed Matching the Rhymes of the Farewell," "Matching the Rhymes of Department Head Xi of Quzhou on Early Autumn," "Written on the Road to Quzhou," "To Guo of Quzhou, Sent Again," "For Shen Deyuan Governing Quzhou, Using the Rhymes of Assistant Prefect Lin Zichang's Farewell Poem," "One of Three Poems for the Chaolantang Hall Written for Shi of Quzhou," "Inscription for the Stone Wall Temple in Quzhou," "Early Departure from Quzhou," "Traveling Overland from Quzhou to Changshan," "Sent to Guo of Quzhou," "Inscribed for the Cuixian Pavilion of Official Zhou Yuan in Quzhou," "Staying in Quzhou with Wang Yanbo, Zhou Qinzhi, and Xu Shenzhi," "Seeing Off Attendant Cui of Quzhou," "One of Three Poems Sent to See Off Shi of Quzhou Upon His Appointment as Judicial Commissioner of Western Zhejiang," "The Flying Flowers Song for Ma of Quzhou," "Seeing Off Wang Xi to Assume the Post of Assistant Prefect of Quzhou," and "Sent with Thoughts to Zhang of Quzhou and Xin of Yuezhou," among others.

11.1 Dialect Introduction

Most people in the Quzhou area speak Wu Chinese, such as: Quzhou dialect, Changshan dialect, Kaihua dialect, Longyou dialect, and Jiangshan dialect. In addition, there are languages brought by new immigrants after the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom movement, including the Nanfeng dialect of Gan Chinese, Southern Min, Jianghuai Mandarin, She language, Hui Chinese, and Hakka.

11.2 Snacks

The most famous are the "Three Heads and One Palm." The "Three Heads" refer to duck head, rabbit head, and fish head. The "One Palm" refers to duck feet. "Bulaoshen Chicken" is also a representative Quzhou delicacy, prepared with various Chinese medicinal herbs for nourishment and health. Additionally, there are traditional snacks like Shaoyongfeng sesame cakes, frozen rice candy, hibiscus cakes, and peanut candy. The summer cold drink "Shuijing Gao" (crystal cake) is also very distinctive. Made from starch, sugar water, and mint, it is crystal clear, chewy, and refreshingly cool.

11.3 City Brand

Quzhou's city brand is "Southern Confucius Sacred Land, Quzhou Has Courtesy," officially launched in 2018. Authorities state it deeply integrates Quzhou's most distinctive and representative cultural elements. It mainly includes the city promotional logo and the city mascot.

The official name of the Quzhou city brand logo is "The Bow Salute." It uses the map of Quzhou and an image of Confucius performing a bow as its core creative elements, cleverly integrating the city brand theme of "Southern Confucius Sacred Land, Quzhou Has Courtesy." The city mascot is the Happy Little Deer.

11.4 Scenic Spots and Historical Sites

World Natural Heritage

• Jianglang Mountain, located in Shimen Town, southern Jiangshan City.

National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units

• Confucius Southern Clan Ancestral Temple, located on Xinqiao Street in Quzhou city proper.
• Huzhu Sheli Pagoda, located in Huzhen Town, eastern Longyou County.
• Quzhou City Wall, located in Quzhou city proper.
• Sanqingkou Porcelain Workshop, located in Xiakou Town, Jiangshan City.
• Xiaonanhai Stone Chambers (Longyou Grottoes), located in Xiaonanhai Town, Longyou County.
• Zhou Xuanling King Temple, located in Kecheng District, Quzhou City.
• Ancestral Halls and Dwellings: Guanxi Shijia, Shaoyi Hall (and Hengshan Pagoda), Jimingshan Folk Dwelling Garden, Nanwu Yang Clan Ancestral Hall, Chetang Village Wu Clan Ancestral Hall, Sanhuai Hall, Beier Lan Clan Ancestral Hall, Sanmenyuan Ye Clan Dwellings.

National Key Parks

• Quzhou Fushan Park, located in Quzhou city proper, stretching north to Xinqiao Street, south to South Lake, east to Fudong Street, and west to Mazhandi. It was the site of the prefectural government offices throughout history.

National Forest Parks

• Qianjiangyuan National Forest Park, located in Kaihua County.
• Ziwei Mountain National Forest Park, including scenic areas like Tianji Longmen and Yaowang Mountain, located in Quzhou city proper.
• Xianxia Mountain National Forest Park, located in Jiangshan City.
• Sanqu National Forest Park, located in Changshan County.
• Dazhuhai National Forest Park, located in Longyou County.

National Geoparks

• Changshan National Geopark, located in Changshan County.

National Nature Reserves

• Gutian Mountain National Nature Reserve, located in Kaihua County.

National Wetland Parks

• Wuxi River National Wetland Park, located in Quzhou city proper.

National Key Scenic Areas

• Jianglang Mountain, located in Shimen Town, southern Jiangshan City.

National Eco-Vacation Tourism Pilot Zone

• Wulong Lake, located at the junction of Hangbu Town, Shiliang Town, and Gouxi Township in Kecheng District.

Chinese Historical and Cultural Towns

• Nianbadu Town, located in Nianbadu Town, southern Jiangshan City.

Chinese Historical and Cultural Villages

• Sanmenyuan Village, located in Shifo Township, northern Longyou County.

Other Scenic Areas

• Lanke Mountain

11.5 City Honors

• National Historical and Cultural City
• National Sanitary City
• National Ecological Demonstration Zone
• National Garden City
• National Forest City
• China Excellent Tourism City
• Pilot City for National Leisure Zone Creation
• National Civilized City (selected in the sixth batch)

11.6 Legends

Pu Songling recorded in his work Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio: "Zhang Wozhong served in the army in Quzhou and said: 'In Quzhou, when the night is quiet, no one dares to walk alone. There is a ghost on the bell tower, with a single horn on its head and a fierce, ugly appearance. It descends upon hearing footsteps. If a person runs, the ghost also leaves. However, anyone who sees it falls ill, and many die. Also, in a pond within the city, a bolt of white cloth emerges at night, lying across the ground like a length of silk. Anyone who picks it up is immediately dragged into the water. There is also a duck ghost; when the night is quiet and the pondside is utterly deserted, if one hears the sound of ducks, the person falls ill.'" Today in Quzhou city, the Bell Tower (home of the one-horned ghost), the County School Pond (home of the white cloth monster), and the Jiaochi Pond (home of the duck monster) still exist.

11.7 Specialties

Quzhou bamboo charcoal and its products, Quzhou Ponkan (a citrus fruit), and Quzhou Yingbai porcelain are China Geographical Indication products.

Others include Changshan pomelo, Changshan camellia oil, and Kaihua Longding tea.

12. Sister Cities

Red Wing, Minnesota, USA (October 6, 1994) Sumqayit, Azerbaijan (November 8, 2002)

The following are friendly relations:

Sano City, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan (November 11, 1997) Province of Catanzaro, Italy (November 14, 2011) Murcia, Spain (August 27, 2012) Ekurhuleni, South Africa (May 24, 2012) Kutaisi, Georgia (May 28, 2001) Vanadzor, Armenia (May 29, 2001)

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Mount Sanqu

Kecheng District

Kecheng District

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Camphor tree

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