Bijie (毕节)

1. Introduction

Bijie City is a prefecture-level city under the jurisdiction of Guizhou Province, People's Republic of China. It is located in the northwest of Guizhou Province, in the upper reaches of the Wu River, at the junction of Guizhou, Yunnan, and Sichuan provinces. To the east, it borders Zunyi and Guiyang cities; to the south, it connects with Anshun and Liupanshui cities; to the southwest, it adjoins Qujing City in Yunnan Province; and to the north, it neighbors Zhaotong City in Yunnan Province and Luzhou City in Sichuan Province. Situated in the central part of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, the Wumeng Mountains meander through the area, with the landscape dominated by karst topography and highland hills. The Wu River originates within the city's territory, the Chishui River flows along its eastern edge, and rivers such as the Liuchong River, Erdao River, Baishui River, Niulan River, and Kedu River traverse the region. The city covers a total area of 26,849 square kilometers and has a population of 6.6061 million, making it the most populous prefecture-level administrative division in Guizhou Province. The municipal people's government is located in Qixingguan District.

2. Origin of the Name

"Bijie" is a homophone of the Yi ethnic term "Biji," which originally referred to a Yi tribe. Over time, different explanations have emerged. According to the Qiannan Shilue (Volume 26) by Ai Bida of the Qing Dynasty: "A river near the city resembles a moat, and ancient people called it 'Bichuan'—hence the name of the county. Alternatively, it is said that when a post station was established in the early Yuan Dynasty, it coincided with New Year's Eve, so it was named 'Bijie'." The Bijie County Gazetteer (Volume 2) from the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty records: "The construction of Bijie's city walls began on the last day of the twelfth lunar month, thus it was named 'Bijie'."

3. History

During the Zhou Dynasty, it was part of the southeastern territory of the Shu State. The Qin Dynasty established Ba Commandery here. In the Han Dynasty, it fell under the jurisdiction of Zangke and Qianwei Commanderies in Yizhou. During the Shu Han period, it was divided between Zangke and Zhuti Commanderies. In the Western Jin Dynasty, Ningzhou was established by partitioning Yizhou, and Bijie City was divided among Zangke, Zhuti, and Jianning Commanderies. During the Southern and Northern Dynasties, it was under the jurisdiction of Ningzhou in the Song, Qi, and Liang dynasties. In the Sui Dynasty, it belonged to the Lulu Tribe of the Cuan Clan. During the Tang Dynasty, it was first part of the Kunming Kingdom and later became part of the Qianzhou Dudufu. In the Five Dynasties period, it was divided among Hao Prefecture, Hui Prefecture, Gong Prefecture, Bao Prefecture, and Lu Prefecture.

During the Song Dynasty, the eastern part of Bijie belonged to the Luoshi Guiguo, Wusa, Pina, and other tribes. In the Yuan Dynasty, it was governed by the Yixibuxuan Pacification Commission and the Wusa Wumeng Pacification Commission. In the Ming Dynasty, it was divided among the Shuixi Pacification Commission, Wusa Civil-Military Prefecture, Yongning Pacification Commission, and the four garrisons of Wusa, Bijie, Chishui, and Yongning.

In the fifth year of the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty (1666), three prefectures—Dading (present-day Dafang), Qianxi, and Pingyuan (present-day Zhijin)—were established, and the Wusa Tufu in Sichuan was renamed Weining Prefecture. In the twenty-second year (1683), Qianxi and Pingyuan Prefectures were downgraded to subprefectures under Dading Prefecture. In the twenty-sixth year (1687), Dading Prefecture was downgraded to a subprefecture under Weining Prefecture, governing the three subprefectures of Dading, Pingyuan, and Weining, as well as the two counties of Bijie and Yongning. In the seventh year of the Yongzheng reign (1729), Dading Subprefecture was elevated to a prefecture, governing the three subprefectures of Qianxi, Pingyuan, and Weining, as well as Bijie County and Shuicheng Ting.

After the establishment of the Republic of China, all counties in the region were placed under the jurisdiction of Guixi Circuit. In the 24th year of the Republic of China (1935), the Guizhou Provincial Government established the Bijie Fourth Administrative Inspectorate, overseeing Bijie, Dading, Qianxi, Weining, and Shuicheng counties. In the 30th year of the Republic of China (1941), Nayong and Jinsha counties were established from the original administrative divisions, and Zhijin County was transferred to the Fourth Administrative Inspectorate. In the 31st year of the Republic of China (1942), Hezhang County was established from the northeastern part of Weining County. By this time, the Fourth Administrative Inspectorate of Guizhou governed nine counties: Bijie, Dading, Qianxi, Jinsha, Nayong, Shuicheng, Weining, and Hezhang.

After the establishment of the People's Republic of China, the Bijie District Administrative Inspectorate of the Guizhou Provincial People's Government was established, overseeing the counties that belonged to the Fourth Administrative Inspectorate at the end of the Republic of China. In 1955, Weining County was restructured into the Weining Yi, Hui, and Miao Autonomous County. In 1958, Dading County was renamed Dafang County. In 1970, Shuicheng County was merged into the Shuicheng Special District and placed under the jurisdiction of the Liupanshui Region. In the same year, Bijie Special District was renamed Bijie Prefecture, governing Bijie, Dafang, Qianxi, Jinsha, Nayong, Hezhang counties, and the Weining Yi, Hui, and Miao Autonomous County.

In 1994, Bijie County was abolished and established as a county-level city. In 2007, the Guizhou Baili Azalea Scenic Area was established as a county-level dispatched agency.

In October 2011, the State Council approved the abolition of Bijie Prefecture and the county-level Bijie City, establishing the prefecture-level Bijie City. The former county-level Bijie City was renamed Qixingguan District. On December 27, 2011, a ceremony was held to mark the transition from prefecture to city.

4. Geography

Bijie City is located in the northwest of Guizhou Province. It borders Zunyi City, Guiyang City, Anshun City, and Liupanshui City within the province to the east and south, and neighbors Zhaotong City of Yunnan Province and Luzhou City of Sichuan Province to the west and north. Situated at the junction of Sichuan, Yunnan, and Guizhou provinces, its coordinates lie between 105°36′–106°43′ east longitude and 26°21′–27°46′ north latitude. Most of the area belongs to the Wumeng Mountain region, characterized primarily by karst topography and mountainous hills. The Wujiang River, Beipan River, and Chishui River all originate here; other rivers include the Liuchong River, Erdao River, Baishui River, Niulan River, Kedu River, and Baifu River (Baibu River). The average altitude is 1,600 meters, with the highest point being Xiaojiucaiping at the border of Hezhang County and Weining County, with an elevation of 2,900.6 meters.

4.1 Climate

Most areas experience a subtropical monsoon climate, with an average annual sunshine duration of 1,231 hours, an average temperature of 13.09°C, annual precipitation of 1,129.04 mm, a frost-free period of 266 days, and a forest coverage rate of 38.75%.

Meteorological Data for Bijie City (1981–2010)

| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year | |-----------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|----------|----------|----------|----------| | Record high °C (°F) | 24.4 (75.9) | 28.9 (84.0) | 33.8 (92.8) | 33.1 (91.6) | 36.2 (97.2) | 34.2 (93.6) | 33.8 (92.8) | 33.9 (93.0) | 35.1 (95.2) | 30.5 (86.9) | 27.0 (80.6) | 23.3 (73.9) | 36.2 (97.2) | | Average high °C (°F) | 6.6 (43.9) | 9.2 (48.6) | 14.4 (57.9) | 19.1 (66.4) | 22.6 (72.7) | 24.4 (75.9) | 26.9 (80.4) | 26.8 (80.2) | 23.4 (74.1) | 17.8 (64.0) | 14.0 (57.2) | 8.9 (48.0) | 17.8 (64.1) | | Daily mean °C (°F) | 2.9 (37.2) | 4.9 (40.8) | 9.0 (48.2) | 13.6 (56.5) | 17.2 (63.0) | 19.6 (67.3) | 21.7 (71.1) | 21.2 (70.2) | 18.2 (64.8) | 13.6 (56.5) | 9.5 (49.1) | 4.7 (40.5) | 13.0 (55.4) | | Average low °C (°F) | 0.8 (33.4) | 2.4 (36.3) | 5.7 (42.3) | 10.0 (50.0) | 13.5 (56.3) | 16.3 (61.3) | 18.1 (64.6) | 17.4 (63.3) | 14.7 (58.5) | 11.0 (51.8) | 6.7 (44.1) | 2.2 (36.0) | 10.0 (50.0) | | Record low °C (°F) | -6.0 (21.2) | -4.4 (24.1) | 0.4 (32.7) | 3.7 (38.7) | 9.9 (49.8) | 8.9 (48.0) | 10.9 (51.6) | 6.3 (43.3) | 1.1 (34.0) | -2.6 (27.3) | -6.6 (20.1) | -7.0 (19.4) | -7.0 (19.4) | | Average precipitation mm (inches) | 19.4 (0.76) | 24.1 (0.95) | 32.7 (1.29) | 38.7 (1.52) | 49.8 (1.96) | 48.0 (1.89) | 51.6 (2.03) | 43.3 (1.70) | 34.0 (1.34) | 27.3 (1.07) | 20.1 (0.79) | 19.4 (0.76) | 408.4 (16.08) | | Average precipitation days (≥0.1 mm) | 18.8 | 18.3 | 16.8 | 17.4 | 19.5 | 19.0 | 16.4 | 15.4 | 16.0 | 18.0 | 14.8 | 15.6 | 206.0 | | Average relative humidity (%) | 86 | 84 | 80 | 78 | 77 | 80 | 80 | 79 | 80 | 85 | 84 | 84 | 81 | | Mean monthly sunshine hours | 49.1 | 51.6 | 95.9 | 116.5 | 116.1 | 106.3 | 171.5 | 176.7 | 117.8 | 81.7 | 70.7 | 68.7 | 1,217.6 | | Percent possible sunshine (%) | 15 | 16 | 26 | 31 | 28 | 26 | 41 | 44 | 32 | 23 | 22 | 20 | 27 |

5. Administrative Divisions

Bijie City administers 1 district, 5 counties, 1 autonomous county, and has jurisdiction over 1 county-level city.

• District: Qixingguan District
• County-level City: Qianxi City
• Counties: Dafang County, Jinsha County, Zhijin County, Nayong County, Hezhang County
• Autonomous County: Weining Yi, Hui, and Miao Autonomous County

Additionally, Bijie City has established the Baili Azalea Scenic Area and the Jinhaihu New Area, both of which are county-level administrative units.

| Division Code | Division Name | Chinese Pinyin | Area (km²) | Resident Population (2020 Census) | Government Seat | Postal Code | Subdistricts | Towns | Townships | of which: Ethnic Townships | |-------------------|-------------------|--------------------|----------------|---------------------------------------|---------------------|-----------------|------------------|-----------|---------------|-------------------------------| | 520500 | Bijie City | Bìjié Shì | 26,848.51 | 6,899,636 | Qixingguan District | 551700 | 46 | 135 | 91 | 72 | | 520502 | Qixingguan District | Qīxīngguān Qū | 3,410.98 | 1,305,066 | Mayuan Subdistrict | 551700 | 12 | 27 | 8 | 6 | | 520521 | Dafang County | Dàfāng Xiàn | 3,500.11 | 857,578 | Hongqi Subdistrict | 551600 | 6 | 10 | 24 | 18 | | 520523 | Jinsha County | Jīnshā Xiàn | 2,523.23 | 544,033 | Guchang Subdistrict | 563600 | 5 | 14 | 7 | 6 | | 520524 | Zhijin County | Zhījīn Xiàn | 2,865.26 | 815,661 | Wenteng Subdistrict | 561700 | 6 | 16 | 10 | 7 | | 520525 | Nayong County | Nàyōng Xiàn | 2,452.32 | 716,703 | Yongxi Subdistrict | 553300 | 3 | 13 | 10 | 10 | | 520526 | Weining Yi, Hui, and Miao Autonomous County | Wēiníng Yízú Húzú Miáozú Zìzhìxiàn | 6,298.73 | 1,280,116 | Haibian Subdistrict | 553100 | 4 | 30 | 5 | 1 | | 520527 | Hezhang County | Hèzhāng Xiàn | 3,242.74 | 648,471 | Shuanghe Subdistrict | 553200 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 12 | | 520581 | Qianxi City | Qiánxī Shì | 2,555.14 | 732,008 | Liancheng Subdistrict | 551500 | 5 | 15 | 12 | 12 |

6. Economy

6.1 Bijie Pilot Zone

Bijie is one of the poorest and most underdeveloped regions in Guizhou Province. As of 1987, the per capita gross output value of industry and agriculture in the entire region was only 288.9 yuan, with farmers' per capita income at just 184 yuan and per capita grain production below 200 kilograms. Over 3 million people had not yet resolved basic food and clothing needs, with rural impoverished populations accounting for 53.68% of the total population. The natural population growth rate stood at 21.29‰, and forest coverage was merely 8.53%. In June 1988, Hu Jintao, then Secretary of the Guizhou Provincial Party Committee, personally advocated for the establishment of the Bijie Pilot Zone for "Development-Oriented Poverty Alleviation and Ecological Construction." This initiative aimed to address issues such as ecological degradation, soil erosion, population expansion, and food shortages.

6.2 Economic Aggregate

In 2019, the city's regional GDP reached 190.136 billion yuan, representing a year-on-year growth of 8.0%. The per capita regional GDP was 28,378 yuan, marking a year-on-year increase of 7.5%.

7. Transportation

Currently, the expressways passing through Bijie include the G56 Hangzhou–Ruili Expressway, G76 Xiamen–Chengdu Expressway, S20 Bijie–Weining Expressway, S79 Bijie–Zhenxiong Expressway, and S82 Dafang Expressway. Additionally, National Highways 321 and 326 traverse the region.

The Chengdu–Guiyang High-Speed Railway, which opened in December 2019, includes stations in Bijie at Bijie Station, Dafang Station, and Qianxi Station, marking the end of Bijie's history without railway access. Previously constructed railway sections were largely tangential or transitory in nature. Concurrently, several railway projects are under construction, including the Bijie–Shuicheng section of the Bijie–Shuicheng–Xingyi Railway and the Zhaotong–Weining–Bijie–Jinsha–Zunyi Railway.

Bijie Feixiong Airport is located east of the city center, offering multiple weekly flights to major cities across the country.

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8. Population

According to the Seventh National Population Census in 2020, the city's resident population was 6,899,636. Compared with the 6,537,498 people from the Sixth National Population Census, there was an increase of 362,138 people over the ten years, a growth of 5.54%, with an average annual growth rate of 0.54%. Among them, the male population was 3,544,009, accounting for 51.37% of the total population; the female population was 3,355,627, accounting for 48.63% of the total population. The overall sex ratio (with females as 100) was 105.61. The population aged 0–14 was 1,954,390, accounting for 28.33% of the total population; the population aged 15–59 was 3,990,483, accounting for 57.84% of the total population; the population aged 60 and above was 954,763, accounting for 13.84% of the total population, of which the population aged 65 and above was 711,111, accounting for 10.31% of the total population. The urban population was 2,906,332, accounting for 42.12% of the total population; the rural population was 3,993,304, accounting for 57.88% of the total population.

8.1 Ethnic Groups

Among the city's resident population, the Han ethnic group population was 5,072,420, accounting for 73.52%; the total population of various ethnic minorities was 1,827,216, accounting for 26.48%. Compared with the Sixth National Population Census in 2010, the Han population increased by 226,721, a growth of 4.68%, with its proportion of the total population decreasing by 0.6 percentage points; the total population of ethnic minorities increased by 135,417, a growth of 8%, with its proportion of the total population increasing by 0.6 percentage points. Among them, the Miao ethnic group population increased by 49,477, a growth of 11.04%, with its proportion of the total population increasing by 0.36 percentage points; the Yi ethnic group population increased by 15,648, a growth of 3.33%, with its proportion of the total population decreasing by 0.15 percentage points; the population of undetermined ethnic affiliation (unidentified ethnic groups) increased by 13,388, a growth of 3.04%, with its proportion of the total population decreasing by 0.16 percentage points.

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No. 518, Biyang Avenue, Qixingguan District

Qixingguan District

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