Jinzhong (晋中)

1. Introduction

Jinzhong City is a prefecture-level city under the jurisdiction of Shanxi Province, the People's Republic of China, located in the central part of Shanxi Province. The city borders Yangquan City to the north, Taiyuan City and Lüliang City to the west, Linfen City and Changzhi City to the south, and Handan City, Xingtai City, and Shijiazhuang City of Hebei Province to the east. Situated in the middle section of the western foothills of the Taihang Mountains and on the eastern edge of the Taiyuan Basin, the terrain is higher in the east and lower in the west, divided into the eastern Taihang Mountain area, the central Taiyue Mountain hilly region, and the western Fen River Valley plain area. The Fen River flows through the southwestern part of the city, with its tributary Xiao River in the north, and the eastern and western sources of the Qingzhang River and the northern source of the Zhuozhang River all originating within the city's territory. The total area of the city is 16,392 square kilometers, and the Municipal People's Government is located at No. 199 Xinhua Street, Yuci District. Jinzhong is a railway and highway hub in Shanxi Province, where major railway lines such as the Datong–Xi'an Passenger Dedicated Line, Shijiazhuang–Taiyuan, Datong–Puzhou, and Taiyuan–Jiaozuo converge.

nix

2. History

During the Spring and Autumn period, the region established four counties—Qi, Wu, Tushui, and Mashou—which belonged to the State of Jin. In the east, there was the Bai Di tribe's Fei State. During the Warring States period, the area was divided among the States of Han, Zhao, and Wei. In the Qin Dynasty, it was part of Taiyuan Commandery and Shangdang Commandery. During the Eastern Han Dynasty, Leping Commandery was established in present-day Xiyang. In the Three Kingdoms period, it belonged to the State of Wei's Bingzhou, divided among Taiyuan, Shangdang, Xihe, and Leping commanderies.

After the Northern Wei unified the north during the Northern and Southern Dynasties, the area was divided among Bingzhou's Taiyuan Commandery, Wuxiang Commandery, Leping Commandery, Shangdang Commandery, and Fenzhou's Xihe Commandery. In the early Sui Dynasty, commanderies were abolished and replaced by prefectures, and the area was reassigned to Bing, Jie, Han, Liao, and Lü prefectures. Later, prefectures were abolished and commanderies restored, belonging to Taiyuan and Xihe commanderies, and then reassigned to Taiyuan, Jiexiu, and Huoshan commanderies. During the Tang Dynasty, administrative changes were frequent, with the area successively belonging to Bing, Jie, Lü, Han, Tai, Liao, Yu, Shou, Ji, Fen, Yi prefectures, and Taiyuan Prefecture. By the third year of the Zhonghe era (883 AD), it was governed by Taiyuan Prefecture and Fen and Liao prefectures. In the Northern Song Dynasty, it was part of Hedong Circuit's Taiyuan Prefecture, Fen Prefecture, Liao Prefecture, and Pingding Army. By the end of the Song Dynasty, it was occupied by the Jin. During the Yuan Dynasty, it was divided between Jining Route and Jinning Route. In the Ming and Qing Dynasties, it was divided among Taiyuan, Fen, and Pingyang prefectures and the three directly administered prefectures of Liao, Pingding, and Huo.

In the early Republic of China period, the entire area was divided between Jining Circuit and Hedong Circuit. In the 16th year of the Republic of China (1927), the circuit system was abolished, and the area came directly under the Shanxi Provincial Military Governor's Office, later under the Shanxi Provincial Government and the Shanxi Pacification Commissioner's Office. During the War of Resistance Against Japan, it was under the jurisdiction of the Jin-Cha-Ji, Jin-Ji-Lu-Yu, and Jin-Sui border region governments. In July 1948, the People's Liberation Army entered Jinzhong. In September 1949, the Yuci District Administrative Supervision Commissioner's Office was established, known as Yuci Special District. In 1950, it was renamed the Yuci District Commissioner's Office. In 1955, it was renamed the Shanxi Province Yuci Commissioner's Office. In 1958, it was renamed the Jinzhong Commissioner's Office, abbreviated as Jinzhong Special District. In 1968, the Jinzhong Regional Revolutionary Committee was established. In 1978, it was reorganized into the Jinzhong Regional Administrative Office. In 1983, Yuci County and Yuci City merged to form the new county-level Yuci City. In 1992, Jiexiu County was changed to the county-level Jiexiu City.

In October 2000, Jinzhong Special District was abolished, and the prefecture-level Jinzhong City was established, with the former county-level Yuci City becoming Yuci District.

In December 2019, Taigu County was abolished, and the Taigu District of Jinzhong City was established, with its administrative jurisdiction and government seat remaining unchanged.

3. Geography

The city is located on the eastern edge of the Loess Plateau, with terrain higher in the east and lower in the west. Mountains, hills, and plains are distributed in a stepped pattern, with most areas situated above 1,000 meters in elevation.

Rivers are divided by the central ridges of the Taihang Mountains and Taiyue Mountains, belonging to the Yellow River Basin and the Haihe River Basin respectively. The main rivers in the east include the Songxi River, Qingzhang River, and Zhuozhang River; the main rivers in the west include the Xiao River, Wuma River, Changyuan River, Huiji River, Longfeng River, and Jingsheng River. The Fen River is the largest river flowing through the area.

The city has a warm temperate continental monsoon climate with distinct seasonal changes. The average annual sunshine duration is 2,530.8 hours. The average annual temperature is 9.4°C. The average annual frost-free period is 151 days. Precipitation is concentrated mainly in the summer months from June to August, with an average annual precipitation of 479.6 mm.

Average Meteorological Data for Yuci District, Jinzhong City (1981-2010)

| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year | |-----------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|----------|----------|----------|----------| | Avg. High °C (°F) | 1.9 (35.4) | 5.8 (42.4) | 11.9 (53.4) | 20.0 (68.0) | 25.6 (78.1) | 29.3 (84.7) | 30.4 (86.7) | 28.5 (83.3) | 24.1 (75.4) | 17.9 (64.2) | 9.7 (49.5) | 3.2 (37.8) | 17.4 (63.2) | | Daily Mean °C (°F) | -5.5 (22.1) | -1.5 (29.3) | 4.6 (40.3) | 12.6 (54.7) | 18.5 (65.3) | 22.4 (72.3) | 24.2 (75.6) | 22.4 (72.3) | 17.3 (63.1) | 10.7 (51.3) | 2.7 (36.9) | -3.7 (25.3) | 10.4 (50.7) | | Avg. Low °C (°F) | -11.2 (11.8) | -7.4 (18.7) | -1.6 (29.1) | 5.4 (41.7) | 11.4 (52.5) | 15.9 (60.6) | 18.9 (63.3) | 17.4 (53.2) | 11.8 (40.8) | 4.9 (27.1) | -2.7 (16.0) | -8.9 | 4.5 (40.1) | | Avg. Precipitation mm (inches) | 2.0 (0.08) | 3.3 (0.13) | 9.9 (0.39) | 21.0 (0.83) | 37.2 (1.46) | 52.2 (2.06) | 81.9 (3.22) | 87.8 (3.46) | 54.0 (2.13) | 27.0 (1.06) | 9.9 (0.39) | 1.7 (0.07) | 387.9 (15.28) | | Avg. Relative Humidity % | 47 | 45 | 44 | 42 | 48 | 56 | 67 | 71 | 69 | 62 | 55 | 50 | 55 |

4. Administrative Divisions

Jinzhong City currently administers 2 municipal districts and 8 counties, and also administers 1 county-level city on behalf of the province.

• Municipal Districts: Yuci District, Taigu District
• County-level City: Jiexiu City
• Counties: Yushe County, Zuoquan County, Heshun County, Xiyang County, Shouyang County, Qi County, Pingyao County, Lingshi County

| Division Code | Division Name | Chinese Pinyin | Area (km²) | Resident Population (2020 Census) | Government Seat | Postal Code | Subdistricts | Towns | Townships | |-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|----------------|---------------------------------------|---------------------|-----------------|------------------|-----------|---------------| | 140700 | Jinzhong City | Jìnzhōng Shì | 16,391.98 | 3,379,498 | Yuci District | 030600 | 17 | 59 | 59 | | 140702 | Yuci District | Yúcì Qū | 1,318.14 | 904,518 | Xinjian Subdistrict | 030600 | 9 | 6 | 4 | | 140703 | Taigu District | Tàigǔ Qū | 1,045.93 | 322,099 | Mingxing Town | 030800 | | 3 | 6 | | 140721 | Yushe County | Yúshè Xiàn | 1,700.08 | 111,714 | Jicheng Town | 031800 | | 4 | 5 | | 140722 | Zuoquan County | Zuǒquán Xiàn | 2,022.26 | 144,519 | Liaoyang Town | 032600 | | 5 | 5 | | 140723 | Heshun County | Héshùn Xiàn | 2,194.39 | 121,617 | Yixing Town | 032700 | | 5 | 5 | | 140724 | Xiyang County | Xīyáng Xiàn | 1,945.47 | 190,861 | Leping Town | 045300 | | 5 | 7 | | 140725 | Shouyang County | Shòuyáng Xiàn | 2,115.66 | 200,352 | Chaoyang Town | 045400 | | 7 | 7 | | 140727 | Qi County | Qí Xiàn | 853.18 | 254,535 | Zhaoyu Town | 030900 | | 6 | 2 | | 140728 | Pingyao County | Píngyáo Xiàn | 1,253.53 | 450,697 | Gutao Town | 031100 | 3 | 5 | 9 | | 140729 | Lingshi County | Língshí Xiàn | 1,202.13 | 246,491 | Cuifeng Town | 031300 | | 6 | 6 | | 140781 | Jiexiu City | Jièxiū Shì | 741.19 | 432,095 | Beiguan Subdistrict | 032000 | 5 | 7 | 3 |

5. Economy

Jinzhong is one of the main production areas in the province for grain, vegetables, livestock products, and dried and fresh fruits. The comprehensive output of vegetables and livestock and poultry products has ranked first in the province for many consecutive years.

The industry is primarily based on machinery, coal, metallurgy, and chemical sectors. Products such as coal coke, textile machinery, glassware, malleable cast iron, and pharmaceuticals hold a relatively high proportion in the province.

6. Transportation

• National Highway 339 passes through the area.

nix

7. Population

As of the end of 2022, Jinzhong City had a permanent resident population of 3,394,472, an increase of 4,519 people from the end of 2021. Among them, the urban permanent resident population was 2,085,362, accounting for 61.43% of the total population (the urbanization rate of the permanent resident population).

According to the Seventh National Population Census in 2020, the city's permanent resident population was 3,379,498. Compared with the 3,249,425 people from the Sixth National Population Census, there was an increase of 130,073 people over the ten years, a growth of 4%, with an average annual growth rate of 0.39%. Among them, the male population was 1,719,729, accounting for 50.89% of the total population; the female population was 1,659,769, accounting for 49.11% of the total population. The sex ratio of the total population (with females as 100) was 103.61. The population aged 0–14 was 554,750, accounting for 16.42% of the total population; the population aged 15–59 was 2,183,905, accounting for 64.62% of the total population; the population aged 60 and above was 640,843, accounting for 18.96% of the total population, of which the population aged 65 and above was 438,839, accounting for 12.99% of the total population. The population living in urban areas was 2,027,808, accounting for 60% of the total population; the population living in rural areas was 1,351,690, accounting for 40% of the total population.

7.1 Ethnic Groups

Among the city's permanent resident population, the Han ethnic group population was 3,371,082, accounting for 99.75%; the population of various ethnic minorities was 8,416, accounting for 0.25%. Compared with the Sixth National Population Census in 2010, the Han ethnic group population increased by 127,392 people, a growth of 3.93%, with its proportion of the total population decreasing by 0.07 percentage points; the population of various ethnic minorities increased by 2,681 people, a growth of 46.75%, with its proportion of the total population increasing by 0.07 percentage points.

nix

8. Culture

8.1 Dialects

The Chinese dialects within Jinzhong City primarily belong to the Jin dialect groups: the Bingzhou cluster (including Yuci, Taigu, Qi County, Pingyao, and Jiexiu in the western plains, as well as Shouyang and Yushe in the eastern mountainous areas), the Lüliang cluster (Lingshi), and the Dabao cluster (Xiyang, Heshun, and Zuoquan County in the eastern mountainous areas).

8.2 National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units

• Pingyao City Wall
• Zhenguo Temple
• Shuanglin Temple
• Jingjie Site
• Yuci City God Temple
• Xianshen Tower
• Site of the Eighth Route Army Frontline Headquarters
• Jiexiu Houtu Temple
• Cixiang Temple
• Pingyao Confucian Temple
• Zishou Temple
• Qiao Family Compound
• Hongshan Kiln Site
• Shitie Tomb Complex
• Puguang Temple
• Anchuan Temple
• Wubian Temple
• Zhangbi Ancient Castle
• Xingfan Temple
• Fuxiang Temple
• Zhensheng Temple
• Chongsheng Temple
• Yiji Shengmu Temple
• Qingxu Taoist Temple
• Huiluan Temple
• Jinzhuang Confucian Temple
• Jinci Temple
• Futian Temple
• Jiexiu Dongyue Temple
• Guanghua Temple
• Xiyang Chongjiao Temple
• Dacheng Hall of Zuoquan Confucian Temple
• Liyinghou Temple
• Lingshi Houtu Temple
• Pingyao Qingliang Temple
• Wang Family Compound
• Mengjiagou Longquan Temple
• Cao Family Compound
• Jingxin Temple
• Qu Family Compound
• Pingyao City God Temple
• Site of Rishengchang Exchange Shop
• Taiheyan Memorial Archway
• Jiexiu Wuyue Temple
• Liangcun Site
• Weize Shousheng Temple
• Main Hall of Siping Puzhao Temple
• Xiangyuan Cisheng Temple
• Jiexiu City God Temple
• Xincun Miaojue Temple
• Fancun Yuanzhi Temple
• Gankeng Nanshen Temple
• Jingsheng Confucian Temple
• Stone Buddha Hall of Yunfeng Temple
• Passing Hall of Beiyijian Yongfu Temple
• Liangjiatan Baiyun Temple
• Pingyao Huiji Bridge
• Lei Lütai's Former Residence
• Pingyao Market Tower
• Jiexiu Yuanshen Temple
• Nanzheng Longfu Temple
• Shima Temple Grottoes
• Site of Shanxi Mingxian School
• Kong Family Compound
• Site of Dazhai People's Commune

9. Sister Cities

• Jinhua City, Zhejiang Province, China
• Szolnok, Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok County, Hungary
• Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province, Vietnam
• Wals, Austria
• Provins, France
• Luang Prabang, Laos

nix

nix

nix

Located in the central part of Shanxi Province

Yuci District

Yuci District

nix

nix

nix