Sanmenxia (三门峡)

1. Introduction

Sanmenxia City, historically known as Shanzhou, is a prefecture-level city under the jurisdiction of Henan Province, People's Republic of China, located in the western part of Henan Province. The city borders Luoyang City to the east, Nanyang City to the south, Weinan City and Shangluo City of Shaanxi Province to the west, and faces Yuncheng City of Shanxi Province across the Yellow River to the north. Situated in the mountainous area of western Henan and the loess hilly region, the urban area lies on the southern bank of the Yellow River, with the Luo River and Jian River flowing through its territory. The city covers a total area of 9,936 square kilometers, with a total population of 2.037 million people. The People's Government of Sanmenxia City is located at No. 47, Middle Xiaoshan Road, Hubin District. Sanmenxia is an important city along the Longhai Railway and a rising new city that emerged alongside the construction of the Sanmenxia Water Control Project—the first major dam on the Yellow River. The city birds are the whooper swan and the golden pheasant.

2. Historical Origin of the Name

Legend has it that during the Great Yu's efforts to control the floods, he used a divine axe to split the high mountains into three gorges: the "Human Gate," the "Divine Gate," and the "Ghost Gate." In the river channel, ghost stones and divine stones divided the flow into three streams, resembling three gates, hence the name Sanmenxia (Three Gates Gorge). After the construction of the Sanmenxia Reservoir, the divine stones and ghost stones were used as the foundation for the dam.

3. History

In ancient times, it was the central region under the rule of the Xia and Shang dynasties. During the Western Zhou Dynasty, it belonged to the states of Jiao and Guo. During the reign of King Cheng of Zhou, the Dukes of Zhou and Shao divided the Zhou territory for governance, using Shanyuan as the boundary. According to Kuodizhi: "The division between Zhou and Shao was not based on city names but on the plain as the boundary." In the Spring and Autumn period, it first belonged to Guo and later to Jin. During the Warring States period, it was divided among the states of Han, Qin, Wei, and others. The Qin Dynasty established Shan County, which was part of Sanchuan Commandery. In the second year of Emperor Gaozu of the Western Han Dynasty (205 BCE), Sanchuan Commandery was renamed Henan Commandery. In the fourth year of Yuanding (113 BCE), Hongnong Commandery was established near Hangu Pass, with its seat at Hongnong County (northeast of present-day Lingbao City), and Shan County was placed under its jurisdiction. This arrangement continued through the Eastern Han, Wei, and Jin dynasties.

In the eleventh year of Taihe of the Northern Wei Dynasty (487 CE), Shan Prefecture was established, with its seat at Shan County (present-day Shanzhou District). In the eighteenth year of Taihe (494 CE), Shan Prefecture was abolished. Emperor Xuanwu of the Northern Wei renamed Shan County as Beishan County. In the early years of Tianping of the Eastern Wei, Shan Prefecture was reestablished. In the third year of Datong of the Western Wei (537 CE), it was abolished again. During the Northern Zhou Dynasty, Beishan County was renamed Shan County, and Shan Prefecture was reestablished during the reign of Emperor Ming.

In the third year of Daye of the Sui Dynasty (607 CE), Shan Prefecture was abolished, and Shan County was placed under Henan Commandery. In the first year of Yining (617 CE), Hongnong Commandery was reestablished in Shan County. In the first year of Wude of the Tang Dynasty (618 CE), Hongnong Commandery was renamed Shan Prefecture. In the first year of Tianbao (742 CE), Shan Prefecture was renamed Shan Commandery. In the first year of Qianyuan (758 CE), it was restored as Shan Prefecture. In the first year of Tianyou (904 CE), Shan Prefecture was renamed Xingtang Prefecture. During the reign of Emperor Ai of Tang, Shan Prefecture was restored.

During the Northern Song Dynasty, Shan Prefecture belonged to the Yongxing Army Circuit. In the Jin Dynasty, it was part of the Nanjing Circuit. During the Yuan Dynasty, it was under Henan Prefecture Circuit. In the first year of Hongwu of the Ming Dynasty (1368 CE), Shan County was abolished and incorporated into Shan Prefecture, which was placed under Henan Prefecture. In the second year of Yongzheng of the Qing Dynasty (1724 CE), Shan Prefecture was reorganized as Shan Zhili Prefecture. In the second year of the Republic of China (1913 CE), the prefecture system was abolished and replaced by counties, with Shan County placed under the Yuxi Circuit, which was renamed Heluo Circuit the following year. In 1928, the circuit system was abolished. In the twenty-first year of the Republic of China (1932 CE), Shan County was placed under the 11th Administrative Supervision District of Henan Province.

After the establishment of the People's Republic of China, Shan County was placed under the Shan Prefecture Special District, serving as the seat of the special district administration. In 1952, the Shan Prefecture Special District was merged into the Luoyang Special District. In March 1957, with the approval of the State Council, seven townships including Huixing in Shan County were separated to establish Sanmenxia City, which was directly administered by the province. In 1962, it was placed under the jurisdiction of the Luoyang Special District. In 1969, the Luoyang Special District was renamed the Luoyang Region. In January 1986, the Luoyang Region was abolished, and Sanmenxia City was elevated to a prefecture-level city, with the four counties of Mianchi, Shan, Lingbao, and Lushi placed under its jurisdiction. Yima City was administered by Sanmenxia City on its behalf. In May of the same year, the Hubin District was established. In February 2015, Shan County was abolished, and Shanzhou District was established.

4. Geography

Sanmenxia City is located in the western part of Henan Province, at the junction of Henan, Shanxi, and Shaanxi provinces. It borders Luoyang to the east, Nanyang to the south, Weinan of Shaanxi to the west, and faces Yuncheng of Shanxi across the Yellow River to the north.

Sanmenxia City is surrounded by mountains on three sides and water on one side. The terrain is higher in the southwest and lower in the northeast, with elevations generally ranging between 300 and 1500 meters. Laoyacha in Lingbao, with an elevation of 2413.8 meters, is the highest peak in Henan Province. The city covers a total area of 10,496 square kilometers, of which mountainous areas account for 54.8%, hills for 36%, and plains for 9.2%. Sanmenxia City is situated in a mid-latitude inland region and has a warm temperate continental monsoon climate. The average annual temperature is 13.2°C, with an average annual sunshine duration of 2354.3 hours and an average sunshine rate of 51%. The annual frost-free period ranges from 184 to 218 days, and the average annual rainfall is between 550 and 800 millimeters. In addition to the Yellow River, the city's river systems include three major rivers—the Luo River, the Hongnong River, and the Laoguan River—along with numerous tributaries, belonging to the Yellow River and Yangtze River basins.

In the center of the Yellow River downstream of Sanmenxia, a massive rock stands upright in the river channel. Despite being fiercely impacted by the river's currents, it has remained unshaken for thousands of years. This rock is called "Dizhu Mountain," and the Chinese idiom "中流砥柱" (zhōngliú dǐzhù, meaning "mainstay" or "pillar") originates from here.

| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Annual | |-------------------------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|------------| | Record high °C | 15.6 | 23.3 | 28.9 | 36.7 | 39.8 | 40.2 | 40.1 | 39 | 38.6 | 33.3 | 26.3 | 16.6 | 40.2 | | Record high °F | 60.1 | 73.9 | 84.0 | 98.1 | 103.6 | 104.4 | 104.2 | 102.2 | 101.5 | 91.9 | 79.3 | 61.9 | 104.4 | | Average high °C | 4.6 | 7.9 | 13.5 | 21.3 | 26.8 | 30.9 | 31.6 | 30.3 | 25.5 | 20.0 | 12.5 | 6.3 | 19.3 | | Average high °F | 40.3 | 46.2 | 56.3 | 70.3 | 80.2 | 87.6 | 88.9 | 86.5 | 77.9 | 68.0 | 54.5 | 43.3 | 66.7 | | Daily mean °C | −0.3 | 2.7 | 8.1 | 15.3 | 20.6 | 24.9 | 26.4 | 25.4 | 20.3 | 14.4 | 7.3 | 1.3 | 13.9 | | Daily mean °F | 31.5 | 36.9 | 46.6 | 59.5 | 69.1 | 76.8 | 79.5 | 77.7 | 68.5 | 57.9 | 45.1 | 34.3 | 56.9 | | Average low °C | −4.1 | −1.2 | 3.8 | 10.3 | 15.2 | 19.6 | 22.4 | 21.5 | 16.3 | 10.1 | 3.3 | −2.4 | 9.6 | | Average low °F | 24.6 | 29.8 | 38.8 | 50.5 | 59.4 | 67.3 | 72.3 | 70.7 | 61.3 | 50.2 | 37.9 | 27.7 | 49.2 | | Record low °C | −12.5 | −10.9 | −6.2 | −0.3 | 4.7 | 12.4 | 16.1 | 12.8 | 6.5 | −2.1 | −8.0 | −12.8 | −12.8 | | Record low °F | 9.5 | 12.4 | 20.8 | 31.5 | 40.5 | 54.3 | 61.0 | 55.0 | 43.7 | 28.2 | 17.6 | 9.0 | 9.0 | | Average precipitation mm | 5.7 | 7.4 | 22.1 | 38.7 | 51.8 | 65.7 | 112.6 | 95.4 | 84.0 | 50.1 | 20.1 | 5.4 | 559 | | Average precipitation inches | 0.22 | 0.29 | 0.87 | 1.52 | 2.04 | 2.59 | 4.43 | 3.76 | 3.31 | 1.97 | 0.79 | 0.21 | 22.01 | | Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 3.3 | 3.6 | 5.7 | 7.1 | 7.7 | 8.9 | 10.5 | 10.1 | 9.4 | 8.3 | 5.4 | 2.8 | 82.8 |

5. Administrative Divisions

Sanmenxia City administers 2 municipal districts, 2 counties, and oversees 2 county-level cities on behalf of the province.

• Municipal Districts: Hubin District, Shanzhou District
• County-level Cities: Yima City, Lingbao City
• Counties: Mianchi County, Lushi County

| Division Code | Division Name | Chinese Pinyin | Area (km²) | Resident Population | Government Seat | Postal Code | Subdistricts | Towns | Townships | | |-------------------|-------------------|-------------------------|----------------|-------------------------|---------------------|-----------------|------------------|-----------|---------------|---| | 411200 | Sanmenxia City | Sānménxiá Shì | 9,935.74 | 2,034,872 | Hubin District | 472000 | 12 | 29 | 33 | | | 411202 | Hubin District | Húbīn Qū | 204.76 | 326,682 | Jianhe Subdistrict | 472000 | 5 | | 3 | | | 411203 | Shanzhou District | Shǎnzhōu Qū | 1,610.79 | 288,538 | Daying Town | 472100 | | 4 | 9 | | | 411221 | Mianchi County | Miǎnchí Xiàn | 1,358.00 | 310,130 | Chengguan Town | 472400 | | 6 | 6 | | | 411224 | Lushi County | Lúshì Xiàn | 3,663.55 | 317,132 | Chengguan Town | 472200 | | 9 | 10 | | | 411281 | Yima City | Yìmǎ Shì | 99.45 | 135,819 | Qianqiulu Subdistrict | 472300 | 7 | | | | | 411282 | Lingbao City | Língbǎo Shì | 2,999.20 | 656,571 | Chengguan Town | 472500 | | 10 | 5 | |

6. Economy

According to statistics, the regional GDP of Sanmenxia City in 2020 reached 145.07 billion yuan, with an actual year-on-year growth of 3.1%. Among this, the added value of the primary industry was 14.69 billion yuan, an increase of 2.8% compared to the previous year; the added value of the secondary industry was 68.73 billion yuan, with a growth rate of 3.4%; and the added value of the tertiary industry was 61.65 billion yuan, with a growth rate of 2.7%.

7. Transportation

Sanmenxia City enjoys convenient transportation, with major transport arteries including the Longhai Railway (Lianyungang–Lanzhou), the Haoji Railway (Haolebaoji–Ji'an), the Xulan Passenger Dedicated Line (Xuzhou–Lanzhou), the G30 Lianhuo Expressway (Lianyungang–Khorgas), the G59 Hubei Expressway (Hohhot–Beihai), National Highway 310 (Lianyungang–Tianshui), and National Highway 209 (Hohhot–Beihai).

7.1 Railways

7.1.1 National Trunk Lines

• Longhai Railway: Sanmenxia Station, Sanmenxia West Station, Lingbao Station, Mianchi Station, Yima Station
• Xulan Passenger Dedicated Line: Sanmenxia South Station, Lingbao West Station, Mianchi South Station

7.1.2 Local Railways

• Hudong Railway (Handled commuter passenger services before 2004, primarily transports petroleum after 2004, and now includes tourist trains)

8. Education

In recent years, Sanmenxia City has made significant progress in educational development, mainly reflected in the following aspects:

8.1 Advancement of the Group-Based School Operation Model

Since 2021, Sanmenxia City has launched an implementation plan for group-based school operation. Through models such as "prestigious schools + new schools" and "prestigious schools + underperforming schools," the allocation of educational resources has been optimized, and education quality has been improved. Currently, the city has 34 education groups, covering 126 schools, 128,445 students, and 9,361 teachers. This model has not only enhanced teaching quality but also promoted cooperation and exchange among schools, providing students with broader development opportunities.

8.2 Infrastructure Development and Improvement of School Conditions

In recent years, Sanmenxia City has increased investment in educational infrastructure, constructing and renovating multiple schools, adding 7,920 new student places. Additionally, through the implementation of projects to improve under-resourced schools and key provincial and municipal livelihood projects, the conditions of 10 compulsory education schools have been enhanced, with a planned investment of 149 million yuan and a completed construction area of over 60,000 square meters.

8.3 Educational Informatization and Smart Campus Development

Sanmenxia City actively promotes the development of educational informatization, accelerating the construction of digital campuses and information facilities, and promoting the regular application of the "Three Classrooms" (synchronous classrooms, master teacher classrooms, and prestigious school online classrooms). Furthermore, by strengthening training in teachers' information technology application capabilities, the level of educational informatization has been elevated.

8.4 Enhancement of Teaching Staff

Sanmenxia City has cultivated a group of renowned schools and teachers at the provincial, municipal, and district levels through the implementation of projects such as "Famous School Construction," "Famous Principal Cultivation," and "Famous Teacher Enhancement." At the same time, efforts have been made to strengthen teacher exchanges, rotations, and training to improve their professional competence and teaching abilities.

8.5 Vocational Education and Integration of Industry and Education

Sanmenxia City has also achieved notable progress in vocational education. Through cooperation with enterprises, multiple majors aligned with regional industrial development have been established, and deep integration between industry and education has been promoted. However, challenges remain, such as the lack of comprehensive policy effectiveness and inadequate coordination mechanisms.

8.6 Improvement of Basic Education Quality

Sanmenxia City has enhanced students' moral literacy and overall quality through measures such as the implementation of moral education enhancement projects and the development of labor education characteristic schools. Additionally, by creating a high-standard basic education park for foreign language high schools and introducing high-quality educational resources, the quality of basic education has been further improved.

8.7 Higher Education and Scientific Research Development

Sanmenxia City actively promotes the planning and construction of higher education, coordinating secondary vocational education resources in Yima and Mianchi, and establishing new higher vocational institutions. At the same time, leveraging high-quality educational resources from institutions such as Tsinghua University and Peking University, a high-level comprehensive basic education park has been developed.

Sanmenxia City's education sector has achieved remarkable results in group-based school operation, infrastructure development, educational informatization, enhancement of teaching staff, and vocational education development, laying a solid foundation for the high-quality development of regional education.

9. Population

By the end of 2022, the city's permanent resident population was 2.037 million, of which the urban permanent resident population was 1.1939 million and the rural permanent resident population was 843,100. The urbanization rate of the permanent resident population was 58.61%, an increase of 0.58 percentage points from the end of the previous year.

According to the Seventh National Population Census in 2020, the city's permanent resident population was 2,034,872. Compared with the 2,234,018 people from the Sixth National Population Census, the total decrease over the ten years was 199,146 people, a decline of 8.91%, with an average annual growth rate of -0.93%. Among them, the male population was 1,029,093, accounting for 50.57% of the total population; the female population was 1,005,779, accounting for 49.43% of the total population. The sex ratio of the total population (with females as 100) was 102.32. The population aged 0–14 was 373,060, accounting for 18.33% of the total population; the population aged 15–59 was 1,259,192, accounting for 61.88% of the total population; the population aged 60 and above was 402,620, accounting for 19.79% of the total population, of which the population aged 65 and above was 278,400, accounting for 13.68% of the total population. The population living in urban areas was 1,165,164, accounting for 57.26% of the total population; the population living in rural areas was 869,708, accounting for 42.74% of the total population.

9.1 Ethnic Groups

Among the city's permanent resident population, the Han ethnic population was 2,025,301, accounting for 99.53%; the population of various ethnic minorities was 9,571, accounting for 0.47%. Compared with the Sixth National Population Census in 2010, the Han ethnic population decreased by 198,157 people, a decline of 8.91%, with its proportion of the total population decreasing by 0 percentage points; the population of various ethnic minorities decreased by 989 people, a decline of 9.37%, with its proportion of the total population decreasing by 0 percentage points.

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10. Culture

10.1 National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units

• Yangshao Village Site
• Guo State Cemetery
• Beiyangping Site
• Miaodigou Site
• Baolun Temple Pagoda
• Hongqing Temple Grottoes
• Buzhao Village Site
• Lushi City God Temple
• Shaan County Anguo Temple
• Miaoshang Village Underground Cave Dwellings

10.2 Tourism

• Xiong'er Mountain Scenic Area, located in Lushi County, became a National 4A-level Tourist Attraction in 2013.
• Swan Lake Wetland Park, where tens of thousands of swans migrating from Siberia spend the winter each year, making it the largest inland habitat for swans in China.
• Sanmenxia Dam
• Hangu Pass
• Guo State Site Museum
• Maojindu Site

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Middle Xiaoshan Road, Hubin District

Lingbao City

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