Jingmen (荆门)

1. Introduction

Jingmen City is a prefecture-level city under the jurisdiction of Hubei Province, People's Republic of China, serving as a regional central city in central Hubei. It is located in the central part of Hubei Province. The city borders Jingzhou City, Qianjiang City, and Tianmen City to the south, Xiaogan City to the east, Suizhou City to the northeast, Xiangyang City to the northwest, and Yichang City to the west. Situated in the northwestern part of the Jianghan Plain, its northwestern region is an extension of the Jing Mountains, while the northeastern part lies at the southern foothills of the Dahong Mountains. The Han River flows from north to south through the entire territory, and the area features lakes such as Chang Lake and Jieliang Lake. The city covers a total area of 12,339 square kilometers with a population of 2.5969 million. Jingmen looks eastward to Wuhan, is adjacent to the Three Gorges to the west, faces Xiaoxiang to the south, and connects to Sichuan and Shaanxi to the north. It has long been known as the "Gateway to Jingchu." The People's Government of Jingmen City is located at No. 53 Xiangshan Avenue, Dongbao District.

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2. History

2.1 Pre-Qin Period

The history of Jingmen can be traced back to the Neolithic Age over 6,000 years ago. Well-preserved and large-scale cultural relics, such as the Qujialing Site, Jingjiacheng Site, and Majiayuan Site, have been discovered in Jingmen. Through archaeological identification of unearthed artifacts, these cultures are mostly classified into three primitive cultures: the Daxi Culture, the Qujialing Culture, and the Shijiahe Culture. Among them, the Qujialing Culture is named after its first discovery in Qujialing Village, Qujialing Management District, Jingmen City. Since 1954, the Qujialing Site has undergone three large-scale excavations, yielding a large number of production and daily utensils from the Neolithic Age. It is currently the best-preserved site of the Qujialing Culture.

During the Shang Dynasty, the Quan people established their governance by the Quan River in the southern suburbs of present-day Jingmen City, founding the State of Quan. In the 11th century BC, the Zhou Dynasty replaced the Shang Dynasty, and the State of Quan submitted to the Zhou Dynasty. It was re-enfeoffed, and its territory was significantly reduced. During the reign of King Cheng of Zhou, Ji Jia, the younger brother of King Wu of Zhou, was enfeoffed in the area around Shihuiqiao in present-day Shayang County, establishing the State of Na. Due to its proximity, the State of Na also governed the State of Quan. Around 688 BC, King Wu of Chu, Xiong Tong, conquered the States of Na and Quan. After the conquest of Quan, the State of Chu established Quan County in the former territory of the State of Quan.

2.2 Development Through Dynasties

During the Han Dynasty, Dangyang County was established. In the 21st year of the Zhenyuan era of the Tang Dynasty (805 AD), Jingmen County was established. In the Song Dynasty, Jingmen Army was established. The Ming Dynasty restored Jingmen County, while the Qing Dynasty designated it as Jingmen Directly Administered Prefecture. During the Republic of China era, it was downgraded from a prefecture to a county.

2.3 After the Founding of the People's Republic of China

It continued as Jingmen County. In 1979, Jingmen County and Jingmen City were separated. In 1983, Jingmen County was merged into Jingzhou City and placed directly under the People's Government of Hubei Province. In 1996, Jingshan County and Zhongxiang City, originally under the jurisdiction of Jingzhou City, were placed under the direct administration and delegated management of Jingmen City.

3. Geography

Adjacent cities and counties: Jingzhou City, Xiangyang City, Dangyang City, Nanzhang County, Yicheng City, Yingcheng City, Tianmen City, Qianjiang City.
Coordinate range: 112°11'~112°14' E, 31°01'~31°04' N. Located 100 km north of Jingzhou, it serves as the gateway to the Jingchu region, hence the name Jingmen.

The terrain of Jingmen is high in the east, west, and north, and low in the central and southern areas, forming a southward-opening topography characterized by low mountains and valleys, hills and gullies, and plain lake areas. The region features flat terrain, fertile soil, dense lakes, intertwined river networks, and crisscrossing embankments, making it the city's primary grain and cotton production area.

| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Annual | |------------------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|------------| | Avg High °C | 8.0 | 10.4 | 14.9 | 21.8 | 26.7 | 29.5 | 31.6 | 31.2 | 27.6 | 22.1 | 16.2 | 10.1 | 20.8 | | Avg High °F | 46.4 | 50.7 | 58.8 | 71.2 | 80.1 | 85.1 | 88.9 | 88.2 | 81.7 | 71.8 | 61.2 | 50.2 | 69.5 | | Daily Mean °C| 3.8 | 6.1 | 10.3 | 16.9 | 21.9 | 25.3 | 27.6 | 26.9 | 22.8 | 17.3 | 11.5 | 5.8 | 16.4 | | Daily Mean °F| 38.8 | 43.0 | 50.5 | 62.4 | 71.4 | 77.5 | 81.7 | 80.4 | 73.0 | 63.1 | 52.7 | 42.4 | 61.4 | | Avg Low °C | 0.6 | 2.6 | 6.5 | 12.7 | 17.7 | 21.7 | 24.4 | 23.6 | 19.1 | 13.5 | 7.8 | 2.4 | 12.7 | | Avg Low °F | 33.1 | 36.7 | 43.7 | 54.9 | 63.9 | 71.1 | 75.9 | 74.5 | 66.4 | 56.3 | 46.0 | 36.3 | 54.9 | | Avg Precip mm| 32.2 | 51.1 | 72.8 | 117.4 | 122.8 | 179.8 | 149.1 | 73.9 | 70.4 | 43.0 | 17.6 | 211.0 | 951.2 | | Avg Precip in| 1.27 | 2.01 | 2.87 | 4.62 | 4.83 | 7.08 | 5.87 | 2.91 | 2.77 | 1.69 | 0.69 | 8.31 | 37.44 | | Avg Rel Hum %| 70 | 70 | 71 | 72 | 72 | 77 | 81 | 80 | 74 | 74 | 72 | 69 | 74 |

4. Administrative Divisions

Jingmen City administers 2 districts, 1 county, and has jurisdiction over 2 county-level cities.

• Districts: Dongbao District, Duodao District
• County-level Cities: Zhongxiang City, Jingshan City
• County: Shayang County Additionally, Jingmen City has established the Qujialing Management Area (formed from the restructuring of the former state-owned Wusan Farm), the national-level Jingmen High-Tech Industrial Development Zone (managed under the "one institution, two nameplates" system with Duodao District), and the Zhanghe New Area.

| Division Code | Division Name | Chinese Pinyin | Area (km²) | Resident Population (2020 Census) | Government Seat | Postal Code | Subdistricts | Towns | Townships | Including Ethnic Townships | |-------------------|-------------------|--------------------|----------------|---------------------------------------|---------------------|-----------------|------------------|-----------|---------------|-------------------------------| | 420800 | Jingmen City | Jīngmén Shì | 12,339.43 | 2,596,927 | Dongbao District | 448000 | 10 | 48 | 2 | 1 | | 420802 | Dongbao District | Dōngbǎo Qū | 1,679.54 | 354,207 | Longquan Subdistrict| 448000 | 2 | 6 | 1 | | | 420804 | Duodao District | Duōdāo Qū | 572.40 | 433,263 | Baimiao Subdistrict | 448000 | 4 | 2 | | | | 420822 | Shayang County | Shāyáng Xiàn | 2,146.36 | 395,717 | Shayang Town | 448200 | | 13 | | | | 420881 | Zhongxiang City | Zhōngxiáng Shì | 4,403.37 | 968,897 | Yingzhong Subdistrict| 431900 | 1 | 15 | 1 | 2 | | 420882 | Jingshan City | Jīngshān Shì | 3,537.76 | 544,843 | Xinshi Subdistrict | 431800 | 3 | 12 | | |

5. Economy

Historically dominated by agriculture, the city has seen significant development in heavy industry, light industry, and military industry since the reform and opening-up, propelling Jingmen's per capita GDP to rank among the top tier of medium-sized cities nationwide. Major enterprises include Sinopec Jingmen Branch, Jingmen Thermal Power Plant, Yangfeng Group, Zhongtian Group, and Jinlongquan Beer Group, with Jinlongquan Beer being one of the top ten breweries in China. The 605 Research Institute under the Ministry of Aerospace Industry is responsible for developing amphibious aircraft and airships. Zhongtian Street serves as the city's commercial center, boasting thriving commerce and trade. In 2022, Jingmen achieved a regional GDP of 220.096 billion yuan, placing its economic development at a medium level within Hubei Province.

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6. Transportation

• National Highways 207 and 348 pass through the area.
• Within the region, there are expressways such as the Shanghai–Chengdu Expressway and the Zaoyang–Shishou Expressway, as well as railways including the Jiaozuo–Liuzhou Railway and the Changjiang–Jingmen Railway. Additionally, the Shayang section of the Jingmen–Jingzhou Railway has commenced construction, and the Wuhan–Jingmen–Yichang section of the Yangtze River High-Speed Railway is set to begin construction soon.

7. Population

At the end of 2022, the city's permanent resident population was 2.5477 million, with an urbanization rate of 60.35%, an increase of 0.59 percentage points from the end of the previous year. The registered population was 2.8447 million, with an urbanization rate of 43.05‰. The birth rate was 4.58‰.

According to the Seventh National Population Census in 2020, the city's permanent resident population was 2,596,927. Compared with the 2,873,687 people recorded in the Sixth National Population Census, the population decreased by 276,760 over the ten-year period, a decline of 9.63%, with an average annual growth rate of -1.01%. Among them, the male population was 1,316,732, accounting for 50.7% of the total population, and the female population was 1,280,195, accounting for 49.3% of the total population. The sex ratio (with females as 100) was 102.85. The population aged 0–14 was 352,036, accounting for 13.56% of the total population; the population aged 15–59 was 1,651,700, accounting for 63.6% of the total population; and the population aged 60 and above was 593,191, accounting for 22.84% of the total population, of which the population aged 65 and above was 419,597, accounting for 16.16% of the total population. The urban population was 1,525,278, accounting for 58.73% of the total population, while the rural population was 1,071,649, accounting for 41.27% of the total population.

7.1. Ethnic Groups

Among the city's permanent resident population, the Han Chinese population was 2,578,541, accounting for 99.29%, while the ethnic minority population was 18,386, accounting for 0.71%. Compared with the Sixth National Population Census in 2010, the Han Chinese population decreased by 281,678, a decline of 9.85%, and its proportion of the total population decreased by 0.24 percentage points. The ethnic minority population increased by 4,918, a growth of 36.52%, and its proportion of the total population increased by 0.24 percentage points.

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8. Culture

8.1 Tourism

• Xianling Mausoleum
• Zhanghe Reservoir
• Dongshan Pagoda
• Longquan Academy
• Sigou Waterfall
• Xianju Temple
• Zhuoma Cave

8.2 National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units

• Qujialing Site
• Xianling Mausoleum
• Jishan Chu Tombs
• Majiayuan Site
• Zhongxiang Wenfeng Pagoda
• Chenghe Site
• Longwangshan Site
• Sujialong Tombs
• Site of the Former Committee of the Henan-Hubei Border Region of the Communist Party of China

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Named after Jingmen Mountain, the "Jingmen Prefecture Annals" state: "Jingmen Mountain is located five li south of the prefecture, with two mountains standing opposite each other like a gate, hence the name."

Dongbao District

Zhongxiang City

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Koelreuteria paniculata, Fraxinus hupehensis

Crape Myrtle, Chrysanthemum