Baicheng (白城)

1. Introduction

Baicheng City, abbreviated as Tao, formerly known as Tao'an, is a prefecture-level city under the jurisdiction of Jilin Province, People's Republic of China, located in the northwestern part of Jilin Province. The city borders Songyuan City to the east, Daqing City and Qiqihar City of Heilongjiang Province to the north, the Hinggan League of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region to the west, and Tongliao City of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region to the south. It is situated in the western part of the Songnen Plain and the eastern part of the Horqin Grassland. The Nen River flows along its northeastern border, and its tributary, the Tao'er River, traverses the central part from west to east. The area is dotted with numerous lakes and marshes (locally known as "paozi"), widely distributed. The People's Government of the city is located at No. 1 Wenhua East Road, Taobei District.

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2. History

2.1 Ancient Times

From the Shang and Zhou dynasties to the Qin dynasty, this area was the nomadic land of the Donghu people.

During the Han dynasty and the Northern and Southern Dynasties period, it was inhabited by the Xianbei and Fuyu peoples.

In the Sui and Tang dynasties, it served as the nomadic territory of the Khitan people.

During the Liao dynasty, the Changchun Prefecture was established here, with its seat at the ancient city of Cheng Sijiazi in the present-day Deshun Mongolian Township, Taobei District. Changchun Prefecture served as the traveling palace for four Liao emperors: Shengzong, Xingzong, Daozong, and Tianzuo. It was the political center of the Liao dynasty in spring and the political, military, economic, and cultural hub of the Liao's northeastern route.

In the Jin dynasty, Changchun Prefecture continued to be used until the second year of the Tiande era (1150 AD), after which it was downgraded to Changchun County, under the jurisdiction of Zhaozhou (located at the ancient city of Tahu in present-day Qianguo County). In the third year of the Cheng'an era (1198 AD), Taizhou was re-established here, with its city site still at the ancient city of Cheng Sijiazi.

During the Mongol Yuan period, it first belonged to the fief of Otchigin, the fourth brother of Genghis Khan, and later was part of the Taining Route and Taining Prefecture under the Liaoyang Province, with its administrative seat still at the ancient city of Cheng Sijiazi.

In the Ming dynasty, it was under the Taining Guard of the Nurgan Regional Military Commission. During the Qing dynasty, it belonged to the Mongol Khorchin tribe.

2.2 Modern Era

In the 30th year of the Guangxu reign of the Qing dynasty (1904 AD), the Taonan Prefecture was established, subordinate to the General of Shengjing. In the same year, Tongtong County and Jing'an County were established, subordinate to Taonan Prefecture. In December, the Dala Ting (sub-prefecture) was established, subordinate to the General of Heilongjiang. In the 31st year of the Guangxu reign (1905 AD), Anguang County was established, subordinate to Taonan Prefecture. In the 33rd year of the Guangxu reign (1907 AD), the General system was abolished, and the three provinces of Fengtian, Jilin, and Heilongjiang were established. Taonan Prefecture, Tongtong County, Jing'an County, and Anguang County were placed under Fengtian Province, while Dala Ting was placed under Heilongjiang Province. In the 2nd year of the Xuantong reign (1910 AD), Zhendong County was established, subordinate to Fengtian Province. In the 2nd year of the Republic of China (1913 AD), the prefecture, sub-prefecture, and ting systems were abolished, while the circuit and county systems were retained. The counties within the region were placed under the Taochang Circuit of Fengtian Province and the Longjiang Circuit of Heilongjiang Province. In the 4th year of the Republic of China (1915 AD), Zhanyu County was established, subordinate to the Taochang Circuit of Fengtian Province. During the Manchukuo period, the counties within the region were placed under Longjiang Province.

After the recovery of Northeast China on August 15, 1945, the counties within the region were placed under Nenjiang Province. In 1946, they were successively placed under the Jijiang Administrative Commissioner's Office, Nenjiang Province, and the Liaoji District Administrative Commissioner's Office. In 1947, they were placed under Liaobei Province. In 1949, they were placed under Heilongjiang Province. In 1954, they were transferred to Jilin Province.

In August 1954, the Jilin Province Baichengzi District Commissioner's Office was established, governing Taonan, Baicheng, Zhenlai, Anguang, Dala, Tongtong, Zhanyu, and Qian'an counties. In 1955, it was renamed the Jilin Province Baicheng Commissioner's Office (referred to as the Baicheng Administrative Office). In 1956, Changling County, Shuangliao County, and the Qian Gorlos Mongol Autonomous County (referred to as Qianguo County) were transferred to the Baicheng Administrative Office. In October 1958, Baicheng Town merged with parts of its suburbs to establish Baicheng City (county-level); the remaining 20 townships of Baicheng County merged with Taonan County to form Tao'an County; Dala County and Anguang County merged to form Da'an County; Tongtong County and Zhanyu County merged to form Tongyu County. In November of the same year, Fuyu County was transferred to the Baicheng Administrative Office, while Shuangliao County was transferred to the Siping Administrative Office. In August 1968, the Baicheng Prefecture Revolutionary Committee was established. In July 1969, Tuquan County and the Horqin Right Front Banner from the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region were transferred to Baicheng Prefecture (they were returned to the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in July 1979). In July 1973, the Baicheng Prefecture Revolutionary Committee was renamed the Baicheng Region Revolutionary Committee. In January 1979, it was renamed the Baicheng Region Administrative Office.

In July 1987 and November 1988, Tao'an County and Da'an County were successively converted into Taonan City (county-level) and Da'an City (county-level). In March 1991, the Qianfu Economic Development Management Zone was established, with prefecture-level and department-level administrative status, subordinate to the People's Government of Jilin Province. Fuyu City and Qianguo County were transferred to the Qianfu Economic Development Management Zone. In June 1992, Songyuan City (prefecture-level) was established, with Changling County and Qian'an County transferred to Songyuan City. In August 1993, the Baicheng Region Administrative Office was abolished, and Baicheng City (prefecture-level) was established. Baicheng City (county-level) was abolished, and Taobei District was established. Baicheng City governs Zhenlai County, Tongyu County, and Taobei District, and administers Da'an City and Taonan City on behalf of the province.

3. Geography

Baicheng City is located in the northwest of Jilin Province, in the eastern part of the Horqin Grassland, between 44°13' to 46°18' north latitude and 121°38' to 124°22' east longitude. It spans 230 kilometers from east to west and 211 kilometers from north to south. It borders Songyuan City to the southeast, Qiqihar City of Heilongjiang Province to the north, and the Hinggan League of Inner Mongolia to the west. It is 333 kilometers from the provincial capital Changchun, 218 kilometers from Qiqihar City, and 83 kilometers from Ulanhot.

Baicheng has an average annual sunshine duration of 2,919.4 hours, an average annual temperature of 4.9°C, a frost-free period of 157 days, and an average annual precipitation of 407.9 millimeters, belonging to a continental temperate monsoon climate.

Meteorological Data of Baicheng City (1971–2000)

| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
|-----------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|----------|----------|----------|----------|
| Record high °C (°F) | 5.9 (42.6) | 12.8 (55.0) | 24.3 (75.7) | 31.2 (88.2) | 38.1 (100.6) | 38.6 (101.5) | 37.3 (99.1) | 37.7 (99.9) | 31.7 (89.1) | 29.8 (85.6) | 17.5 (63.5) | 7.2 (45.0) | 38.6 (101.5) |
| Average high °C (°F) | -9.1 (15.6) | -4.1 (24.6) | 4.3 (39.7) | 14.9 (58.8) | 22.5 (72.5) | 26.9 (80.4) | 28.5 (83.3) | 27.2 (81.0) | 21.7 (71.1) | 13.0 (55.4) | 1.3 (34.3) | -6.9 (19.6) | 11.7 (53.0) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | -16.4 (2.5) | -11.7 (10.9) | -2.7 (27.1) | 7.6 (45.7) | 15.7 (60.3) | 20.9 (69.6) | 23.4 (74.1) | 21.5 (70.7) | 14.9 (58.8) | 6.0 (42.8) | -5.1 (22.8) | -13.6 (7.5) | 5.0 (41.1) |
| Average low °C (°F) | -22.4 (-8.3) | -18.3 (-0.9) | -10.1 (13.8) | -0.1 (31.8) | 8.2 (46.8) | 14.8 (58.6) | 18.3 (64.9) | 16.0 (60.8) | 8.4 (47.1) | -0.3 (31.5) | -10.6 (12.9) | -19.0 (-2.2) | -1.3 (29.7) |
| Record low °C (°F) | -38.1 (-36.6) | -30.3 (-22.5) | -26.0 (-14.8) | -13.6 (7.5) | -4.4 (24.1) | 3.7 (38.7) | 8.7 (47.7) | 7.1 (44.8) | -2.9 (26.8) | -19.6 (-3.3) | -29.3 (-20.7) | -35.1 (-31.2) | -38.1 (-36.6) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 0.5 (0.02) | 1.2 (0.05) | 4.5 (0.18) | 13.7 (0.54) | 27.6 (1.09) | 80.8 (3.18) | 130.6 (5.14) | 82.0 (3.23) | 37.3 (1.47) | 15.4 (0.61) | 3.2 (0.13) | 1.6 (0.06) | 398.4 (15.7) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 1.4 | 2.0 | 2.9 | 3.9 | 6.8 | 11.3 | 12.5 | 10.5 | 7.4 | 4.0 | 2.6 | 2.5 | 67.8 |

4. Administrative Divisions

Baicheng City currently administers 1 district, 2 counties, and has jurisdiction over 2 county-level cities.

• District: Taobei District
• County-level cities: Taonan City, Da'an City
• Counties: Zhenlai County, Tongyu County

| Division Code | Division Name | Chinese Pinyin | Area (km²) | Resident Population (2020 Census) | Government Seat | Postal Code | Subdistricts | Towns | Townships | Of which: Ethnic Townships | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | 220800 | Baicheng City | Baicheng Shi | 25,758.73 | 1,551,378 | Taobei District | 137000 | 31 | 38 | 35 | 8 | | 220802 | Taobei District | Taobei Qu | 2,578.34 | 474,276 | Mingren Subdistrict | 137000 | 12 | 7 | 5 | 1 | | 220821 | Zhenlai County | Zhenlai Xian | 4,718.69 | 217,387 | Zhenlai Town | 137300 | 3 | 7 | 4 | 2 | | 220822 | Tongyu County | Tongyu Xian | 8,476.37 | 281,589 | Baqu Subdistrict | 137200 | 3 | 8 | 8 | 2 | | 220881 | Taonan City | Taonan Shi | 5,106.75 | 307,215 | Guangming Subdistrict | 137100 | 8 | 6 | 10 | 2 | | 220882 | Da'an City | Da'an Shi | 4,878.59 | 270,911 | Jinhua Subdistrict | 131300 | 5 | 10 | 8 | 1 |

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5. Transportation

• National Highway 302 passes through the area.
• Baicheng Chang'an Airport

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6. Population

According to the Seventh National Population Census in 2020, the city's resident population was 1,551,378. Compared with the 2,032,356 people from the Sixth National Population Census, there was a decrease of 480,978 people over the ten years, a decline of 23.67%, with an average annual growth rate of -2.66%. Among them, the male population was 770,277, accounting for 49.65% of the total population; the female population was 781,101, accounting for 50.35% of the total population. The overall sex ratio (with females as 100) was 98.61. The population aged 0-14 was 171,653, accounting for 11.06% of the total population; the population aged 15-59 was 1,013,731, accounting for 65.34% of the total population; the population aged 60 and above was 365,994, accounting for 23.59% of the total population, of which the population aged 65 and above was 245,625, accounting for 15.83% of the total population. The urban population was 844,632, accounting for 54.44% of the total population; the rural population was 706,746, accounting for 45.56% of the total population.

6.1 Ethnic Groups

Among the city's resident population, the Han ethnic group population was 1,452,720, accounting for 93.64%; the combined population of various ethnic minorities was 98,658, accounting for 6.36%. Compared with the Sixth National Population Census in 2010, the Han population decreased by 493,389, a decline of 25.35%, and its proportion of the total population decreased by 2.12 percentage points; the combined population of ethnic minorities increased by 12,411, a growth of 14.39%, and its proportion of the total population increased by 2.12 percentage points. Among them, the Mongolian population decreased by 218, a decline of 0.4%, but its proportion of the total population increased by 0.82 percentage points; the Manchu population increased by 3,494, a growth of 13.28%, and its proportion of the total population increased by 0.63 percentage points; the Korean population increased by 7,965, a growth of 824.53%, and its proportion of the total population increased by 0.53 percentage points.

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Originating from the Mongolian term "Chagan Hot," meaning the white city.

Taobei District

Changyi District

The Han ethnic group accounts for 93.64% of the population; ethnic minorities account for 6.36%.

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