Longnan (陇南)

1. Introduction

Longnan City, historically known as Wudu, is a prefecture-level city under the jurisdiction of Gansu Province, People's Republic of China. It is located in the southeastern part of Gansu Province, at the junction of Shaanxi, Gansu, and Sichuan provinces. The city borders Tianshui City and Dingxi City to the north, Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture to the west, Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Mianyang City, and Guangyuan City of Sichuan Province to the south, and Hanzhong City and Baoji City of Shaanxi Province to the east. Situated between the southern and northern Qinling Mountains and the Min Mountains, the central part of the city is occupied by the Huicheng Basin. Major rivers include the Jialing River and its tributaries, such as the Xihan River, Bailong River, and Baishui River. The city covers a total area of 27,839 square kilometers, with a population of 2.5909 million. The municipal government is located in Wudu District. Known for its pleasant climate and high forest coverage, Longnan is often referred to as the "Jiangnan of Long" (a region in Gansu).

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2. History

During the Qin Dynasty, the Wudu Circuit was established. In the sixth year of the Yuanding era of Emperor Wu of Han (111 BCE), Wudu Commandery was established and placed under the jurisdiction of the Liangzhou Inspectorate. By the end of the Han Dynasty, Cao Cao divided the Sizhou and Liangzhou regions to create Yongzhou, and Wudu Commandery was reassigned to Yongzhou.

During the Three Kingdoms period, Wudu Commandery served as the border between the states of Wei and Shu. In the 24th year of the Jian'an era (219 CE), Liu Bei captured Hanzhong Commandery from Cao Cao's forces, severing the connection between Wudu and Yongzhou. Consequently, Cao Cao abandoned Wudu Commandery and relocated its administrative center to Xiaohuaili in Youfufeng. Thereafter, Wei and Shu engaged in numerous major battles over Wudu. The most famous of these was the Shu chancellor Zhuge Liang's "Six Expeditions from Qishan" against Wei, during which he captured both Wudu and Yinping commanderies in 229 CE. From then on, Wudu Commandery was held by Shu until the Shu state was conquered by Cao Wei.

During the Eastern Jin and the Northern and Southern Dynasties periods, five non-Han regimes—Qiuchi, Dangchang, Wudu, Wuxing, and Yinping—were successively established within the territory of present-day Longnan, collectively known as the "Five Kingdoms of Longnan."

In 296 CE, the Di leader Yang Maosou established the Qiuchi Kingdom, which lasted until 371 CE when it was conquered by Fu Jian of Former Qin. A member of the clan, Yang Ding, later reestablished the Qiuchi Kingdom at Licheng, which persisted until 442 CE when it was conquered by Liu Song of the Southern Dynasties.

In 424 CE, Tuoba Tao of Northern Wei enfeoffed the Qiang leader Liang Mihu as the King of Dangchang, with its capital located at the site of present-day Dangchang County town. In 566 CE, the Dangchang Kingdom was conquered by Northern Zhou.

In 443 CE, following the fall of the Qiuchi Kingdom, the Di leader Yang Wende established the Wudu Kingdom. In 477 CE, the Wudu Kingdom was conquered by Northern Wei.

In 477 CE, after King Yang Wendu of Wudu was killed by Northern Wei forces, the Liu Song regime of the Southern Dynasties enfeoffed Yang Wenghong as the King of Wudu. He retreated to Wuxing (present-day Lüeyang, Shaanxi) and later changed his title from King of Wudu to King of Wuxing, establishing the Wuxing Kingdom. In 552 CE, the Wuxing Kingdom was conquered by Western Wei.

Also in 477 CE, when Northern Wei conquered the Wudu Kingdom, Yang Wendu's uncle, Yang Guangxiang, assisted the Wei army in killing Yang Wendu. He was enfeoffed as the Duke of Yinping. Later, Southern Qi recognized Yang Guangxiang as the ruler of the Yinping Kingdom, with its capital at Yinping (present-day Wen County). In 580 CE, the Yinping Kingdom was conquered by Northern Zhou.

During the Sui and Tang dynasties, the Longnan region experienced relative political and economic stability. The Tang Dynasty established Wen, Wu, Cheng, Die, Dang, and Min prefectures in Longnan. In the first year of the Baoying era (762 CE), Tibet invaded and occupied Longnan. During the Xiantong era, the Tang recovered Wu Prefecture and renamed it Jie Prefecture. In the seventh year of Xiantong (866 CE), they recovered Cheng Prefecture.

In the sixth year of the Xining era of the Northern Song Dynasty (1073 CE), General Wang Shao defeated the Tibetans and recovered Longnan, ending a Tibetan occupation that had lasted for 311 years. By the end of the Northern Song, Longnan became the border between Song and Jin, leading to frequent warfare. In the 30th year of the Shaoxing era of the Southern Song (1160 CE), Jin launched a major offensive against Song, capturing Feng Prefecture and Dasan Pass. The imperial court ordered General Wu Lin to defend Longnan. Wu Lin's son, Wu Ting, formed an alliance with Western Xia to jointly attack Jin. In the second year of the Kaixi era (1206 CE), Wu Ting's son, Wu Xi, rebelled against Song and established a regime supported by the Jin Dynasty, comprising the four prefectures of Jie, Cheng, Wen, and Xihe. Later, Song military officers killed Wu Xi, and the four prefectures returned to Song control.

In the third year of the Duanping era (1236 CE), Mongol forces occupied Longnan. During the Yuan Dynasty, the Lidian Mongol Army Marshal Office was established in Li County, later renamed the Lidian Wenzhou Fan-Han Army and Civilian Marshal Office. A Tibetan Pacification Commission was also set up in Hezhou. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, Longnan experienced events such as the late Ming peasant rebellion led by Li Zicheng, the White Lotus Sect uprising, the Hui rebellions in Shaanxi and Gansu, and the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom movement.

In January 2004, the Longnan Prefecture was abolished, and the prefecture-level Longnan City was established. The former Wudu County was redesignated as Wudu District.

3. Geography

Longnan City is located in the southern part of Gansu Province, between 104°01′19″ to 106°35′20″ east longitude and 32°35′45″ to 34°32′00″ north latitude. It borders Tianshui City, Wushan County, and Gangu County to the north; Qingchuan, Pingwu, and Jiuzhaigou counties in Sichuan Province to the south; Diebu, Zhouqu, and Min counties to the west; and Ningqiang, Lueyang, Mian, and Feng counties in Shaanxi Province to the east. The terrain is generally higher in the northwest and lower in the southeast, with an average elevation of 1,000 meters. The city spans approximately 237 kilometers from east to west and about 230.5 kilometers from north to south.

3.1 Climate

The city is divided into three major climate zones: northern subtropical, warm temperate, and mid-temperate.

Northern Subtropical Zone: This includes the shallow mountainous areas along the valleys of the Bailong River, Baishui River, and Jialing River. The average annual temperature ranges from 12–14°C, with annual precipitation around 600 mm.

Warm Temperate Zone: This covers the vast central, eastern, and southern regions, with elevations between 1,100 and 2,000 meters. Annual precipitation ranges from 500 to 800 mm.

Mid-Temperate Zone: This includes the northern and western regions, with elevations above 2,000 meters. The annual minimum temperature falls below -20°C.

| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Annual | |-------------------------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|--------------| | Record High °C | 15.3 | 21.6 | 29.2 | 33.2 | 35.7 | 37.6 | 38.3 | 38.6 | 37 | 29.2 | 23 | 17.3 | 38.6 | | Record High °F | 59.5 | 70.9 | 84.6 | 91.8 | 96.3 | 99.7 | 100.9 | 101.5 | 98.6 | 84.6 | 73.4 | 63.1 | 101.5 | | Avg. High °C | 8.3 | 11.2 | 15.9 | 21.9 | 26.3 | 28.9 | 30.8 | 29.9 | 24.8 | 19.6 | 14.9 | 9.4 | 20.2 | | Avg. High °F | 46.9 | 52.2 | 60.6 | 71.4 | 79.3 | 84 | 87.4 | 85.8 | 76.6 | 67.3 | 58.8 | 48.9 | 68.3 | | Daily Mean °C | 3.7 | 6.5 | 10.7 | 16 | 20.2 | 23.1 | 25.2 | 24.3 | 19.9 | 15.1 | 10 | 4.6 | 14.9 | | Daily Mean °F | 38.7 | 43.7 | 51.3 | 60.8 | 68.4 | 73.6 | 77.4 | 75.7 | 67.8 | 59.2 | 50 | 40.3 | 58.9 | | Avg. Low °C | 0 | 3 | 6.8 | 11.5 | 15.4 | 18.6 | 20.8 | 20.2 | 16.5 | 11.8 | 6.3 | 0.8 | 11 | | Avg. Low °F | 32 | 37.4 | 44.2 | 52.7 | 59.7 | 65.5 | 69.4 | 68.4 | 61.7 | 53.2 | 43.3 | 33.4 | 51.7 | | Record Low °C | −7.5 | −7.8 | −3.6 | −2.1 | 5.1 | 10.1 | 14.8 | 12.3 | 8.4 | 0.9 | −4.8 | −8.6 | −8.6 | | Record Low °F | 18.5 | 18 | 25.5 | 28.2 | 41.2 | 50.2 | 58.6 | 54.1 | 47.1 | 33.6 | 23.4 | 16.5 | 16.5 | | Avg. Precipitation mm| 1.8 | 2.8 | 12.6 | 32.1 | 58.7 | 68.3 | 80 | 85.5 | 75.8 | 35.9 | 6.6 | 0.7 | 460.8 | | Avg. Precipitation in| 0.07 | 0.11 | 0.5 | 1.26 | 2.31 | 2.69 | 3.15 | 3.37 | 2.98 | 1.41 | 0.26 | 0.03 | 18.14 | | Avg. Precipitation Days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 1.9 | 2.7 | 7.7 | 10.4 | 13.1 | 13.9 | 12.4 | 12 | 13.3 | 11.7 | 4 | 1.1 | 104.2 | | Avg. Relative Humidity (%) | 51 | 50 | 51 | 52 | 54 | 59 | 62 | 64 | 69 | 67 | 58 | 53 | 58 | | Mean Monthly Sunshine Hours | 151.8 | 127.2 | 135.6 | 167 | 178.9 | 164 | 184.4 | 187.6 | 127.1 | 120.7 | 143.5 | 161.8 | 1,849.60 | | Percent Possible Sunshine | 48 | 41 | 37 | 43 | 42 | 38 | 42 | 45 | 34 | 34 | 46 | 53 | 42 |

4. Administrative Divisions

Longnan City administers 1 district and 8 counties.

District: Wudu District
Counties: Cheng County, Wen County, Tanchang County, Kang County, Xihe County, Li County, Hui County, Liangdang County

| Division Code | Division Name | Chinese Pinyin | Area (km²) | Resident Population (2020 Census) | Government Seat | Postal Code | Subdistricts | Towns | Townships | Including Ethnic Townships | |-------------------|-------------------|--------------------------|----------------|---------------------------------------|---------------------|-----------------|------------------|-----------|---------------|--------------------------------| | 621200 | Longnan City | Lǒngnán Shì | 27,838.66 | 2,407,272 | Wudu District | 746000 | 4 | 140 | 55 | 4 | | 621202 | Wudu District | Wǔdū Qū | 4,641.89 | 546,616 | Zhonglou Subdistrict| 746000 | 4 | 26 | 10 | 2 | | 621221 | Cheng County | Chéng Xiàn | 1,678.33 | 241,587 | Chengguan Town | 742500 | | 14 | 3 | | | 621222 | Wen County | Wén Xiàn | 5,002.64 | 196,906 | Chengguan Town | 746400 | | 14 | 6 | 1 | | 621223 | Tanchang County | Tànchāng Xiàn | 3,314.87 | 254,944 | Chengguan Town | 748500 | | 11 | 14 | 1 | | 621224 | Kang County | Kāng Xiàn | 2,967.95 | 162,418 | Chengguan Town | 746500 | | 18 | 3 | | | 621225 | Xihe County | Xīhé Xiàn | 1,861.66 | 351,069 | Hanyuan Town | 742100 | | 16 | 4 | | | 621226 | Li County | Lǐ Xiàn | 4,263.58 | 424,135 | Chengguan Town | 742200 | | 22 | 7 | | | 621227 | Hui County | Huī Xiàn | 2,699.01 | 189,888 | Chengguan Town | 742300 | | 13 | 2 | | | 621228 | Liangdang County | Liǎngdāng Xiàn | 1,408.73 | 39,709 | Chengguan Town | 742400 | | 6 | 6 | |

5. Economy

The economic situation of Longnan City in recent years has generally shown a stable and positive trend, with particularly notable signs of economic recovery and new momentum for high-quality development in 2024.

In terms of industrial production, the value-added of industries above a designated scale in Longnan City increased by 6.8% year-on-year from January to November 2024, with outstanding performance in mining, manufacturing, and the production and supply of electricity, heat, gas, and water. Additionally, investment in high-tech industries grew rapidly, with a year-on-year increase of 106.5%, demonstrating strong growth momentum in Longnan's industrial sector.

Regarding fixed asset investment, the city's total fixed asset investment in 2024 increased by 16% year-on-year, with real estate development investment growing by 43.2%. Investment in high-tech industries also showed strong performance. These figures indicate significant progress in infrastructure construction and industrial upgrading in Longnan City.

The consumer market has gradually recovered, with retail sales of consumer goods above the designated limit increasing by 5.3% year-on-year, and new energy vehicle consumption growing by 46.3%. This reflects the improvement in residents' consumption capacity and the increase in new types of consumer demand.

In terms of fiscal and financial conditions, general public budget revenue increased by 0.6% year-on-year, and the balance of RMB deposits in financial institutions grew by 7.9% year-on-year. Prices remained stable, with the cumulative increase in the consumer price index at 0.2%.

In the areas of rural revitalization and specialty industries, Longnan City has promoted farmers' income growth by developing agricultural specialty industries such as gastrodia elata and tea. Particularly in the tea industry, healthy and steady development has been achieved through technological policy support and brand building.

Longnan City has also actively promoted the concept of green development, achieving coordinated development between the economy and the environment through an ecological priority and green development path. For example, Wen County has driven local income growth by developing the olive oil industry and animal husbandry.

Although Longnan City has achieved certain results in economic development, it still faces challenges such as insufficient effective demand and weak market expectations. In the future, Longnan will continue to optimize policies and promote innovation and project construction to achieve high-quality economic development.

6. Transportation

• The Lanzhou-Chongqing Railway passes through, with stations at Longnan and Hadapu; the Baoji-Chengdu Railway passes through, with stations at Huixian and Liangdang.
• National Highways 212 and 345 traverse the area.
• Longnan Chengzhou Airport

7. Education

7.1 Higher Education

• Longnan Normal University: Longnan Teachers College was upgraded to a full undergraduate institution in 2024 and renamed Longnan Normal University. Approved by the Gansu Provincial People's Government, it is a public ordinary undergraduate university primarily focused on cultivating professionals such as kindergarten teachers, general-subject teachers for rural areas, and teachers of music, physical education, and fine arts. The university's full-time student enrollment is provisionally set at 9,000, and it operates under the administrative purview of the Provincial Department of Education.

• Longnan Teachers College: As the only institution of higher education in Longnan City, it is located in Cheng County. It is a public full-time ordinary college primarily dedicated to training secondary education teachers.

7.2 Secondary Education

• Longnan No.1 Middle School (Longnan Yizhong): Longnan No.1 Middle School is a provincial-level exemplary high school in Gansu Province and the only one of its kind in Longnan City. Founded in 1939, the school has undergone several relocations and name changes. It currently has 49 teaching classes with approximately 3,000 students. The school has achieved excellent results in the National College Entrance Examination (Gaokao), with its rates for students reaching the first-tier (一本) and second-tier or above (二本及以上) cutoff scores continuously improving in recent years.

• Longnan Wudu No.2 Middle School: This is a provincial-level exemplary middle school located in the Dongjiang Development New Area of Wudu District. It covers an area of 82.6 mu (about 13.8 acres) with a total floor area of 29,000 square meters. The school has 51 teaching classes and a student population of 3,016. It emphasizes boarding school management and is known for its beautiful environment and comprehensive facilities.

• Longnan Yangming Middle School: This is the first fully boarding private complete middle school (covering both junior and senior high school) in Longnan City. Located in Wudu District, it occupies over 40 mu (about 6.7 acres) with a floor area of 30,000 square meters. The school is divided into junior and senior high school sections, comprising 64 teaching classes with more than 3,500 students. It is renowned for its high teaching quality and strict student management.

7.3 Other Middle Schools

• Wen County Dongba Middle School: This is a 9-year一贯制学校 (school covering grades 1-9) and has been recognized as a National Youth Campus Football特色学校 (featured school).
• Kang County No.2 Middle School: This school had relatively high admission scores in 2023, indicating its educational standing in the local area.
• Xihe Xiyu Computer School: This is a secondary vocational and technical school offering majors such as Computer Application & Maintenance and Network Engineering.

7.4 Educational Development and Achievements

• Gaokao Performance: In recent years, the undergraduate admission rate for the普通高考 (standard Gaokao) in Longnan City has significantly increased, rising from 41.21% in 2021 to 60.54% in 2024.
• Vocational Education: Longnan City has strengthened the development of majors in secondary vocational schools, building a vocational education system that integrates general and vocational education and combines industry with education.
• Featured Schools: Several schools in Longnan City have received provincial honors. For example, Wen County Dongba Middle School was designated as a国防教育特色学校 (National Defense Education Featured School).

Longnan City has seen significant development in both higher and secondary education. Notably, the upgrade in higher education and the improvement in the quality of secondary education have provided local students with access to more high-quality educational resources.

8. Population

According to the Seventh National Population Census in 2020, the city's resident population was 2,407,272. Compared with the 2,567,718 people from the Sixth National Population Census, there was a decrease of 160,446 people over the past ten years, a decline of 6.25%, with an average annual growth rate of -0.64%. Among them, the male population was 1,227,642, accounting for 51% of the total population; the female population was 1,179,630, accounting for 49% of the total population. The overall sex ratio (with females as 100) was 104.07. The population aged 0–14 was 518,226, accounting for 21.53% of the total population; the population aged 15–59 was 1,493,967, accounting for 62.06% of the total population; the population aged 60 and above was 395,079, accounting for 16.41% of the total population, of which the population aged 65 and above was 302,958, accounting for 12.59% of the total population. The urban population was 870,878, accounting for 36.18% of the total population; the rural population was 1,536,394, accounting for 63.82% of the total population.

8.1 Ethnic Groups

Among the city's resident population, the Han Chinese population was 2,348,857, accounting for 97.57%; the population of various ethnic minorities was 58,415, accounting for 2.43%. Compared with the Sixth National Population Census in 2010, the Han Chinese population decreased by 165,733, a decline of 6.59%, and its proportion of the total population decreased by 0.36 percentage points; the population of various ethnic minorities increased by 5,287, a growth of 9.95%, and its proportion of the total population increased by 0.36 percentage points.

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9. Culture

Longnan City has three national-level intangible cultural heritages: the Nuo dance "Chige Zhou" of Wen County, the Gaoshan opera of Wudu, and the Qixi Festival of Xihe; 22 provincial-level intangible cultural heritages; and 69 municipal-level intangible cultural heritages.

10. Sister Cities

Grodno, Belarus

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