Panzhihua (攀枝花)

1. Introduction

Panzhihua City, formerly known as Dukou City, is a prefecture-level city under the jurisdiction of Sichuan Province, People's Republic of China, located on the southwestern edge of Sichuan Province. The city borders the Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture to the east and north, Lijiang City of Yunnan Province to the west, and the Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture of Yunnan Province to the south. Situated at the junction of the Hengduan Mountains and the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, the terrain is higher in the northwest and lower in the southeast. The Yalong River enters from the north, converges with the Anning River in Tongzilin Town, and then flows into the eastward-flowing Jinsha River in the eastern part of the urban area before turning southward and exiting the city. The urban area stretches along the valley on both sides of the Jinsha River, with the Chengdu-Kunming Railway, National Highway 108, and the Beijing-Kunming Expressway running north-south. The city covers a total area of 7,411 square kilometers, with a population of approximately 1.22 million. The People's Government of Panzhihua City is located in Bingcaogang, Dong District. Panzhihua is the only city in China named after a flower. It was established as a city in 1965 and lies at a historically important hub of the Southern Silk Road. It is also the largest steel, vanadium, titanium, and energy base in western China.

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2. Historical Development

2.1 The Republican Era

Beginning in the 23rd year of the Republic of China (1934), geologist Chang Longqing (later hailed as the "Father of Panzhihua Steel") commenced geological surveys in the area that is today Panzhihua, authoring the famous Investigation Report on Leibo, Mabian, Ebian, and Ping-shan.

In the 28th year of the Republic of China (1939), Chang Longqing successively discovered the Baoding Coal Mine and the Panzhihua Magnetite Iron Mine, and drafted the "Six Factories and Three Mines" development plan for Panzhihua.

Before the establishment of the city, the area now comprising Panzhihua was divided between Sichuan Province and Yunnan Province (from the 28th to the 39th year of the Republic of China, it was divided between Xikang Province and Yunnan Province). The territory west of the river was transferred from Xichang County to Dechang County; the area east of the river and the eastern part north of the river fell under Huili County; the Daping area and the central part north of the river remained within Yanbian County. These areas were under the jurisdiction of Xikang Province. The western part north of the river was within Huaping County, while the territory south of the river was transferred from Dayao County to Yongren County, under the administration of Yunnan Province.

2.2 The 1950s

• In 1951, Miyi County was established in parts of Huili and Dechang, renamed Miyi County the following year, and placed under Xichang Prefecture of Xikang Province.
• In 1954, geologist Xu Keqin led faculty and students from the Geology Department of Nanjing University to Sichuan for geological surveys and mineral prospecting fieldwork. They confirmed the significant economic value of the Panzhihua vanadium-titanium magnetite iron ore, thereby initiating the history of Panzhihua's urban development.
• In 1955, Xikang Province was dissolved. Counties including Huili, Miyi, and Yanbian were reassigned to Sichuan Province along with Xichang Prefecture. The western part of the territory north of the river initially belonged to Huaping County, Lijiang Prefecture, Yunnan Province, while the territory south of the river belonged to Yongren County, Chuxiong Prefecture.
• In 1958, Yongsheng and Huaping counties were merged into Yonghua County, and Yongren County was merged into Dayao County. The corresponding areas within the present city limits also changed their affiliation accordingly.
• In 1961, Huaping County and Yongren County were re-established. The western part of the territory north of the river was reassigned to Huaping, and the territory south of the river remained under Yongren. This administrative relationship continued until the establishment of Panzhihua City.

2.3 1965: From Industrial Zone to City Establishment and Naming

• On January 7, 1965, the Southwest Bureau of the Chinese Communist Party submitted the Request for Instructions on Establishing a Panzhihua Industrial Zone Government to the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party and the State Council, proposing the establishment of a People's Committee for the Industrial Zone under the unified leadership of the Panzhihua Industrial Zone Party Committee.
• On January 18, 1965, Premier Zhou Enlai of the State Council commented on this request report: "Establish a special administrative government in Panzhihua, following the example of Daqing, integrating government administration with enterprise management. This matter has been reported to the Secretariat for approval."
• On February 5, 1965, the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party and the State Council issued the Reply on the Establishment of the Panzhihua Special Zone People's Committee. It stated: "To ensure the industrial construction in the Panzhihua area and to uniformly arrange administrative tasks such as living supplies, culture, education, health, and public security, it is appropriate to essentially adopt the Daqing model, i.e., establish the Panzhihua Special Zone People's Committee, integrating government administration with enterprise management. Relevant enterprise work shall be primarily led by the Ministry of Metallurgy, and relevant local work shall be primarily led by the Sichuan Provincial People's Committee... The candidate for the head of the Special Zone should be discussed by the Southwest Bureau and the Ministry of Metallurgy before being reported to the Central Committee for approval. The appointment of deputy heads and other cadres shall be determined through consultation between the Southwest Bureau and the Ministry of Metallurgy."
• On March 4, 1965, to develop the Panzhihua iron ore resources and begin building the city, it was initially named the Panzhihua Special Zone. Due to the special historical circumstances in China at the time and Panzhihua's key role in the "Third Front Construction," to facilitate external communication, the Panzhihua Special Zone was renamed Dukou City in May 1965. In 1987, Dukou City was renamed Panzhihua City.
• On March 20, 1965, Xu Chi announced the establishment of the Panzhihua Special Zone People's Committee.
• On March 23, 1965, in the Request for Instructions on This Year's Work Arrangements and Several Urgent Issues to Be Resolved, Xu Chi proposed to the Southwest Bureau of the Chinese Communist Party: "The name 'Panzhihua Special Zone' can only be used internally. A public name is also needed for government signage, issuing announcements, employee correspondence, and material shipments. It is suggested to use 'Dukou Mining Area' as the public name."
• On April 13, 1965, Bai Ren and Ren Hanqing also proposed in their report to the Sichuan Provincial People's Committee: "Regarding the name for the construction of the Panzhihua mining area, after research by various parties, to facilitate confidentiality, it is proposed to change the mining area to a city, and the government's name to: 'Sichuan Province Dukou City People's Committee.' Please review whether this is appropriate and issue the official seal so that work can commence swiftly."
• On April 20, 1965, the Sichuan Provincial People's Committee requested instructions from the State Council, proposing to rename the "Panzhihua Special Zone People's Committee" to the "Sichuan Province Dukou City People's Committee."
• On April 22, 1965, the State Council issued the Reply on the Renaming of the Panzhihua Special Zone to the Sichuan Provincial People's Committee, "agreeing to rename the 'Panzhihua Special Zone People's Committee' to the 'Sichuan Province Dukou City People's Committee'."
• On May 15, 1965, the Sichuan Provincial People's Committee issued the Notice on the Establishment of the Sichuan Province Dukou City People's Committee to the Panzhihua Special Zone People's Committee. The Panzhihua Special Zone was henceforth renamed Sichuan Province Dukou City, and the Sichuan Province Dukou City People's Committee was proclaimed. After the change from Special Zone to City, the leadership members remained unchanged, with titles changed to Mayor, First Deputy Mayor, and Deputy Mayor(s).
• On May 30, 1965, the General Office of the State Council produced the official seal for the "Sichuan Province Dukou City People's Committee," which was forwarded by the Sichuan Provincial People's Committee to the Dukou City People's Committee for use.
• In August 1965, as decided by the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party and the State Council, the initially demarcated area of Dukou City comprised: 18 communes from the former Renhe District and 9 communes from the Datian District of Yongren County, Chuxiong Prefecture, Yunnan Province; 7 communes from the Daxing District and 3 communes from the Sanyang District of Huaping County, Lijiang Prefecture; 2 communes each from the Tongde District and Wuben District of Yanbian County, Xichang Prefecture, Sichuan Province; and 2 communes from the Hongge District of Huili County—totaling 43 communes.

2.4 The 1970s

• In October 1974, with the approval of the State Council, Pingdi Commune (excluding 3 production teams: Luoshuijian, Damatang, and Xiaoshiqiao) and Dalongtan Commune from Yongren County were transferred to Dukou City.
• In July 1978, Sichuan Province decided to transfer Hongge, Xinjiu, and Mengxin communes from the Hongge District of Huili County, along with 4 production brigades from He'ai Commune, to the city's jurisdiction.
• In October 1978, Sichuan Province reported to and obtained approval from the State Council to transfer Miyi County and Yanbian County from Xichang Prefecture to become counties under Dukou City.

2.5 The 1980s

On January 23, 1987, with the approval of the State Council, Dukou City was renamed Panzhihua City.

2.6 The 2020s

On July 28, 2021, in response to the three-child policy announced and implemented by the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, Panzhihua City took the lead in announcing the Sixteen Policy Measures to Promote Human Resource Aggregation. Among these, registered households in Panzhihua having a second or third child in accordance with the policy are eligible to receive a monthly subsidy of 500 RMB per child until the child reaches 3 years of age. This made Panzhihua City the first city in China to issue child-rearing subsidies.

3. Geography

3.1 Topography

Panzhihua City is located in the southwest of Sichuan Province, between 26°05′～27°21′ north latitude and 102°15′～108°08′ east longitude, with an area of 7,440.398 square kilometers. It spans the Hengduan Mountains to the west, borders the Daliang Mountains to the east, connects to the Daxue Mountains in the north, and reaches Baicao Ridge in the south. The terrain is high in the northwest and low in the southeast. The eastern part of Panzhihua City features the Xiaoxiangling-Luojishan-Lunanshan mountain system, the central part consists of the Maoniushan-Longzhoushan system, and the western part comprises the Jinpingshan-Bailinshan system, with the mountain ranges running nearly north-south. The highest point within the city is Chuandongzi on Bailing Mountain in Yanbian County in the northwest, with an elevation of 4,195.5 meters; the lowest point is Shizhuang in Pingdi Town, Renhe District in the southeast, with an elevation of 937 meters. The urban area lies between 1,000 and 1,200 meters above sea level, while the main agricultural areas range from 1,000 to 1,800 meters. The Jinsha River, Yalong River, Anning River, Dahe River, Sanyuan River, and their tributaries are deeply incised between the mountains, forming the magnificent canyon region of southwestern Sichuan. The landforms in Panzhihua City are complex and diverse, and can be divided into six categories: flatlands, terraces, high hills, low-medium mountains, medium mountains, and mountain plateaus. Low-medium mountains and medium mountains predominate, accounting for 88.38% of the city's total area.

3.2 Geological Hazards

Panzhihua City is located on the western side of the central-southern segment of the Shimian–Yuanmou seismic belt and the eastern side of the northern segment of the Yanyuan–Eryuan seismic belt. Broadly speaking, it lies within the central-southern segment of China's North-South Seismic Belt. Historically, Panzhihua has experienced few major earthquakes but frequent minor tremors, and it is also often affected by earthquakes from neighboring areas. Due to frequent but low-magnitude earthquakes, the energy accumulated in the fault zones is released gradually and regularly, preventing significant buildup. Therefore, the probability of a major earthquake occurring in Panzhihua City is very low. The largest earthquake on record was a magnitude 6.1 event that occurred at 16:30 on August 30, 2008, at the border between Renhe District of Panzhihua City and Huili County of Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture. This earthquake caused damage to over 15,000 houses, the collapse of more than 200 houses, damage to 9 reservoirs and 13 small hill ponds within Panzhihua, resulting in 5 deaths and 132 injuries.

3.3 Climate

Panzhihua City experiences various climate types ranging from the southern subtropical to the northern temperate zones, described as a "three-dimensional climate with a southern subtropical base." It is characterized by long summers, indistinct four seasons, clearly defined dry and rainy seasons, large diurnal temperature variations, dry air, concentrated rainfall, long sunshine hours (2,300 to 2,700 hours annually), strong solar radiation (578 kJ/cm² to 628 kJ/cm²), high evaporation, and diverse microclimates. The annual average temperature ranges from 19.7°C to 20.5°C, making it the region with the highest total annual heat in Sichuan Province. Typically, the hottest month is May, and the coldest months are December or January. The rainy season generally lasts from early June to October, while the dry season spans from November to May of the following year. The frost-free period exceeds 300 days. | Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year | |-----------------|-----------|-----------|------------|------------|------------|------------|------------|------------|------------|-----------|-----------|------------|------------| | Record high °C | 29.2 | 32.5 | 35.9 | 38.5 | 40.4 | 39.8 | 38.8 | 38.1 | 35.1 | 33.5 | 30.5 | 28.1 | 40.4 | | Record high °F | 84.6 | 90.5 | 96.6 | 101.3 | 104.7 | 103.6 | 101.8 | 100.6 | 95.2 | 92.3 | 86.9 | 82.6 | 104.7 | | Average high °C | 21.8 | 25.0 | 28.7 | 31.8 | 32.5 | 32.3 | 31.0 | 30.6 | 28.4 | 26.4 | 23.3 | 21.0 | 27.7 | | Average high °F | 71.2 | 77.0 | 83.7 | 89.2 | 90.5 | 90.1 | 87.8 | 87.1 | 83.1 | 79.5 | 73.9 | 69.8 | 81.9 | | Daily mean °C | 13.6 | 17.0 | 21.2 | 24.5 | 25.6 | 26.1 | 25.3 | 24.8 | 22.8 | 20.3 | 16.1 | 13.0 | 20.9 | | Daily mean °F | 56.5 | 62.6 | 70.2 | 76.1 | 78.1 | 79.0 | 77.5 | 76.6 | 73.0 | 68.5 | 61.0 | 55.4 | 69.5 | | Average low °C | 6.9 | 9.9 | 14.2 | 17.8 | 20.0 | 21.4 | 21.4 | 20.8 | 19.1 | 16.3 | 11.2 | 7.3 | 15.5 | | Average low °F | 44.4 | 49.8 | 57.6 | 64.0 | 68.0 | 70.5 | 70.5 | 69.4 | 66.4 | 61.3 | 52.2 | 45.1 | 59.9 | | Record low °C | 1.7 | 3.6 | 4.9 | 8.7 | 10.5 | 13.6 | 15.2 | 15.6 | 10.9 | 9.5 | 3.3 | 0.4 | 0.4 | | Record low °F | 35.1 | 38.5 | 40.8 | 47.7 | 50.9 | 56.5 | 59.4 | 60.1 | 51.6 | 49.1 | 37.9 | 32.7 | 32.7 | | Average precipitation mm | 5.2 | 3.8 | 7.2 | 13.5 | 53.8 | 140.5 | 218.9 | 180.4 | 137.4 | 59.8 | 16.5 | 1.8 | 838.8 | | Average precipitation inches | 0.20 | 0.15 | 0.28 | 0.53 | 2.12 | 5.53 | 8.62 | 7.10 | 5.41 | 2.35 | 0.65 | 0.07 | 33.01 | | Average precipitation days | 1.5 | 1.6 | 3.3 | 3.1 | 7.9 | 13.8 | 19.2 | 15.4 | 14.6 | 10.2 | 4.3 | 1.3 | 96.2 | | Average relative humidity (%) | 51 | 40 | 35 | 36 | 48 | 62 | 72 | 72 | 74 | 72 | 68 | 64 | 58 |

3.4 Natural Resources

Panzhihua is rich in mineral resources, including iron, vanadium, titanium, coal, limestone, dolomite, clay, graphite, Juque inkstone ore, diatomite, and others. Among these, vanadium resources account for 62.2% of the national total, ranking third in the world; titanium resources account for 11.6% of the world's total, ranking first globally. The Zhongba graphite deposit essentially encompasses all graphite resources in southern China, making it the second-largest graphite deposit in the country. Diatomite remains undeveloped. The Zhujiabaobao, Lanjiahuoshan, and Jianbaobao sections of the Panzhihua Iron Mine have been developed into a large open-pit mine with an annual production capacity of 13.5 million tons of vanadium-titanium magnetite.

Located at the confluence of the Jinsha River and Yalong River, Panzhihua boasts abundant hydropower resources and holds advantages for developing cascading water conservancy projects. The 3,300-megawatt Ertan Hydropower Station, built on the Yalong River, has been consistently and stably supplying electricity to major power grids across the country for over a decade.

Panzhihua is home to a wide variety of plants and wildlife, with over 2,500 species. Among the precious and rare animals, there are five species under first-class national key protection: the takin, clouded leopard, leopard, white-tailed tragopan, and Sichuan partridge. There are also 30 species under second-class national key protection. Additionally, there are 14 species of nationally key-protected rare and endangered plants, classified as first and second class. Notably, the first-class key-protected rare and endangered plant, the Panzhihua cycad, is globally renowned for its remarkable growth in large clusters of over 100,000 plants, which bloom annually with both male and female flowers competing in splendor. Alongside the dinosaur and panda, it is celebrated as one of the "Three Treasures of Bashu."

4. Administrative Divisions

Before the establishment of Panzhihua City, its area was formed by incorporating parts of communes from Yongren County and Huaping County in Yunnan Province, as well as Yanbian County and Huili County in Sichuan Province. The Jinsha River served as the boundary, with the areas north and south of the river belonging to Sichuan Province and Yunnan Province, respectively, prior to the city's establishment.

The city currently administers 3 municipal districts and 2 counties. The municipal government is located in Bingcaogang, Dong District.

• Municipal Districts: Dong District, Xi District, Renhe District
• Counties: Miyi County, Yanbian County Among these, Renhe District, Miyi County, and Yanbian County enjoy the policy treatment of ethnic autonomous areas.

| Division Code | Division Name | Hanyu Pinyin | Area (km²) | Resident Population (2020 Census) | Government Seat | Postal Code | Subdistricts | Towns | Townships | Ethnic Townships | |-------------------|---------------------|----------------------|----------------|---------------------------------------|--------------------------|-----------------|------------------|-----------|---------------|----------------------| | 510400 | Panzhihua City | Panzhihua Shi | 7,411.03 | 1,212,203 | Yancaogang Subdistrict, Dong District | 617000 | 11 | 23 | 15 | 10 | | 510402 | Dong District | Dōng Qū | 165.00 | 411,427 | Dadukou Subdistrict | 617000 | 5 | 1 | | | | 510403 | Xi District | Xī Qū | 122.88 | 129,406 | Qingxiangping Subdistrict| 617000 | 5 | 1 | | | | 510411 | Renhe District | Rénhé Qū | 1,728.98 | 265,562 | Renhe Town | 617000 | 1 | 8 | 5 | 2 | | 510421 | Miyi County | Mǐyì Xiàn | 2,104.96 | 227,011 | Panlian Town | 617200 | 7 | 4 | 4 | | | 510422 | Yanbian County | Yánbiān Xiàn | 3,289.21 | 178,797 | Tongzilin Town | 617100 | 6 | 6 | 4 | |

5. Economy

In 2009, the city achieved a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of 42.408 billion yuan, an increase of 11.2%, with the growth rate declining by 3.3 percentage points compared to the previous year. Specifically: the added value of the primary industry was 2.032 billion yuan, up by 4.3%; the added value of the secondary industry was 30.006 billion yuan, up by 12.0%; and the added value of the tertiary industry was 10.370 billion yuan, up by 10.0%. The contribution rates of the three industries to economic growth were 1.4%, 77.9%, and 20.7% respectively. The structural ratio of the three industries adjusted from 4.7:72.7:22.6 in the previous year to 4.8:70.8:24.4.

5.1 Agriculture

Panzhihua's unique three-dimensional climate, abundant light and heat resources, vast land resources, and sufficient water resources create superior conditions for vigorously developing three-dimensional agriculture. From the subtropical dry-hot valleys to the alpine temperate zones, Panzhihua City provides a rich variety of climate types within a mere 6°7′ longitude range, which typically would require a 30° longitude span to offer.

The subtropical dry-hot valley low mountain areas form the subtropical crop production zone. Led by mangoes, a large number of subtropical fruits have been vigorously developed, with pomegranates, lychees, longans, papayas, bananas, etc., already achieving considerable scale. Rice in the valley areas can be harvested twice a year over a long period, and the region also abundantly produces wheat, broad beans, peas, early-season vegetables, sugarcane, and sericulture. The mid-to-high alpine temperate zones are dominated by temperate crops, with significant production of corn, wheat, japonica rice, tubers, pears, peaches, pomegranates, Huangguogan (a local citrus fruit), four-season plums, grapes, etc. Dried fruits mainly include chestnuts, walnuts, macadamia nuts, and hazelnuts. Such superior conditions have led Panzhihua to be designated as a national production base for transporting southern vegetables to the north. The pomegranate and mango production areas have been listed by the Ministry of Agriculture as key development zones. Ten projects in Miyi County, including grain bases, vegetable bases, high-quality mango bases, and sugar crop bases, have been recognized by the World Bank as comprehensive loan projects for agricultural resource development in the Anning River Basin.

5.2 Industry

Panzhihua's industry is a heavy industrial system primarily based on steel resources, making it a typical resource-based city. In 2014, Panzhihua City achieved an industrial output value of 156.53 billion yuan. Among this, four major enterprises—Pangang, Gangcheng, Panmei, and Ertan—collectively completed an industrial output value of 50.09 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 3.6%. Major enterprises include: Pangang Group Co., Ltd., China 19th Metallurgical Group Co., Ltd., Chuannan Coal Group Panmei Company, Panzhihua Gangcheng Group Co., Ltd., and Ertan Hydropower Development Co., Ltd. Among these, Pangang serves as the locomotive of the city's economy, holding a pivotal position. Pangang has departments in metallurgy, power, coking, chemicals, machinery, and building materials. In 2015, according to a government-released brief on industrial economic performance, among Panzhihua's four major enterprises, except for Ertan Hydropower Company, large enterprises (groups) such as Pangang, Gangcheng, and Panmei experienced continued declines in production and intensified losses.

In recent years, the municipal government has also vigorously developed processing industries. Main local specialties include Jinjiang brand beer, refined sorghum maltose, papaya sauce, Juque inkstones, and Panxi Sunshine wine.

6. Transportation

Panzhihua City is not only the closest point in Sichuan Province to the coastal ports of South China and Southeast Asia, but also extends deep into the hinterland of Yunnan Province, serving as a regional central city in southwestern Sichuan and northwestern Yunnan.

6.1 Highways

Existing Road Network

• Expressways: G5 Beijing–Kunming Expressway, G4216 Rongli Expressway
• National Highway: G108 (Beijing–Kunming Line)
• Provincial Highways: S214 (Dianwa Road), S216 (Daopan Road), S310 (Ninghua Road) The Xichang–Panzhihua Expressway and Panzhihua–Tianfang Expressway, both part of the Beijing–Kunming Expressway, opened on September 28, 2008, and December 31, 2008, respectively. The Panzhihua urban section of the Lijiang–Panzhihua Expressway, part of the Rongli Expressway, opened on January 1, 2014.

After the completion of the 2013–2030 plan

• National Expressways: G5 Beijing–Kunming Expressway, G4216 Rongli Expressway
• Sichuan Expressways: S96 Panda Expressway, S87 Sepan Expressway, S89 Yanhui Expressway, S98 Panzhihua Airport Expressway, SD Panzhihua Ring Expressway
• National Highways: G108 (Beijing–Kunming Line), G227 (Zhangmeng Line), G353 (Ningfu Line)
• Provincial Highways: S218 (Yueyu Road), S219 (Tuopu Road), S221 (Lupan Road), S315 (Qiaoping Road), S465 (Huimi Road), S470 (Dehui Road), S471 (Hongzhong Road)

6.2 Railway

• In Operation: Chengdu–Kunming Railway, Chengdu–Kunming Railway Dukou Branch Line, Emeishan–Guangtong Railway (i.e., Chengdu–Kunming Double-Track Railway)
• Under Planning: Dali–Lijiang–Panzhihua Railway, Panzhihua–Zhaotong Railway, Yibin–Xichang–Panzhihua High-Speed Railway

6.3 Aviation

• In Operation: Panzhihua Baoanying Airport
• Under Planning: Panzhihua Airport Relocation Project

6.4 Public Transit

Public buses first appeared in Panzhihua in 1964. In 1971, 211 employees from the Tianjin public transit system were relocated to support Panzhihua's public transit. By 2014, Panzhihua City had approximately 40 bus routes in operation.

6.5 Passenger Transport

By the end of December 2014, the Panzhihua Passenger Transport Center operated a total of 56 routes, including inter-provincial, intra-provincial, and intra-city lines, with an average daily departure of 259 trips.

7. Education

Panzhihua City serves as the educational hub of the Panxi region. The city is home to 2 regular higher education institutions, 3 specialized secondary schools, 65 regular secondary schools, 299 regular primary schools, 173 kindergartens, and 1 special education school. The total enrollment includes 20,190 students in regular higher education institutions, 10,774 in specialized secondary schools, and 67,544 in regular secondary schools. In the compulsory education stage, there are 147,736 students, comprising 98,729 primary school students and 49,007 junior high school students. Kindergarten enrollment stands at 29,799 children. There are 144 students in special education (including those studying in regular classes). The teaching staff consists of 1,051 full-time teachers in regular higher education institutions, 360 in secondary vocational schools, 9,736 in regular education, 1,044 in kindergartens, and 28 in special education schools. The enrollment rate for school-age children is 99.98%, with graduation transition rates of 100% for primary school and 92.6% for junior high school.

7.1 Higher Education

• Panzhihua University
• Sichuan Electromechanical Institute of Vocation and Technology

7.2 Senior Secondary Education

• Panzhihua No. 3 Senior High School
• Panzhihua No. 7 Senior High School
• Dahe Middle School
• Panzhihua No. 15 Middle School
• Panzhihua No. 12 Middle School
• Panzhihua Economic Trade and Tourism School
• Panzhihua Construction Engineering School

7.3 Compulsory Education

• Panzhihua No. 19 Primary and Secondary School Education Group
• Panzhihua No. 25 Primary and Secondary School Education Group
• Panzhihua No. 2 Junior High School
• Panzhihua Experimental School
• Panzhihua No. 2 Primary School Education Group

8. Population

At the end of 2022, the city's permanent resident population was 1.216 million, with an urban population of 854,000. The urbanization rate of the permanent resident population was 70.23%.

According to the Seventh National Population Census in 2020, the city's permanent resident population was 1,212,203. Compared with the 1,214,121 people from the Sixth National Population Census, the total decrease over the ten years was 1,918 people, a decline of 0.16%, with an average annual growth rate of -0.02%. Among them, the male population was 626,361, accounting for 51.67% of the total population; the female population was 585,842, accounting for 48.33% of the total population. The sex ratio of the total population (with females as 100) was 106.92. The population aged 0-14 was 169,669, accounting for 14% of the total population; the population aged 15-59 was 802,960, accounting for 66.24% of the total population; the population aged 60 and above was 239,574, accounting for 19.76% of the total population, of which the population aged 65 and above was 192,453, accounting for 15.88% of the total population. The population living in urban areas was 843,378, accounting for 69.57% of the total population; the population living in rural areas was 368,825, accounting for 30.43% of the total population.

According to household registration statistics by place of origin, local Panzhihua natives (i.e., people whose ancestors were born and raised in the current Panzhihua city area and have resided there for three generations or more) numbered 571,403 (among them, local Han Chinese natives of Panzhihua origin numbered 426,763, accounting for 74.69% of the local Panzhihua natives), accounting for 51.17% of the total registered population of Panzhihua City. They are mainly distributed in Miyi County, Yanbian County, Renhe District, Geliping Town in Xiqu District, and Yinjiang Town in Dongqu District.

Immigrants and their descendants (i.e., people who have moved to Panzhihua City since its establishment in 1965 due to factors such as supporting Panzhihua's construction, work, and business, and their descendants born and raised in Panzhihua City) numbered 545,166, accounting for 48.83% of the total registered population of Panzhihua City. Immigrants and their descendants are mainly concentrated in Dongqu District, Xiqu District, Renhe urban area, Yanbian county town, Miyi county town, and other places. Among them, immigrants from Sichuan and their descendants numbered 342,440, accounting for 62.81% of the total registered immigrant population and their descendants in Panzhihua City, and 30.67% of the total registered population of Panzhihua City. Immigrants from other provinces (municipalities directly under the central government, autonomous regions, etc.) and their descendants numbered 202,726, accounting for 37.19% of the total registered immigrant population and their descendants in Panzhihua City, and 18.16% of the total registered population of Panzhihua City. Among them, immigrants from Chongqing and their descendants numbered 64,304, accounting for 11.80% of the total registered immigrant population and their descendants in Panzhihua City, and 5.76% of the total registered population of Panzhihua City. Immigrants from Northeast China (with ancestral homes in the three provinces of Liaoning, Jilin, and Heilongjiang) and their descendants numbered 36,537, accounting for 6.70% of the total registered immigrant population and their descendants in Panzhihua City, and 3.27% of the total registered population of Panzhihua City.

The total registered population of Panzhihua City's urban areas (Dongqu District, Xiqu District, Renhe District) was 690,304, accounting for 61.82% of the total registered population of Panzhihua City. Among them, local natives of Panzhihua urban areas (i.e., people whose ancestors were born and raised within the current Panzhihua urban area and have resided there for three generations or more) numbered 186,175 (among them, local Han Chinese natives of Panzhihua urban origin numbered 133,745), accounting for 26.97% of the total registered population of Panzhihua's urban areas. Local natives of Panzhihua City are mainly concentrated in Renhe District, reaching 147,080 people. Additionally, there is some distribution in Geliping Town in Xiqu District and Yinjiang Town in Dongqu District. Immigrants and their descendants (i.e., people who have moved to Panzhihua City's urban areas since its establishment in 1965 due to factors such as supporting Panzhihua's construction, work, and business, and their descendants born and raised in Panzhihua's urban areas) numbered 504,129, accounting for 73.03% of the total registered population of Panzhihua's urban areas. They are mainly concentrated in the urban areas of Dongqu District, the urban areas of Xiqu District, as well as residential communities in Renhe urban area such as Renhe Town, Dahezhonglu Sub-district Office, and Jinjiang.

8.1. Ethnic Groups

Among the city's permanent resident population, the Han Chinese population was 1,027,748, accounting for 84.78%; the population of various ethnic minorities was 184,455, accounting for 15.22%. Compared with the 2010 Sixth National Population Census, the Han Chinese population decreased by 11,077 people, a decline of 1.07%, and its proportion of the total population decreased by 0.78 percentage points; the population of various ethnic minorities increased by 9,159 people, an increase of 5.22%, and its proportion of the total population increased by 0.78 percentage points. Among them, the Yi ethnic population increased by 7,935 people, an increase of 5.6%, and its proportion of the total population increased by 0.67 percentage points.

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9. Culture

Panzhihua is a city of immigrants, where people from all over China have blended together. Over more than 40 years, this has fostered a unique Panzhihua culture.

9.1 Dialects

Due to Panzhihua's characteristic as an immigrant city, there is a noticeable distinction between the local accent and immigrant accents in the Mandarin pronunciation of its residents. Overall, the dialects of Panzhihua can be divided into two main categories:

9.1.1 Local Dialects

The local dialects of Panzhihua refer to the collective dialects used by indigenous families who have resided in the area for three or more generations, with a history of over a hundred years. Their usage is primarily in Dong District's Yinjiang Town, Xiqu District's Geliping Town, Renhe District, Yanbian County, and Miyi County, with a user population of approximately over 500,000 (including some ethnic minority populations). In terms of origin, Panzhihua's local dialects belong to the Dianxi, Kungui, and Chengyu sub-groups of Southwestern Mandarin, mainly including:

• Dialects from areas such as Pingdi Town, Dalongtan Township, Ala Township, Jinjiang Town, Datian Town in Renhe District, and Yinjiang Town in Dong District (south of the river) belong to the Yaoli sub-group of the Dianxi sub-group of Southwestern Mandarin.
• Dialects from areas such as Futian, Xinhua, Xinsheng, Taiping, Qianjin in Renhe District, and Geliping Town in Xiqu District (excluding Xinzhuang and Dashuijing) belong to the Yonghua sub-group of the Kungui sub-group of Southwestern Mandarin.
• Dialects from areas like Renhe, Zhongba, and Zongfa in Renhe District are in a transitional zone between the Dianxi and Kungui sub-groups, generally leaning towards the Kungui sub-group.
• Dialects from areas such as Wuben Township, Tongde, Minzheng in Renhe District, Yinjiang Town in Dong District (north of the river), and Dashuijing and Xinzhuang in Xiqu District are known as the Dashuijing dialect.
• Dialects from Yanbian County and Miyi County belong to the Chengyu sub-group of Southwestern Mandarin. Due to historical administrative affiliations and geographical relations, the dialects in most areas of Miyi County are similar to the Dechang dialect of Liangshan Prefecture, while the Yanbian County dialect is close to the Yanyuan dialect of Liangshan Prefecture. The dialects in eastern Miyi County and southeastern Yanbian County are similar to the Huili dialect of Liangshan Prefecture.

9.1.2 Immigrant Dialects

Over 90% of Panzhihua's urban population consists of immigrants from across China who have moved to present-day Panzhihua since the "Third Front Construction" in 1965, along with their descendants. Among the immigrants, a significant number are from Sichuan and Chongqing, accounting for over 70% of Panzhihua's total urban population, followed by people from Northeast China, Wuhan, Tianjin, Shanghai, etc. Linguistically, Panzhihua's urban area almost encompasses all dialect varieties of Southwestern Mandarin, reflecting the unique linguistic landscape of an immigrant city. However, in terms of relatively concentrated communities, well-preserved dialects, and notable influence, the more representative Bashu dialects in Panzhihua's urban area include: Nanchong dialect, Chengdu dialect, Chongqing dialect, Neijiang dialect, and Luzhou dialect. Children of immigrants born and raised in Panzhihua's urban area are generally influenced by their parents' native accents due to family environment, while also being affected by various immigrant dialects. In areas where local residents are predominant, the Mandarin accents of immigrant children and their descendants are more heavily influenced by the local dialects.

9.2 Cuisine

Some of the more famous local specialties include Old Yanbian Lamb Rice Noodles, You Di Rou (oil-bottom meat), and Salian Liangfen (cold jelly).

9.3 Media

Signals from major national media in the People's Republic of China, such as China Central Television (CCTV) and China National Radio (CNR), can be received in Panzhihua. Sichuan Radio and Television broadcasts local news for the Panzhihua area during certain time slots. The Panzhihua Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China and the Panzhihua Municipal People's Government also operate Panzhihua Radio and Television Station, which is the primary broadcasting institution in Panzhihua and part of the Panzhihua Media Convergence Center.

10. Sister Cities

10.1 International

• Terni, Italy, 1997

10.2 Domestic

• Xicheng District, Beijing
• Baoshan District, Shanghai
• Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province
• Beihai City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region
• Luzhou City, Sichuan Province
• Honghe Prefecture, Yunnan Province
• Chuxiong Prefecture, Yunnan Province
• Lijiang City, Yunnan Province
• Baoji City, Shaanxi Province

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No. 2 Bingcaogang Street, East District

East District

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Pan Zhihua tree

Panzhihua