Pingdingshan (平顶山)

1. Introduction

Pingdingshan City is a prefecture-level city under the jurisdiction of Henan Province, People's Republic of China, located in the central-southern part of Henan. To the west, Pingdingshan is bordered by the Funiu Mountains, and to the east, it connects to the Huanghuai Plain. The city derives its name from the flat, table-like peaks surrounding the northern part of the urban area. The city covers a total area of 7,910 square kilometers and has a population of 4.96 million, predominantly of Han ethnicity. During the Western Zhou Dynasty, the Ying State, located in what is now Pingdingshan, adopted the eagle as its totem, earning Pingdingshan the nickname Eagle City. In the Spring and Autumn Period, Confucius and Duke Ye, Shen Zhuliang, discussed state policies in the Ye County (present-day Ye County), leaving behind the famous governance maxim: "Delight the near, attract the far." The descendants of Duke Ye took the name of the county as their surname, becoming the Ye clan, making Pingdingshan's Ye County the ancestral home of the Ye surname.

In modern times, Pingdingshan, as an important coal-producing region in China, became a rising energy-based industrial city established and developed around coal after the founding of the People's Republic of China. It is a significant base for energy and raw material industries in China. In 2003, Pingdingshan was designated by Henan Province as one of the nine central cities in the Central Plains Urban Agglomeration. The city's tourism resources primarily include Mount Yao, hot springs, lakes, and temples. In early 2007, Pingdingshan was recognized as one of China's outstanding tourist cities. The Municipal People's Government is located on Xiangyun Road, Xinhua District.

nix

2. History

2.1 Prehistoric Times to the Western Han Dynasty

From over 6000 BC to 1800 BC, there were multiple human settlements in the area of present-day Pingdingshan City. Ancient cultural sites discovered in places such as Douzhuang in Baofeng County, Huaishuyin and Zhongshanzhai in Linru County, and Shuiquan in Jia County exhibit distinct characteristics of the Peiligang Culture. Sites of the Yangshao Culture and Longshan Culture have been found at locations including Qiugongcheng in Lushan County, Jiazhuang in Xiangcheng County, Yancun and Meishan in Linru County, as well as Puchengdian and Sigang in the city's suburbs.

During the Yin-Shang period, the Ying tribe was located in the Zhiyang area of present-day Xuezhuang Township in the suburbs of Pingdingshan City. In the early Western Zhou Dynasty, King Wu of Zhou enfeoffed his fourth son here, establishing the State of Ying. Among the vassal states under the Zhou Dynasty, Ying held a relatively high status and possessed certain "supervisory" functions over other states. As the Zhou Dynasty declined and due to years of warfare, the State of Ying gradually weakened. By the mid-Spring and Autumn period, it was conquered by the rising southern state of Chu. In the late Warring States period, the State of Wei attacked Chu and captured Luyang (present-day Lushan County). In the 41st year of King Zhaoxiang of Qin (266 BC), Fan Ju, the Chancellor of the State of Qin, was enfeoffed at Ying, becoming the Marquis of Ying.

In the late Western Han Dynasty, peasant uprisings erupted across the land, forming the large-scale Red Eyebrows and Green Forest rebellions against Wang Mang. In the third month of the fourth year of the Dihuang era of the Xin Dynasty (23 AD), Liu Xiu led Green Forest forces to attack Fucheng (present-day Gucheng Village, Lizhuang Township, Baofeng County) but failed to capture it. He then stationed his troops at Jinche Township (present-day Yuanliu Village, Jiaodian Township) and captured Feng Yi, an officer under Wang Mang, who subsequently surrendered to Liu Xiu. Afterwards, Liu Xiu captured Kunyang. Wang Mang dispatched Grand Minister over the Masses Wang Xun and Grand Minister of Works Wang Yi with an army of 420,000 men from Luoyang to besiege Kunyang. Liu Xiu decisively defeated Wang Mang's forces and killed Wang Xun. Wang Yi fled back to Luoyang. While retreating in disarray, Wang Mang's troops attempted to cross the Zhi River (the present-day Sha River in the Miaohou and Zhiyang areas). Heavy rains caused the river to swell suddenly, drowning tens of thousands of Wang Mang's soldiers. This event is historically known as the "Battle of Kunyang."

In the seventh year of the Jian'an era (202 AD), Liu Bei led troops north from Xinye to attack Cao Cao. Cao Cao sent Xiahou Dun south to confront him. The two armies met at Ye County, but before engaging, Liu Bei deliberately broke camp and retreated south to Bowang. There, Liu Bei used an ambush tactic to defeat Cao Cao's army and captured the enemy general Xiahou Lan. This event is historically known as the "Battle of Bowang Slope."

2.2 Tang Dynasty to the Late Qing Dynasty

During the Tang Dynasty, in the eleventh month of the fourteenth year of the Tianbao era (755 AD), An Lushan launched a rebellion in Fanyang under the pretext of opposing Chancellor Yang Guozhong. In the fifteenth year of Tianbao (756 AD), Lu Jiong, the military governor of Shannan, established a defensive stockade at Ye County and fought against An Lushan's general Wu Jinxun at the Zhi River. After Lu's army was defeated, it retreated to defend Nanyang. In the same year, to quell the rebellion of Shi Siming, Emperor Xuanzong of Tang dispatched troops from Nanyang and Ye County, defeating a part of Shi's army at Ye County.

In the Northern Song Dynasty, during the fourth year of the Jianyan era (1130 AD), the Jin army invaded as far south as the Jiangnan region and was passing through Xiangyang on its return north. In early April, they entered the Pingdingshan area. Niu Gao led local villagers to a major victory over the Jin forces. For his merit in organizing the resistance against the Jin in his hometown, Niu Gao was promoted to Pacification Commissioner of the Western Circuit and concurrently Military Commissioner of Cai, Tang, and Xin. He later joined Yue Fei's army and was appointed Pacification Commissioner of the four prefectures: Tang, Deng, Xiang, and Ying.

In the early Yuan Dynasty, Ma Tutar, a general under Kublai Khan, was posthumously awarded the title of "Zhaoyong Great General," a third-rank military position. He later resigned from office, moved south, and settled at Jingshan (present-day Jingshan Village) north of Kunyang. Jingshan gradually developed into a Mongolian village. In the fifteenth year of the Chongzhen era of the Ming Dynasty (1642 AD), Wang Qiaonian, the Shaanxi Governor-General, led troops to fight against Li Zicheng's rebel army at Xiangcheng County. The rebel army captured Xiangcheng, killed Wang Qiaonian, and annihilated over 20,000 government troops. The rebels then captured Jia County, executing the county magistrate Li Zhenzuo and the militia commander Gao Lingyun. In the eighth month, Sun Chuanting, the Shaanxi Governor-General, led his army into Henan to suppress the rebels but was defeated by Li Zicheng at Jia County. In the late Qing Dynasty, in the tenth month of the third year of the Xuantong era (1911 AD), Bai Lang from Daliu Village in Baofeng County raised a rebellion with the slogan "rob the rich to aid the poor," opposing Yuan Shikai's regime. The rebellion lasted four years, spanned five provinces, and at its peak grew to over 30,000 followers. On August 3, 1914, during a battle in Baofeng, Bai Lang was hit by a stray bullet and died.

2.3 Republic of China Era

On May 16, 1947, the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party decided to establish the Central Plains Bureau of the CPC Central Committee to implement the strategy of advancing into the Central Plains. From April 13 to May 16, 1948, the Central Plains Bureau and the Central Plains Military Region were stationed in Ye County. From May 17 to November 13, they relocated to Baofeng County. From May 2 to June 3, 1948, the Central Plains Field Army successively launched the Western Wan and Eastern Wan Campaigns, capturing over ten towns and cities in the vast area east of Laohekou and Xixiakou and west of Nanyang. Concurrently, the Central Plains Military Region also established within the Pingdingshan area the Central Plains Pharmaceutical Factory, a branch of the Yuxi Military Industry Department Arsenal, Central Plains University (the predecessor of Zhongnan University of Economics and Law), and the Central Plains Military and Political University (the predecessor of the PLA Military Engineering Institute) to build and consolidate the continuously expanding liberated areas.

2.4 People's Republic of China

In the early years after the founding of the People's Republic of China, the area of the present-day Pingdingshan prefecture-level city was under the jurisdiction of the Luoyang Special District and the Xuchang Special District. The area of present-day Pingdingshan City proper was divided between Ye County and Baofeng County. In 1953, the state began prospecting the Pingdingshan coalfield. In 1954, the Central-South Coal Mining Administration established the Pingdingshan Coal Mine Preparatory Office. In 1956, the Pingdingshan Mining Area Committee of the Chinese Communist Party and the Pingdingshan Office of the Xuchang Special District Administration were successively established. In 1957, the State Council approved the establishment of Pingdingshan City as a province-administered city, with six townships from Ye County and Baofeng County designated as its administrative area.

3. Geography

Pingdingshan City is situated in the transitional zone between the western Henan mountainous region and the Huai River Plain. The western part is predominantly mountainous, with the highest peak, Yao Mountain, located on the western border of Lushan County, standing at an elevation of 2,153.1 meters. The eastern part is mainly plain. Between the low mountains and the plains, undulating hills are distributed. Looking from north to south, there are generally three mountain ranges interspersed with two sets of river valley plains. The northern part consists of Ji Mountain, the central part includes the eastern section of Waifang Mountain and low mountains such as Luofu Mountain north of the Pingdingshan urban area, while the southern part comprises the eastern section of Funiu Mountain and its remaining ranges. The northern area is interspersed with the alluvial plain of the North Ru River, and the southern area is interspersed with alluvial plains such as those of the Sha River and Li River. The elevation mostly ranges between 300 and 700 meters, characterized by higher terrain in the west and lower terrain in the east.

The rivers within Pingdingshan City all belong to the Huai River water system, with rainfall being the primary source of water supply. The main rivers include the Sha River, North Ru River, and Li River. The Sha River originates from Yao Mountain in Lushan County, flows through Lushan County and Zhanhe District, and enters Wuyang County from Ye County. Within the city, it stretches 175.8 kilometers, with a drainage area of 3,910.46 square kilometers and an average annual runoff of 1.12 billion cubic meters. The North Ru River originates from Paoma Ridge in the eastern part of Song County, Luoyang City, enters Pingdingshan through Ruyang County, Luoyang City, flows through Ruzhou City, Jia County, Baofeng County, and Ye County, and converges with the Sha River in Dingying Township, Xiangcheng County. The Li River originates from Fangcheng County, Nanyang City, enters Pingdingshan from Changcun Township, Ye County, and merges with the Sha River in the western part of Luohe City. Within the city, it flows for 60 kilometers, with a drainage area of 253.3 square kilometers. Its tributary, the Zhan River, runs east-west through the urban area.

Pingdingshan City belongs to the northern part of the northern subtropical zone, with distinct four seasons, a mild climate, abundant rainfall, and a long frost-free period, making it suitable for the growth of various crops, animals, and plants. In spring, temperatures rise quickly, with little rain and frequent winds; summer is characterized by high temperatures and heavy rainfall, with precipitation concentrated and unstable, showing significant annual variations; autumn features dry and windy conditions with large temperature differences between day and night; winter sees relatively little rain and snow, with dry, cold, and windy weather.

4. Administrative Divisions

Pingdingshan City administers 4 municipal districts, 4 counties, and has jurisdiction over 2 county-level cities.

Municipal Districts: Xinhua District, Weidong District, Shilong District, Zhanhe District
County-level Cities: Wugang City, Ruzhou City
Counties: Baofeng County, Ye County, Lushan County, Jia County

| Division Code | Division Name | Chinese Pinyin | Area (km²) | Permanent Population | Government Seat | Postal Code | Subdistricts | Towns | Townships | Ethnic Townships | |-------------------|-------------------|--------------------------|----------------|--------------------------|---------------------------|-----------------|------------------|-----------|---------------|----------------------| | 410400 | Pingdingshan City | Píngdǐngshān Shì | 7,910.12 | 4,987,137 | Xinhua District | 467000 | 58 | 53 | 33 | 2 | | 410402 | Xinhua District | Xīnhuá Qū | 124.79 | 465,152 | Shuguangjie Subdistrict | 467000 | 10 | 2 | | | | 410403 | Weidong District | Wèidōng Qū | 116.86 | 369,260 | Dong'anlu Subdistrict | 467000 | 13 | | | | | 410404 | Shilong District | Shílóng Qū | 34.85 | 43,429 | Renminlu Subdistrict | 467000 | 4 | | | | | 410411 | Zhanhe District | Zhànhé Qū | 178.91 | 345,928 | Shuguangjie Subdistrict, Xinhua District | 467000 | 9 | | 1 | | | 410421 | Baofeng County | Bǎofēng Xiàn | 729.49 | 498,157 | Chengguan Town | 467400 | | 9 | 3 | | | 410422 | Ye County | Yè Xiàn | 1,389.09 | 702,345 | Jiulong Subdistrict | 467200 | 3 | 10 | 6 | 1 | | 410423 | Lushan County | Lǔshān Xiàn | 2,409.21 | 787,109 | Luyang Subdistrict | 467300 | 4 | 7 | 13 | | | 410425 | Jia County | Jiá Xiàn | 725.8 | 506,377 | Longshan Subdistrict | 467100 | 2 | 8 | 5 | 1 | | 410481 | Wugang City | Wǔgāng Shì | 629.32 | 294,839 | Yakou Subdistrict | 462500 | 7 | 4 | 3 | | | 410482 | Ruzhou City | Rǔzhōu Shì | 1,571.82 | 974,541 | Meishan Subdistrict | 467500 | 6 | 13 | 2 | |

5. Economy

After the founding of the People's Republic of China, relying on its abundant mineral resources, Pingdingshan City experienced rapid economic development. Its industry is primarily based on coal and electricity, with the Pingdingshan mining area once being one of China's top ten coal bases. Subsequently, industries such as steel, textiles, and chemicals also developed. By 2009, the proportion of non-coal industries in the industrial sector had increased to over 65%, while the share of the coal industry in the gross production value had decreased to 19%. Products like nylon cord fabric, ultra-high voltage circuit breakers, and extra-thick steel plates hold an absolute advantage in the Chinese domestic market. The overall economy of Pingdingshan City has entered the mid-stage of industrialization.

5.1 Major Enterprises

China Pingmei Shenma Group is a state-owned sole proprietorship company established with capital from the People's Government of Henan Province. Zhongping Energy Chemical Group is one of the world's top three producers of cord fabric and is also designated by the state to develop into a large-scale coal production base with an annual output exceeding 100 million tons. In 2008, Zhongping Energy Chemical Group achieved sales revenue of 68 billion yuan and owns the listed companies Pingmei Co., Ltd. and Shenma Co., Ltd.

The Yaomeng Power Plant under China Power Investment Corporation is China's first million-kilowatt-class thermal power enterprise entirely equipped with subcritical parameter units. It possesses four 300MW coal-fired steam turbine generator sets, with a total installed capacity of 1.2 million kilowatts. Its electricity is transmitted into the Central China Power Grid via six 220KV high-voltage transmission lines and two 500KV ultra-high-voltage transmission lines.

Baofeng Distillery in Baofeng County is a well-known winery both within the province and nationwide. Its Baofeng liquor is sold across all provinces in China and is even exported overseas to Southeast Asia.

Pinggao Group, under State Grid Corporation of China's China Electric Power Equipment, is a major R&D and manufacturing base for high-voltage, ultra-high-voltage, and ultra-high-voltage switchgear in China, and is one of the country's top three high-voltage switchgear manufacturers. The company has 4 branches and 14 wholly-owned or控股 subsidiaries, among which Pinggao Electric is a listed company. On February 9, 2010, Pinggao officially became a member of the State Grid Corporation of China.

6. Transportation

6.1 High-Speed Rail

| High-Speed Rail | |-------------| | Zhengzhou-Chongqing High-Speed Railway | | Hohhot-Nanning High-Speed Railway | | Luoyang-Zhoukou Passenger Dedicated Line (Planned) |

6.2 Railway

| Railway | |------| | Jiaozuo-Liuzhou Railway | | Mengzhou-Baofeng Railway | | Sanyang Railway |

6.3 Expressways

| Expressway |
|--------------| | Ningluo Expressway (Passing Through) |
| Erguang Expressway (Passing Through) | | Xuguang Expressway (Passing Through) |
| Pingyi National Expressway (Under Preparation) (Passing Through) |
| Jiaotang Expressway (Passing Through) |
| Lannan Expressway (Passing Through) |
| Shangnan Expressway (Passing Through) |
| Zhengluan Expressway (Passing Through) |

6.4 National Highways

| National Highway | |----------| | National Highway 207 (Passing Through) | | National Highway 234 (Passing Through) |
| National Highway 311 (Passing Through) | | National Highway 329 (Passing Through) | | National Highway 344 (Passing Through) | | National Highway 345 (Passing Through) |

7. Education

7.1 Higher Education

| Higher Education | |--------------------------| | Henan University of Urban Construction (formerly Pingdingshan Institute of Technology) | | Pingdingshan University (formerly Pingdingshan Teachers College) | | Pingdingshan Polytechnic College (formerly Zhongping Energy Chemical Group Technical School) | | Henan Vocational College of Quality Engineering (formerly Pingdingshan Radio & TV University) | | Pingdingshan College of Education |

7.2 High Schools

| High Schools | |------------------------| | Pingdingshan No.1 Middle School | | Pingdingshan First Senior High School | | Pingdingshan No.2 Middle School | | Pingdingshan No.8 Middle School | | Pingdingshan Experimental High School (formerly the First Senior High School of Pingmei Group) | | Pingdingshan Second Senior High School | | Pingdingshan Third Senior High School (formerly the Children's School of Shenma Group) |

8. Population

As of midnight on November 1, 2010, the city's permanent resident population was 4,904,367. The gender ratio was 51.44% male to 48.56% female. Within the permanent resident population, those aged 0-14 accounted for 20.24%; those aged 15-64 accounted for 70.96%; and those aged 65 and above accounted for 8.80%. The Han ethnic group constitutes the largest proportion of Pingdingshan's population, followed by the Hui ethnic group. The distribution of ethnic minority populations is characterized by being widely dispersed overall but concentrated in small communities. The Hui and Manchu ethnic groups are most numerous in Ye County. The Mongolian ethnic group is distributed across all districts and counties, with populations exceeding 1,000 in Ye County and Zhanhe District. Among these, Jingshan Village in Beidu Township, Zhanhe District, has the largest concentrated population and is also the historical origin of the Mongolian ethnic group in Pingdingshan City.

According to the 2020 Seventh National Population Census, the city's permanent resident population was 4,987,137. Compared with the 4,904,701 people from the Sixth National Population Census, this represents an increase of 82,436 people over ten years, a growth of 1.68%, with an average annual growth rate of 0.17%. Among them, the male population was 2,519,725, accounting for 50.52% of the total population; the female population was 2,467,412, accounting for 49.48% of the total population. The overall sex ratio (with females as 100) was 102.12. The population aged 0–14 was 1,235,829, accounting for 24.78% of the total population; the population aged 15–59 was 2,838,884, accounting for 56.92% of the total population; the population aged 60 and above was 912,424, accounting for 18.3% of the total population, of which the population aged 65 and above was 674,900, accounting for 13.53% of the total population. The population residing in urban areas was 2,664,125, accounting for 53.42% of the total population; the population residing in rural areas was 2,323,012, accounting for 46.58% of the total population.

At the end of 2022, the city's permanent resident population was 4.961 million, of which the urban permanent resident population was 2.733 million, and the rural permanent resident population was 2.228 million. The urbanization rate of the permanent resident population was 55.08%, an increase of 0.63 percentage points from the end of the previous year.

8.1 Ethnic Groups

The Han ethnic group constitutes the largest proportion of Pingdingshan's population, followed by the Hui ethnic group. The distribution of ethnic minority populations is characterized by being widely dispersed overall but concentrated in small communities. The Hui and Manchu ethnic groups are most numerous in Ye County. The Mongolian ethnic group is distributed across all districts and counties, with populations exceeding 1,000 in Ye County and Zhanhe District. Among these, Jingshan Village in Beidu Township, Zhanhe District, has the largest concentrated population and is also the historical origin of the Mongolian ethnic group in Pingdingshan City.

Among the city's permanent resident population, the Han ethnic population was 4,922,030, accounting for 98.69%; the combined population of all ethnic minorities was 65,107, accounting for 1.31%. Compared with the 2010 Sixth National Population Census, the Han population increased by 84,807 people, a growth of 1.75%, and its proportion of the total population increased by 0.07 percentage points. The combined population of all ethnic minorities decreased by 2,371 people, a decline of 3.51%, and its proportion of the total population decreased by 0.07 percentage points.

nix

9. Culture

The annual Baofeng Majie Storytelling Fair, which has continued uninterrupted for over 700 years, is hailed as one of "China's Top Ten Folk Customs." As a result, Baofeng has been designated as the "Hometown of Quyi" by the China Quyi Artists Association, and Pingdingshan has been named the "City of Chinese Quyi." The fair takes place annually from the 13th to the 15th day of the first lunar month. During this period, storytelling artists from within and outside Henan Province gather here with their drums and instruments, creating a spectacular scene. According to inscriptions from the Guangyan Temple and the Fire God Temple in Majie, the Majie Storytelling Fair had already taken shape during the Yanyou period of the Yuan Dynasty, attracting around a thousand artists each year. It flourished particularly during the Tongzhi period of the Qing Dynasty.

The city flower of Pingdingshan is the rose, the city tree is the camphor tree, and the city sculpture and emblem is Entrepreneurship.

The city sculpture is located at the intersection of Jianshe Road and Xinhua Road. It stands 33 meters tall with a granite base. At the center of the sculpture are four bronze statues—two men and two women—representing a coal miner, a textile worker, a steelworker, and a scientific researcher, symbolizing the industries of Pingdingshan City. The sculpture was created by Wang Ximin, a professor at the Central Academy of Fine Arts.

10. Sister Cities

| Country | South Korea | Russia | Brazil | United States | |---------|-------------|-------------|----------|---------------| | City | Andong[30] | Syzran[31] | Gávea | Bellevue | | Established | 5/15/00 | 11/28/00 | 8/5/08 | 1/19/14 |

nix

nix

nix

nix

Xinhua District

Ruzhou City

The Han population accounts for 98.69%; ethnic minorities account for 1.31% of the population.

Camphor tree

Rose