Zhumadian (驻马店)

1. Introduction

Zhumadian City, historically known as Yuzhou, Caizhou, Runan, and Runing, and also referred to as Tianzhong, Yicheng, and Yidu, is a prefecture-level city under the jurisdiction of Henan Province, People's Republic of China. It is located in the central-southern part of Henan Province. The city borders Xinyang City to the south, Nanyang City to the west, Pingdingshan City to the northwest, Luohe City and Zhoukou City to the north, and Fuyang City in Anhui Province to the east. Situated at the eastern edge of the western Henan mountainous area and the border of the eastern Henan plain, the terrain is higher in the west and lower in the east. The area primarily lies within the Huai River basin, featuring rivers such as the Hong River, Ru River, and Biyang River. The city covers a total area of 15,086 square kilometers with a total population of 6.922 million. The municipal government is located on Kaiyuan Avenue, Yicheng District.

2. Etymology

Zhumadian is named because it was historically a key transportation hub, serving as a resting and horse-changing station for messengers and officials traveling between the north and south, as "it was formerly a post station for horses between Suiping and Minggang." Another theory suggests that the name originated from the area's fame for ramie in ancient times, hence it was called "Ramie Shop." In the tenth year of the Chenghua era of the Ming Dynasty (1474), Prince Chongjian Zhu Jianze established north-south post stations here and changed the name from "Ramie Shop" to "Zhumadian." In 1999, the Zhumadian municipal government applied to rename the city to "Tianzhong City," but the proposal was not adopted.

3. History

In ancient times, this area was part of Yuzhou. After King Wu of the Western Zhou Dynasty overthrew the Shang Dynasty, he enfeoffed his fifth brother, Shudu, at Cai. Following King Wu's death, the Rebellion of the Three Guards occurred, and the Duke of Zhou, Dan, defeated Cai Shudu. King Cheng of Zhou enfeoffed the land of Cai to Cai Shudu's son, Cai Zhonghu, establishing it as a state with its capital at present-day Shangcai County. In the early Spring and Autumn period, it was the territory of the State of Cai. Later, the State of Chu grew increasingly powerful. In the 12th year of Duke Ling of Cai (531 BC), Chu conquered Cai. Three years later, Duke Ping of Cai restored the State of Cai and moved its capital to Lüting (present-day Xincai County). In the 26th year of Duke Zhao of Cai (493 BC), due to pressure from Chu, the State of Cai moved its capital to Shouzhou (i.e., Xiacai, present-day Shou County, Anhui Province).

During the Warring States period, most of the region was under Chu's control. Ultimately, the State of Cai was annexed by Chu in the 4th year of Marquis Qi of Cai (447 BC). The Qin Dynasty implemented the commandery-county system, with most of the area belonging to Yingchuan Commandery. Shangcai, Xincai, and Pingyu counties were established within the present-day boundaries. In the 4th year of Emperor Gaozu of the Western Han Dynasty (203 BC), Runan Commandery was established, governing Shangcai County and subordinate to the Inspectorate of Yuzhou. Furthermore, Langling County, Yang'an County, and the Marquisate of Anchang were established within the area of present-day Queshan County. During the Eastern Han Dynasty, the seat of Runan Commandery was moved to Pingyu County. Subsequently, the commandery seat was relocated several times, moving to Xi County during the Three Kingdoms period. In the 3rd year of the Jian'an era (198 AD), Yang'an Commandery was established at Langling County but was soon abolished. Towards the end of the Jin Dynasty, Xincai Commandery was established multiple times.

In the 14th year of the Yixi era of the Eastern Jin Dynasty (418 AD), the seat of Runan Commandery was moved to Xuanhu City (present-day Runan County). The Classic of Waterways states: "The Ru River reaches the northwest of Runan Commandery, where a branch diverges to the left, then bends eastward and turns south, its shape resembling a hanging gourd, hence the name Xuanhu City (Hanging Gourd City)." Towards the end of the Yuanjia era of the Liu Song dynasty of the Southern Dynasties, the Sizhou administrative division was temporarily established at Xuanhu City. The Northern Wei Dynasty abolished Langling County and moved Anchang County to the former site of Langling County, i.e., present-day Langling City. In the 2nd year of the Yanxing era (472 AD), Sizhou was renamed Yuzhou, and Runan Commandery was established. In the 2nd year of the Shengui era (519 AD), Shangcai County was renamed Linru County. During the Northern Qi period, Linru County and Yang'an County were abolished. The Northern Zhou established a Chief Military Command at Xuanhu City. In the 2nd year of the Daxiang era (580 AD), Yuzhou was renamed Shuzhou.

At the beginning of the Sui Dynasty's Kaihuang era, Shuzhou was renamed Yuzhou, and Runan Commandery was abolished. In the 3rd year of the Kaihuang era (583 AD), Anchang County was moved to the site of present-day Queshan County town. In the 16th year of the Kaihuang era (596 AD), Anchang County was renamed Langshan County. In the 4th year of the Renshou era (604 AD), Yuzhou was renamed Qinzhou. In the 2nd year of the Daye era (606 AD), Qinzhou was renamed Caizhou. Shangcai County was re-established, and Ruyang County (present-day Runan County) was established. In the 3rd year of the Daye era (607 AD), it was again named Runan Commandery, governing Ruyang County. In the 4th year of the Wude era of the Tang Dynasty (621 AD), Yuzhou was re-established. In the 1st year of the Tianbao era (742 AD), it was again renamed Runan Commandery. In the 1st year of the Qianyuan era (758 AD), it reverted to Yuzhou. In the 1st year of the Baoying era (762 AD), to avoid the taboo of the personal name of Emperor Daizong of Tang, Li Yu, Yuzhou was renamed Caizhou, a name retained through the Five Dynasties period.

The Song Dynasty established the Huaikang Army in Caizhou. In the 5th year of the Dazhong Xiangfu era of the Northern Song Dynasty (1012 AD), to avoid the taboo of the Song Dynasty's Sacred Ancestor, Zhao Xuanlang, Langshan County was renamed Queshan County. In the 2nd year of the Jianyan era of the Southern Song Dynasty (1128 AD), Caizhou was captured by the Jin Dynasty. In the 8th year of the Taihe era of the Jin Dynasty (1208 AD), the Zhennan Army was established in Caizhou. In the late Jin Dynasty, Emperor Aizong of Jin moved the capital from Bianliang to Caizhou. In the 3rd year of the Tianxing era (1234 AD), a combined force of the Southern Song and the Mongol Empire captured Caizhou city, leading to the fall of the Jin Dynasty. In the 30th year of the Zhiyuan era of the Yuan Dynasty (1293 AD), Caizhou was elevated to Runing Prefecture, subordinate to the Henan Jiangbei Branch Secretariat.

The Ming Dynasty continued to establish Runing Prefecture, subordinate to the Henan Provincial Administration Commission. In the early Ming Dynasty, Queshan County was abolished and merged into Ruyang County. In the 14th year of the Hongwu era (1382 AD), Queshan County was re-established. In the 10th year of the Chenghua era (1474 AD), Prince Chongjian, Zhu Jianze, took his fief at Runing Prefecture and established a courier station, giving rise to the name "Zhumadian". In the 11th year of the Chenghua era (1475 AD), Queshan County was transferred to Xinyang Subprefecture. In the 2nd year of the Hongzhi era (1489 AD), Queshan County was returned to Runing Prefecture. The Qing Dynasty followed the Ming system. In the 24th year of the Guangxu era (1898 AD), the Runing-Queshan Sub-county was established at Zhumadian, which was abolished in the early Republic of China period.

In the 2nd year of the Republic of China (1913 AD), prefectures were abolished nationwide, so Runing Prefecture was abolished. Ruyang County was renamed Runan County, subordinate to the Yunan Circuit, which was renamed the Ruyang Circuit the following year. In 1927, circuits were abolished. In the 21st year of the Republic of China (1932 AD), the 8th Administrative Inspection District of Henan Province was established, with its seat at Runan County. During the Second Chinese Civil War, the present-day area belonged to the Communist-led Yu-Wan-Su Liberated Area.

After the founding of the People's Republic of China, the Queshan Special District was established in 1949, with Zhumadian City designated as the seat of the Special District administration. In the same year, the Queshan Special District was merged into the Xinyang Special District, and Zhumadian City was placed under the leadership of the Xinyang Special District. In 1952, Zhumadian was downgraded from a city to a town and merged into Queshan County. It was re-established as a city in 1953 but was again merged into Queshan County in 1958. In July 1965, nine counties—Suiping, Xiping, Shangcai, Runan, Pingyu, Xincai, Zhengyang, Queshan, and Biyang—were separated from the Xinyang Special District to establish the Zhumadian Special District, with its administrative seat at Zhumadian Town in Queshan County. In 1969, the Zhumadian Special District was renamed the Zhumadian Prefecture. In 1980, Zhumadian City was re-established, under the leadership of Zhumadian Prefecture. In June 2000, Zhumadian Prefecture was abolished, and the prefecture-level Zhumadian City was established. The former county-level Zhumadian City was reorganized into Yicheng District.

4. Geography

Zhumadian City is located between 32°18' and 33°35' north latitude, and 113°10' and 115°12' east longitude. It stretches 191.5 kilometers from east to west and 137.5 kilometers from north to south, with a total area of 15,083 square kilometers, accounting for 8.9% of the province's total area. It borders Fuyang, Anhui to the east; Nanyang to the west; Zhoukou, Luohe, and Pingdingshan to the north; and Xinyang to the south.

4.1 Topography

The main landforms include mountains, hills, ridges, and plains. The plain area is extensive, with approximately 80% of the city's land being plains, making it an important grain-producing region in China. The mountainous areas include the western extensions of the Tongbai Mountains in southern Henan, covering an area of 1,950 square kilometers, which accounts for 13% of the city's total land area.

4.2 Water Systems

From north to south, the main rivers are: the Hong River, the Ru River, and the Qintou River. These rivers are all tributaries of the Huai River and the Yangtze River, flowing in two directions: east and west. Those flowing east belong to the Huai River basin, while those flowing west belong to the Yangtze River basin. Both originate in the valley areas of the western mountainous region. There are 5 rivers with a basin area greater than 1,000 square kilometers and 42 rivers with a basin area greater than 100 square kilometers.

4.3 Climate

Zhumadian has a mild climate with four distinct seasons: slightly cold winters, hot and humid summers, and relatively long, warm springs and autumns. The average temperature in January is 1.3°C, and in July it is 27.2°C. The annual average temperature is 14.9°C. Precipitation is concentrated from June to August, totaling 980 mm. The area enjoys ample sunshine, with approximately 1,930 hours annually.

Zhumadian City Meteorological Data (1981–2010)

| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year | |--------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------| | Record high °C (°F)| 21.3 (70.3) | 25.7 (78.3) | 30.8 (87.4) | 35.8 (96.4) | 37.7 (99.9) | 41.0 (105.8) | 41.9 (107.4) | 41.5 (106.7) | 38.8 (101.8) | 34.7 (94.5) | 30.1 (86.2) | 21.7 (71.1) | 41.9 (107.4) | | Average high °C (°F) | 6.4 (43.5) | 9.4 (48.9) | 14.5 (58.1) | 21.5 (70.7) | 27.0 (80.6) | 31.1 (88.0) | 31.8 (89.2) | 30.5 (86.9) | 26.9 (80.4) | 21.9 (71.4) | 15.0 (59.0) | 8.6 (47.5) | 20.4 (68.7) | | Daily mean °C (°F) | 1.5 (34.7) | 4.2 (39.6) | 9.0 (48.2) | 15.8 (60.4) | 21.2 (70.2) | 25.7 (78.3) | 27.3 (81.1) | 26.0 (78.8) | 21.6 (70.9) | 16.3 (61.3) | 9.6 (49.3) | 3.6 (38.5) | 15.2 (59.3) | | Average low °C (°F) | -2.5 (27.5) | 0.0 (32.0) | 4.3 (39.7) | 10.2 (50.4) | 15.7 (60.3) | 20.7 (69.3) | 23.5 (74.3) | 22.4 (72.3) | 17.4 (63.3) | 11.8 (53.2) | 5.2 (41.4) | -0.4 (31.3) | 10.7 (51.3) | | Record low °C (°F)| -18.0 (-0.4) | -18.1 (-0.6) | -10.0 (14.0) | -1.2 (29.8) | 4.4 (39.9) | 10.7 (51.3) | 16.0 (60.8) | 13.9 (57.0) | 7.1 (44.8) | -1.5 (29.3) | -8.7 (16.3) | -14.8 (5.4) | -18.1 (-0.6) | | Average precipitation mm (inches)| 21.9 (0.86) | 25.0 (0.98) | 49.3 (1.94) | 51.2 (2.02) | 91.6 (3.61) | 121.4 (4.78) | 235.1 (9.26) | 174.9 (6.89) | 100.7 (3.96) | 62.4 (2.46) | 37.7 (1.48) | 18.9 (0.74) | 990.1 (38.98) | | Average precipitation days (≥0.1 mm)| 5.3 | 5.9 | 8.6 | 7.9 | 9.8 | 9.2 | 12.7 | 11.3 | 9.5 | 8.7 | 6.2 | 4.9 | 100.0 | | Average Relative Humidity (%)| 68 | 69 | 70 | 69 | 69 | 69 | 80 | 83 | 77 | 71 | 70 | 68 | 72 | | Monthly Sunshine Hours | 129.8 | 122.6 | 144.0 | 178.9 | 192.9 | 194.9 | 183.8 | 176.4 | 159.4 | 157.8 | 144.4 | 141.8 | 1,926.7 | | Percentage of Possible Sunshine (%) | 41 | 40 | 39 | 46 | 45 | 46 | 42 | 43 | 43 | 45 | 46 | 46 | 44 |

5. Administrative Divisions

Zhumadian City currently administers 1 municipal district and 9 counties.

• Municipal District: Yicheng District
• Counties: Xiping County, Shangcai County, Pingyu County, Zhengyang County, Queshan County, Biyang County, Runan County, Suiping County, Xincai County

The Zhumadian Economic Development Zone is a provincial-level economic development zone established by Zhumadian City.

Since June 2011, Xincai County has become a pilot county directly administered by Henan Province, granted certain economic and fiscal management authorities equivalent to those of a provincial-administered city, while remaining under the administrative leadership of Zhumadian City.

| Division Code | Division Name | Pinyin | Area (km²) | Resident Population (2020 Census) | Government Seat | Postal Code | Subdistricts | Towns | Townships | of which: Ethnic Townships | |-------------------|-------------------|------------|----------------|---------------------------------------|---------------------|-----------------|------------------|-----------|---------------|-------------------------------| | 411700 | Zhumadian City | Zhumadian Shi | 15,086.28 | 7,008,427 | Yicheng District | 463000 | 42 | 97 | 57 | 1 | | 411702 | Yicheng District | Yicheng Qu | 1,218.61 | 1,025,543 | Xianglin Subdistrict | 463000 | 12 | 5 | 4 | | | 411721 | Xiping County | Xiping Xian | 1,099.80 | 647,311 | Baicheng Subdistrict | 463900 | 3 | 8 | 8 | 1 | | 411722 | Shangcai County | Shangcai Xian | 1,514.23 | 1,005,745 | Chongyang Subdistrict | 463800 | 4 | 13 | 9 | | | 411723 | Pingyu County | Pingyu Xian | 1,284.11 | 728,672 | Qinghe Subdistrict | 463400 | 3 | 11 | 5 | | | 411724 | Zhengyang County | Zhengyang Xian | 1,898.63 | 625,123 | Zhenyang Subdistrict | 463600 | 2 | 8 | 10 | | | 411725 | Queshan County | Queshan Xian | 1,716.50 | 403,044 | Sanlihe Subdistrict | 463200 | 3 | 10 | | | | 411726 | Biyang County | Biyang Xian | 2,345.54 | 695,239 | Huayuan Subdistrict | 463700 | 3 | 11 | 8 | | | 411727 | Runan County | Runan Xian | 1,503.55 | 612,551 | Runing Subdistrict | 463300 | 4 | 12 | 2 | | | 411728 | Suiping County | Suiping Xian | 1,063.48 | 441,370 | Luoyang Subdistrict | 463100 | 5 | 8 | 2 | | | 411729 | Xincai County | Xincai Xian | 1,441.83 | 823,829 | Gulv Subdistrict | 463500 | 3 | 11 | 9 | |

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6. Transportation

Zhumadian City enjoys convenient transportation. The Beijing-Guangzhou Railway runs north-south through the city, passing through Queshan, the urban area, Suiping, and Xiping, with a one-way total length of 115.29 kilometers. It has 12 stations, among which Zhumadian Station is a Class A first-grade passenger and freight intermediate station. The local narrow-gauge railway has about 100 kilometers of track. Additionally, railways such as the Shanghai-Xi'an Railway are under planning. Within its territory, the Beijing-Guangzhou Railway, Beijing-Guangzhou High-Speed Railway, Beijing-Zhuhai Expressway, Daqing-Guangzhou Expressway, Fuyang-Nanjing Expressway, and National Highways 106 and 107 traverse the entire region. Provincial and county roads crisscross the area, forming an extensive and well-connected network. The journey north to Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport and south to Wuhan Tianhe International Airport takes less than 2 hours. The Zhumadian Queshan Airport is nearing completion and will soon be operational, located just over 20 kilometers from the urban area. By the end of 2008, the city had 375.954 kilometers of expressways, 16,775.191 kilometers of rural roads, and 1,342.682 kilometers of trunk roads, with a road density of 123.29 kilometers per 100 square kilometers.

6.1 Railway

• Beijing-Guangzhou Railway
• Beijing-Guangzhou High-Speed Railway
• Under planning: Shanghai-Xi'an Railway

6.2 Expressway

• G4 Beijing-Hong Kong-Macao Expressway (Zhumadian Section)
• G45 Daqing-Guangzhou Expressway (Pingyu, Xincai Sections)
• G40 Shanghai-Xi'an Expressway (Biyang Section)
• S38 Xinmi-Biyang Expressway
• S49 Jiaozuo-Tongbai Expressway

6.3 National and Provincial Highways

• National Highway 106
• National Highway 107
• Provincial Highway 206
• Provincial Highway 213
• Provincial Highway 219
• Provincial Highway 331
• Provincial Highway 333
• Provincial Highway 334
• Provincial Highway 335

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7. Population

At the end of 2021, the city's permanent resident population was 6.922 million, including 3.1267 million urban permanent residents and 3.7953 million rural permanent residents. The urbanization rate of the permanent resident population was 45.17%, an increase of 1.03 percentage points from the end of the previous year. The annual number of births was 52,000, with a birth rate of 7.46‰.

According to the 2020 Seventh National Population Census, the city's permanent resident population was 7,008,427. Compared with the 7,231,234 people from the Sixth National Population Census, there was a total decrease of 222,807 people over ten years, a decline of 3.08%, with an average annual growth rate of -0.31%. Among them, the male population was 3,474,414, accounting for 49.57% of the total population; the female population was 3,534,013, accounting for 50.43% of the total population. The sex ratio (with females as 100) was 98.31. The population aged 0–14 was 1,759,206, accounting for 25.1% of the total population; the population aged 15–59 was 3,861,299, accounting for 55.1% of the total population; the population aged 60 and above was 1,387,922, accounting for 19.8% of the total population, of which the population aged 65 and above was 1,102,021, accounting for 15.72% of the total population. The urban population was 3,093,633, accounting for 44.14% of the total population; the rural population was 3,914,794, accounting for 55.86% of the total population.

Since the implementation of family planning in the 1970s, significant achievements have been made, effectively curbing the rapid population growth. In 1974, the city's birth rate was 29.03‰, and the natural growth rate was 22.42‰. By 1999, the city's birth rate reached 13.12‰, and the natural growth rate was 7.11‰. Compared with 1974, the natural growth rate decreased by 15.7‰.

7.1 Ethnic Groups

Among the city's permanent resident population, the Han ethnic group numbered 6,956,760, accounting for 99.26%; ethnic minorities numbered 51,667, accounting for 0.74%. Compared with the 2010 Sixth National Population Census, the Han population decreased by 218,761, a decline of 3.05%, with its proportion of the total population increasing by 0.03 percentage points; ethnic minority populations decreased by 4,046, a decline of 7.26%, with their proportion of the total population decreasing by 0.03 percentage points.

Zhumadian is predominantly Han, accounting for approximately 99.9% of the city's total population. There are also 51 ethnic minorities, including Hui, Mongolian, Uyghur, Manchu, and Miao, accounting for approximately 0.1% of the city's total population.

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The courier station between Suiping and Minggang.

Yicheng District

Yicheng District

The Han ethnic group accounts for 99.26% of the population; ethnic minorities make up 0.74%.

Camphor tree

Ziwei