Dazhou (simplified Chinese: 达州; traditional Chinese: 達州; pinyin: Dázhōu; Wade–Giles: Ta-chou) is a prefecture-level city in the northeast corner of Sichuan province, China, bordering Shaanxi to the north and Chongqing to the east and south.[3] As of 2020 census, Dazhou was home to 5,385,422 inhabitants whom 1,850,869 lived in the built-up (or metro) area made of 2 urban districts.

Dazhou
达州市
Tachow
Covered bridge
Covered bridge
Location of Dazhou City jurisdiction in Sichuan
Location of Dazhou City jurisdiction in Sichuan
Coordinates (Dazhou municipal government): 31°12′33″N 107°28′04″E / 31.2093°N 107.4678°E / 31.2093; 107.4678
CountryPeople's Republic of China
ProvinceSichuan
Municipal seatTongchuan District
Area
16,591 km2 (6,406 sq mi)
 • Urban
3,137 km2 (1,211 sq mi)
 • Metro
3,137 km2 (1,211 sq mi)
Population
 (2020 census)[1]
5,385,422
 • Density320/km2 (840/sq mi)
 • Urban
1,850,869
 • Urban density590/km2 (1,500/sq mi)
 • Metro
1,850,869
 • Metro density590/km2 (1,500/sq mi)
GDP[2]
 • Prefecture-level cityCN¥ 135.1 billion
US$ 21.7 billion
 • Per capitaCN¥ 24,343
US$ 3,908
Time zoneUTC+8 (China Standard)
Postal code
635000
Area code0818
ISO 3166 codeCN-SC-17
Licence Plate Prefixes川S
Administrative division code511700
Websitewww.dazhou.gov.cn/index.html

History

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A taotie on the Han dynasty Shen family mausoleum (Mausoleum of the Prefect of Shen, 沈府君阙)

Dazhou's history goes back to the Eastern Han dynasty when in 90 AD it was made a county by the name of Liweizhou (历为州). Then until the Liao dynasty its name was Zaidi (在地). During the Liao and Tang dynasties its name was again changed, this time to Tongzhou (通州). Finally in the Song dynasty it was given its present name of Dazhou.

Notable people from Dazhou include the Three Kingdoms writer Chen Shou, Song dynasty astronomer Zhang Sixun, and Ming and Qing dynasty philosopher and educator Tang Zhen. Dazhou also made notable contributions to the Communist Revolution. Red Army heroes such as Xu Xiangqian, Li Xiannian, Xu Shiyou, Wang Weizhou (王维舟), and Zhang Aiping were all from or lived in Dazhou.

The partially preserved mausoleum complex of the Shen () family in Qu County (particularly its gate towers known as que) built in the Han dynasty, is a well-known architectural monument.[4]

Geography and climate

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Dazhou is the easternmost prefecture-level division of the province, bordering Ankang and Hanzhong (both in Shaanxi) to the north, Chengkou County, Kai County, and Wanzhou District of Chongqing to the east, the Chongqing counties of Liangping and Dianjiang to the south, Guang'an to the southwest, Nanchong to the west, and Bazhong to the northwest. It is centrally located between Chongqing and Xi'an. The area is 16,600 square kilometres (6,400 sq mi).[5]

The terrain is largely mountainous (Daba Mountains and adjacent ranges).

Typical of the Sichuan Basin, Dazhou has a monsoon-influenced humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cwa) and is largely mild and humid, with four distinct seasons. Winter is short, mild, and foggy, though actual precipitation is low. January averages 6.1 °C (43.0 °F) and, while frost may occur, snow is rare. Summers are long, hot and humid, with highs often exceeding 33 °C (91 °F). The monthly daily average in July, the warmest month, is 27.4 °C (81.3 °F). Rainfall is light in winter and can be heavy in summer, and over 70% of the annual total occurs from May to September. The annual frost-free period lasts around 300 days.[6]

Climate data for Dazhou, elevation 345 m (1,132 ft), (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1971–2010)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 20.1
(68.2)
24.9
(76.8)
32.1
(89.8)
35.3
(95.5)
37.5
(99.5)
37.7
(99.9)
40.6
(105.1)
41.2
(106.2)
39.7
(103.5)
35.0
(95.0)
28.8
(83.8)
18.4
(65.1)
41.2
(106.2)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 9.7
(49.5)
12.7
(54.9)
17.8
(64.0)
23.4
(74.1)
26.9
(80.4)
29.7
(85.5)
32.9
(91.2)
33.3
(91.9)
27.9
(82.2)
21.8
(71.2)
16.6
(61.9)
10.8
(51.4)
22.0
(71.5)
Daily mean °C (°F) 6.4
(43.5)
8.8
(47.8)
12.9
(55.2)
18.0
(64.4)
21.7
(71.1)
24.9
(76.8)
27.9
(82.2)
27.8
(82.0)
23.2
(73.8)
17.8
(64.0)
12.9
(55.2)
7.8
(46.0)
17.5
(63.5)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 4.2
(39.6)
6.1
(43.0)
9.5
(49.1)
14.2
(57.6)
18.0
(64.4)
21.5
(70.7)
24.2
(75.6)
23.9
(75.0)
20.2
(68.4)
15.3
(59.5)
10.5
(50.9)
5.8
(42.4)
14.5
(58.0)
Record low °C (°F) −3.7
(25.3)
−1.7
(28.9)
−0.1
(31.8)
4.6
(40.3)
9.7
(49.5)
14.0
(57.2)
16.4
(61.5)
17.3
(63.1)
12.8
(55.0)
2.8
(37.0)
1.0
(33.8)
−4.5
(23.9)
−4.5
(23.9)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 15.8
(0.62)
19.8
(0.78)
49.3
(1.94)
93.7
(3.69)
165.0
(6.50)
185.1
(7.29)
197.0
(7.76)
147.5
(5.81)
150.9
(5.94)
105.9
(4.17)
49.4
(1.94)
19.2
(0.76)
1,198.6
(47.2)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) 7.8 8.1 10.5 11.7 14.2 14.2 12.8 11.1 12.4 13.3 9.9 8.0 134
Average snowy days 1.2 0.3 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.3 1.9
Average relative humidity (%) 80 76 73 74 76 79 76 73 79 83 83 82 78
Mean monthly sunshine hours 30.0 43.8 90.3 123.2 122.2 117.5 176.5 189.2 107.3 68.7 51.5 27.3 1,147.5
Percent possible sunshine 9 14 24 32 29 28 41 47 29 20 16 9 25
Source 1: China Meteorological Administration[7][8]
Source 2: Weather China[9]

Administration

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It is one of Sichuan's most populous cities with 5,468,097 residents as of 2010 census.

Map
Name Hanzi Hanyu Pinyin Population (2010 census) Area (km2) Density (/km2)
Tongchuan District 通川区 Tōngchuān Qū 478,276 901 531
Dachuan District 达川区 Dáchuān Qū 1,111,159 2,236 497
Wanyuan City 万源市 Wànyuán Shì 407,594 4,045 101
Xuanhan County 宣汉县 Xuānhàn Xiàn 1,006,826 4,272 236
Kaijiang County 开江县 Kāijiāng Xiàn 430,877 1,030 418
Dazhu County 大竹县 Dàzhú Xiàn 876,884 2,077 422
Qu County 渠县 Qú Xiàn 1,156,481 2,019 573

Economy

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Dazhou is an important river and land transportation hub for the region. Numerous national highways, expressways, and rail lines pass through Dazhou connecting it directly with major cities in China such as Chengdu, Xi'an, Wuhan, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Beijing, etc., making it one of Sichuan's important trade centers.[10]

Dazhou has numerous natural resources including large natural gas fields and an abundance of mineral resources such as salt, coal, manganese, lithium, and limestone. Major agricultural products include pork, beef, and tea. Other industries are chemical production, coal power, metallurgy, textiles, building materials, and processed food.[11]

Tourism

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Dazhou has both cultural and natural attractions. There are several national and provincial cultural sites and many national and provincial protected forests and nature reserves. Xuanhan's Baili Gorges have scenery and rapids, leading to the nickname "Little Three Gorges". Mountains are this area's greatest attraction.

Points of interest

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Until 2016 a highrise building with 16 floors at 31°11'28"N 107°30'43"E had a 20 metres tall electricity pylon on its roof. In 2016 the line including the pylon was dismantled. [1].

Transportation

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References

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  1. ^ "China: Sìchuān (Prefectures, Cities, Districts and Counties) - Population Statistics, Charts and Map".
  2. ^ 四川省统计局、国家统计局四川调查总队 (2016). 《四川统计年鉴-2016》. 中国统计出版社. ISBN 978-7-5037-7871-1.
  3. ^ "UNdata | record view | Series not found!".
  4. ^ Victor Segalen, "Chine. La grande statuaire", and "Les origines de la statuaire en Chine", p. 46 sq
  5. ^ "达州市人民政府_达州概况_达州概况" [Dazhou Municipal People's Government_Dazhou Overview_Dazhou Overview]. www.dazhou.gov.cn. Retrieved 2024-06-21.
  6. ^ "达州市地情". 四川省情网.
  7. ^ 中国气象数据网 – WeatherBk Data (in Simplified Chinese). China Meteorological Administration. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  8. ^ 中国气象数据网 (in Simplified Chinese). China Meteorological Administration. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  9. ^ 达川 - 气象数据 -中国天气网 (in Chinese). Weather China. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
  10. ^ "达州市人民政府_达州发展_达州交通". www.dazhou.gov.cn. Retrieved 2024-06-21.
  11. ^ "盘点 | 中国矿产之都大盘点,总有一个是你的家乡_储量". www.sohu.com. Retrieved 2024-06-21.
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