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Wuwei, Gansu

Coordinates: 37°55′44″N 102°38′17″E / 37.929°N 102.638°E / 37.929; 102.638
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Wuwei
武威市
Prefecture-level city
Clockwise from top: South Gate of Wuwei, seat of Gulang County, Wuwei railway station, Hongyashan Reservoir in Minqin County, rock formation in Tianzhu County.
Location of Wuwei City jurisdiction in Gansu
Location of Wuwei City jurisdiction in Gansu
Wuwei is located in Gansu
Wuwei
Wuwei
Wuwei is located in China
Wuwei
Wuwei
Coordinates (Wuwei municipal government): 37°55′44″N 102°38′17″E / 37.929°N 102.638°E / 37.929; 102.638
CountryPeople's Republic of China
ProvinceGansu
Municipal seatLiangzhou District
Area
 • Prefecture-level city33,000 km2 (13,000 sq mi)
Population
 (2020)
 • Prefecture-level city1,464,955
 • Density44/km2 (110/sq mi)
 • Urban
688,697
GDP[1]
 • Prefecture-level cityCN¥ 41.6 billion
US$ 6.7 billion
 • Per capitaCN¥ 22,930
US$ 3,682
Time zoneUTC+8 (CST)
ISO 3166 codeCN-GS-06
Websitewww.ww.gansu.gov.cn

Wuwei (Chinese: 武威; pinyin: Wǔwēi) is a prefecture-level city in northwest central Gansu province. In the north it borders Inner Mongolia, in the southwest, Qinghai. Its central location between three western capitals, Lanzhou, Xining, and Yinchuan makes it an important business and transportation hub for the area. Because of its position along the Hexi Corridor, historically the only route from central China to western China and the rest of Central Asia, many major railroads and national highways pass through Wuwei.

History

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The Silk Road in its entirety.
Wuwei Confucian temple.

In ancient times, Wuwei was called Liangzhou (涼州—the name retained by today's Wuwei's central urban district) and is the eastern terminus of the Hexi Corridor. People began settling here about 5,000 years ago. It was a key link for the Northern Silk Road,[2] and a number of important archaeological finds were uncovered from Wuwei, including ancient copper carts with stone animals.[3] The motifs and types of objects in the Wuwei graves, as well as their earthenware, lacquer, and bronze composition, constitute typical examples of the Han Chinese burial style that can be found all over China. Other graves found along the Hexi Corridor show Xiongnu and other minority influence, which are used to trace regimes such as the Northern Liang.[4] It became an important provincial capital during the Former Han Dynasty as the Hou Hanshu makes clear:

"In the third year [170 CE], Meng Tuo, the Inspector of Liangzhou (modern Wuwei), sent the Assistant Officer Ren She, commanding five hundred soldiers from Dunhuang. He, with the Wuji Major Cao Kuan, and Chief Clerk of the Western Regions, Zhang Yan, brought troops from Yanqi (Karashahr), Qiuci (Kucha), and the Nearer and Further Kingdoms of Jushi (Turfan and Jimasa), altogether numbering more than 30,000, to punish Shule (Kashgar). They attacked the town of Zhenzhong (Arach) but, having stayed for more than forty days without being able to subdue it, they withdrew. Following this, the kings of Shule (Kashgar) killed one another repeatedly and, for its part, the Imperial Government was unable to prevent it."[5]

In 121 BC Han emperor Wudi brought his cavalry here to defend the Hexi Corridor against the Xiongnu Huns. His military success allowed him to expand the corridor westward. Its importance as a stop along the Silk Road made it a crossroads of cultures and ethnic groups from all over central Asia. Numerous Buddhist grottoes and temples in the area attest to its role as a path for bringing Buddhism from India and Afghanistan to China.

During the Three Kingdoms period (184-280), Liangzhou was governed by Ma Teng. After the death of Ma Teng, Ma Chao assumed the post and governed the province for a short time before it fell into the hands of Cao Cao, ruler of Wei Kingdom.

Liangzhou was briefly (from 400 to 421) a state during the Sixteen Kingdoms period.

Famous cultural relics from Wuwei include the Galloping Bronze Horse (铜奔马), Western Xia mausoleums(西夏碑), Wuwei White Towers Temple (白塔寺), Tianti Mountain Grotto (天梯山石窟), Luoshi(Kumārajīva) Temple (罗什寺塔), and the Confucian temple (文庙).

Geography and climate

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Wuwei is located in the Hexi Corridor between the Tibetan plateau and Mongolian Plateau. The south of Wuwei is higher than the north, with an elevation ranging from 1,020 to 4,874 metres (3,346 to 15,991 ft) above sea-level. Its area is 33,000 km2 (13,000 sq mi). Average annual temperature is 7.8 °C (46.0 °F). The climate is a cold desert climate (Köppen BWk), with precipitation between 60 and 610 mm (2.4 and 24.0 in). Evaporation is from 1,400 to 3,000 mm (55 to 118 in), creating a net loss of water each year. There are 2200–3000 sunlight hours each year and 85–165 frost free days. Summer temperatures can be in excess of 45.0 °C (113.0 °F), in the shade are by no means unheard of.

Southwest of Wuwei, there is a 230 metres (750 ft) thick Tianzhu Formation made of clastics intercalated with sandy shale and shale.[6] Minerals deposits occurring in the vicinity of Wuwei include graphite, iron, titanium, and limestone.

Climate data for Wuwei, elevation 1,540 m (5,050 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) 15.5
(59.9) 		22.3
(72.1) 		28.1
(82.6) 		32.7
(90.9) 		34.2
(93.6) 		35.0
(95.0) 		40.8
(105.4) 		37.3
(99.1) 		34.9
(94.8) 		27.8
(82.0) 		22.8
(73.0) 		17.9
(64.2) 		40.8
(105.4)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 0.1
(32.2) 		4.8
(40.6) 		11.4
(52.5) 		18.8
(65.8) 		23.6
(74.5) 		27.8
(82.0) 		29.8
(85.6) 		28.1
(82.6) 		22.9
(73.2) 		16.6
(61.9) 		9.0
(48.2) 		1.9
(35.4) 		16.2
(61.2)
Daily mean °C (°F) −7.2
(19.0) 		−2.7
(27.1) 		4.1
(39.4) 		11.6
(52.9) 		16.7
(62.1) 		21.0
(69.8) 		22.8
(73.0) 		21.1
(70.0) 		15.8
(60.4) 		8.9
(48.0) 		1.3
(34.3) 		−5.4
(22.3) 		9.0
(48.2)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −13.3
(8.1) 		−8.9
(16.0) 		−2.2
(28.0) 		4.4
(39.9) 		9.3
(48.7) 		13.5
(56.3) 		15.7
(60.3) 		14.7
(58.5) 		9.9
(49.8) 		2.7
(36.9) 		−4.7
(23.5) 		−10.9
(12.4) 		2.5
(36.5)
Record low °C (°F) −25.3
(−13.5) 		−25.0
(−13.0) 		−19.3
(−2.7) 		−7.7
(18.1) 		−3.0
(26.6) 		2.8
(37.0) 		7.2
(45.0) 		4.3
(39.7) 		−0.8
(30.6) 		−14.4
(6.1) 		−22.7
(−8.9) 		−32.0
(−25.6) 		−32.0
(−25.6)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 2.2
(0.09) 		2.1
(0.08) 		5.7
(0.22) 		9.8
(0.39) 		18.0
(0.71) 		22.5
(0.89) 		34.7
(1.37) 		41.1
(1.62) 		29.1
(1.15) 		10
(0.4) 		3.0
(0.12) 		1.8
(0.07) 		180
(7.11)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) 2.9 2.3 3.4 3.8 6.2 6.6 8.2 9.8 8.1 4.6 2.4 1.9 60.2
Average snowy days 4.5 4.1 4.5 1.6 0.3 0 0 0 0 1.7 3.4 3.6 23.7
Average relative humidity (%) 50 44 40 36 41 47 54 58 61 55 53 54 49
Mean monthly sunshine hours 224.4 223.0 247.1 253.1 276.5 268.6 264.4 248.6 214.8 237.9 231.0 224.5 2,913.9
Percent possible sunshine 73 73 66 64 63 61 59 60 59 70 77 76 67
Source 1: China Meteorological Administration[7][8]
Source 2: Weather China[9]

A species of stone loach, Triplophysa wuweiensis, is named after Wuwei where it was first discovered.[10]

Administration

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Dayun Temple

1 urban district, 2 counties, 1 autonomous county, 116 towns, and 41 townships

Map
Name Hanzi Hanyu Pinyin Population
(2010) 		Area
(km²) 		Density
(/km²)
Liangzhou District 凉州区 Liángzhōu Qū 1,010,295 5,081 207.29
Minqin County 民勤县 Mínqín Xiàn 241,251 16,016 15.2
Gulang County 古浪县 Gǔlàng Xiàn 388,720 5,287 78.13
Tianzhu Tibetan
Autonomous County 		天祝藏族自治县 Tiānzhù Zàngzú
Zìzhìxiàn 		174,793 6,865 25.71

Demographics

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Population Overview

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By 2020, Population 1,464,955 [11] with 38 ethnic groups represented including Han, Hui, Mongol, Tu, Tibetan, etc.

Census 1st Census (1953) 2nd Census (1964) 3rd Census (1982) 4th Census (1990) 5th Census (2000)
County/District Population % Population % Population % Population % Population %
Wuwei/Liangzhou 510,241 28.18 520,094 33.90 763,719 46.38 876,020 52.48 946,506 51.52
Minqin 220,022 12.15 179,061 11.67 241,510 14.67 258,947 15.51 302,085 16.45
Gulang 139,238 7.69 186,267 12.14 287,269 17.44 323,507 19.38 367,048 19.98
Tianzhu 58,731 3.24 118,625 7.73 184,410 11.20 210,845 12.63 221,347 12.05
Jingtai[12] 65,518 3.62 93,862 6.12 169,858 10.31 Placed under Baiyin since 1985
Yongchang[13] 125,578 6.94 174,221 11.36 Placed under Jinchang since 1981
Yongdeng[14] 264,787 14.62 261,880 17.07 Placed under Lanzhou since 1970
Zhangye[15] 254,900 14.08 Now as Ganzhou District, placed under Zhangye since 1955
Minle[16] 106,675 5.89 Placed under Zhangye since 1955
Shandan[17] 64,898 3.58 Placed under Zhangye since 1955
Total 1,810,588 1,534,010 1,646,766 1,669,319 1,836,923
Census 6th Census(2010)[18] 7th Census(2020)[19]
County/District Population % Population %
Liangzhou 174,790 9.63 885,277 60.43
Minqin 1,010,295 55.67 178,470 12.18
Gulang 241,251 13.29 250,177 17.07
Tianzhu 388,718 21.41 151,031 10.32
Total 1,815,054 1,464,955

Urbanization and Gender Structure [11][18]

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National Census Urban Population Male Female Sex

Ratio

Total Urbanization Total % Total %
5th 370,008[20] 20.14% 949,435# 51.69% 887,488# 48.31% 106.98
6th 500,528 27.56% 933,482 51.43% 881,572 48.57% 105.89
7th 688,697 47.01% 740,306 50.53% 724,649 49.47% 102.16
Observation #No data, estimated based on the published sex ratio

Education Level[11][18]

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National Census University Education (including associate degree) High School Education Secondary Education Primary Education illiteracy
Total % Total % Total % Total % Total %
5th 33,927* 2.08% 182,774* 11.22% 504,999* 31.01% 738,388* 45.34% 168,499 10.35%
6th 98,932 5.84% 257,772 15.23% 681,562 40.26% 540,193 31.91% 114,475 6.76%
7th 184,994 13.69% 207,940 15.38% 456,779 33.79% 418,200 30.94% 83,812 6.20%
Observation *Estimation, the original data is the number of people educated per 100,000 people. The number of people educated per 100,000 people in universities, high schools, junior high schools, and primary schools is 1847, 9950, 27491, and 40197, respectively

Age Distribution and Population Pyramid

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The 5th, 6th, and 7th National Census of Wuwei - Gender and Age Structure[20]
National Census 7th 6th 5th
Age Group(years) Male Female Male Female Male Female
0-4 44,485 40,263 48,981 39,046 70,504 48,496
5-9 46,339 40,519 53,974 41,208 100,743 84,294
10-14 47,440 39,429 73,286 56,878 109,253 100,793
15-19 42,418 33,600 98,852 86,983 75,924 72,156
20-24 31,309 29,028 81,607 82,949 50,148 50,967
25-29 42,722 42,670 58,238 58,222 90,740 90,367
30-34 50,031 52,066 50,724 47,871 107,026 108,502
35-39 42,347 42,627 86,543 86,548 85,427 86,072
40-44 39,740 38,369 100,781 102,535 52,819 48,012
45-49 70,821 74,010 78,779 81,645 56,282 51,909
50-54 83,149 87,007 48,773 44,674 42,428 41,012
55-59 64,464 67,021 50,627 48,153 35,440 33,260
60-64 38,398 35,821 35,973 36,379 30,846 29,633
65-69 40,668 40,442 28,436 28,213 22,239 22,436
70-74 26,799 28,670 20,116 20,960 10,766 10,577
75 or above 29,176 33,107 17,797 19,308 8,466 9,449
Population Pyramid of Wuwei
The following pictures are based on The 5th, 6th, and 7th National Census of Wuwei - Gender and Age Structure[20]

No. of Household [18][11]

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National Census No. of Household Population No. of ppls/household
5th No Data No Data 3.95
6th 467,040 1,748,588 3.74
7th 529,119 1,383,397 2.61

Wuwei Ethnic Population and Gender[21]

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Ethnic Population by County/District（2020）

County/District Han % Minorities %
Liangzhou District 870,610 98.3% 14,667 1.7%
Minqin County 176,789 99.1% 1,681 0.9%
Gulang County 246,503 98.5% 3,674 1.5%
Tianzhu Tibetan
Autonomous County 		89,762 59.4% 61,269 40.6%
Wuwei 1,383,664 94.5% 81,291 5.5%

Gender Data by Ethnicity（2020）

County/District Male (Han) Female (Han) Sex Ratio (Han) Male (Minorities) Female (Minorities) Sex Ratio (Minorities)
Liangzhou District 438,898 431,712 101.7 7,620 7,047 108.1
Minqin County 90,394 86,395 104.6 915 766 119.5
Gulang County 123,481 123,022 100.4 1,706 1,968 86.7
Tianzhu Tibetan
Autonomous County 		46,638 43,124 108.1 30,654 30,615 100.1
Wuwei 699,411 684,253 102.2 40,895 40,396 101.2

Birth Rate, Mortality Rate, and Natural Growth Rate in Wuwei[22][23]

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Legend ↑Natural growth rate increased compared to the previous year

↓Natural growth rate decreased compared to the previous year

*There is currently no data available

Year Birth Rate(‰) Mortality Rate(‰) Natural Growth Rate(‰) Trend of Three Rates
2000 13.33 5.57 7.76
Green Line: Birth Rate Red Line: Mortality Rate;

Grey Line: Natural Growth Rate

2001 11.97 5.21 6.76↓
2002 * * 6.28↓
2003 * * 5.59↓
2004 * * 5.61↓
2005 * * 5.81↑
2006 * * 6.29↑
2007 * * 6.43↑
2008 * * 6.69↑
2009 * * 6.69
2010 * * 5.36↓
2011 * * 5.28↓
2012 10.52 5.23 5.29↓
2013 10.57 5.26 5.31↑
2014 10.61 5.28 5.33↑
2015 10.81 5.31 5.50↑
2016 10.83 5.81 5.02↓
2017 11.38 6.22 5.16↑
2018 9.42 6.18 3.24↓
2019 9.21 6.32 2.89↓
2020 * * -2.12↓
2021 8.93 10.21 -1.98↑
2022 7.84 10.55 -2.72↓
2023(Expected) 8.09 10.43 -2.35↑
2028(Expected) 6.63 13.32 -6.70

Economy

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Consistent sunlight and fertile soil make agriculture one of Wuwei's biggest industries. Other important industries are textiles, metallurgy, and construction materials. Melons, vegetables, wine and livestock are all major agricultural products. Organic farming is a trend with more land being set aside for “green farming” each year. Land use can be broken down into the following:

  • 790 square kilometres (310 sq mi) of water
  • 34,800 square kilometres (13,400 sq mi) of forest
  • 355,300 square kilometres (137,200 sq mi) of grassland.
  • 247,000 square kilometres (95,000 sq mi) of “undeveloped” land.
  • 39,100 square kilometres (15,100 sq mi) of farmland.
    • 8,000 square kilometres (3,100 sq mi) of corn
    • 4,000 square kilometres (1,500 sq mi) of vegetables
    • 3,000 square kilometres (1,200 sq mi) of melons
    • 5,000 square kilometres (1,900 sq mi) for livestock
    • 800 square kilometres (310 sq mi) of vineyards

Transport

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Railway[24]

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There are two railway lines that pass through Wuwei, namely the Lanzhou-Xinjiang Railway and the Gantang-Wuwei Railway. Both are east-west railway lines. Since there are no north-south railway lines crossing Wuwei, there are no railway lines passing through Minqin County which lies in the northern part of Wuwei, therefore, there are no railway stations in Minqin.

There exist various railway stations in Liangzhou District, Gulang County and Tianzhu Tibetan Autonomous County. Wuwei Railway Station (second-class station) is the largest train station in terms of passenger traffic in Wuwei. It is located 303 kilometers east of Lanzhou Station and 1,589 kilometers west of Urumqi Railway Station.

Railway Stations in Wuwei

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Pictures
Wuwei Railway Station Before Rebuilt
Wuwei Railway Station Before Rebuilt
Wuwei Railway Station After Rebuilt
Wuwei Railway Station After Rebuilt
Wuwei South Railway Station
Wuwei South Railway Station
Platform, Tianzhu Railway Station
Platform, Tianzhu Railway Station
Major Railway Stations in Wuwei
Station County/District Station Class Railways Available for [25]
Wuwei Railway Station Liangzhou Second Lanzhou-Xinjiang Railway,Gantang-Wuwei Railway Passenger, Package, Luggage
Wuwei S. Railway Station Liangzhou First Lanzhou-Xinjiang Railway,Gantang-Wuwei Railway Passenger
Wuwei E. Railway Station (High Speed Railway) Liangzhou Second Lanzhou-Zhangye High Speed Railway Passenger
Gulang Railway Station Gulang Fourth Lanzhou-Xinjiang Railway Passenger
Gulang N. Railway Station (High Speed Railway) Gulang - Lanzhou-Zhangye High Speed Railway Passenger
Tianzhu Railway Station Tianzhu Third Lanzhou-Xinjiang Railway Passenger
Tianzhu W. Railway Station (High Speed Railway) Tianzhu - Lanzhou-Zhangye High Speed Railway Passenger

Highway

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Category English Name

Chinese Name

Code Service Level
National Freeway Lianhuo Freeway

连霍高速

G30连霍高速标志 In Service
Wujin Freeway

武金高速

G3017武威至金昌高速标志 In Service
Dingwu Freeway

定武高速

In Service
Province Freeway Wuwei Ring Freeway

武威绕城高速

In Service
Beixian Freeway

北仙高速

In Service
Minhong Freeway

民红高速

In Service
Leixi Freeway

雷西高速

Under Construction
National Highway G312 National Highway

G312 国道

G312 In Service
Manda Highway

G569 曼大公路

G569 Under Construction
Dingwu Highway

G667 武定公路

G667 In Service

Footnotes

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  1. ^ 甘肃省统计局、国家统计局甘肃调查总队 (November 2016). 《甘肃发展年鉴－2016》. 中国统计出版社. ISBN 978-7-5037-7894-0.
  2. ^ Silk Road, North China, C Michael Hogan, The Megalithic Portal, ed. A Burnham
  3. ^ Zhang Yiping (2005). Story of the Silk Road. China Intercontinental Press. ISBN 978-7-5085-0832-0.
  4. ^ Juhl, Susanne (1998). "Burial Sites in Hexi". In Atabaki, Touraj; O'Kane, John (eds.). Post-Soviet Central Asia. Tauris Academic Studies. pp. 370–371.
  5. ^ Hill (2015), p. 45.
  6. ^ Chih-i Chou, William Thornton Dean, Phanerozoic Geology of Northwest China, 1996, 316 pages ISBN 90-6764-228-2
  7. ^ 中国气象数据网 – WeatherBk Data (in Simplified Chinese). China Meteorological Administration. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  8. ^ "Experience Template" 中国气象数据网 (in Simplified Chinese). China Meteorological Administration. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  9. ^ 武威 - 气象数据 -中国天气网 (in Chinese). Weather China. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
  10. ^ Eschmeyer, W. N.; R., Fricke, eds. (3 December 2015). "Catalog of Fishes". California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  11. ^ a b c d "武威市人民政府 普查数据 武威市第七次全国人口普查公报[1]". www.gswuwei.gov.cn. Retrieved 2024-01-02.
  12. ^ 景泰县志. 景泰县: 景泰县志编纂委员会. 1996. pp. 607–612. ISBN 7-311-01050-0.
  13. ^ 永昌县志. 永昌县: 永昌县志编纂委员会. 1993. pp. 183–226. ISBN 7-226-01083-6.
  14. ^ 永登县志. 永登县: 永登县地方史志编纂委员. 1997. pp. 133–140. ISBN 7-5421-0459-4.
  15. ^ 张掖市志. 张掖市: 甘肃省张掖市志编修委员会. 1993. pp. 110–123. ISBN 7-226-01466-1.
  16. ^ 民乐县志. 民乐县: 民乐县志编纂委员会. 1996. pp. 151–176. ISBN 7-226-01622-2.
  17. ^ 山丹县志. 山丹县: 山丹县地方志编纂委员会. 1993. pp. 640–648. ISBN 7-226-01228-6.
  18. ^ a b c d "武威市2010年第六次全国人口普查主要数据公报_中国统计信息网". www.cnstats.org. Retrieved 2023-07-15.
  19. ^ "武威市第七次全国人口普查公报". 武威市人民政府. Archived from the original on 2021-10-28. Retrieved 2021-10-12.
  20. ^ a b c "武威市人口普查数据 第五、六、七次人口普查武威市人口-59城市迷". 2023-07-15. Archived from the original on 2023-07-15. Retrieved 2024-01-02.
  21. ^ "《甘肃发展年鉴2021》使用方法" [How to use Gansu Development Yearbook 2021]. tjj.gansu.gov.cn (in Chinese).
  22. ^ "武威市人民政府 统计年鉴". www.gswuwei.gov.cn. Retrieved 2024-01-02.
  23. ^ "甘肃省统计年鉴".
  24. ^ "中国铁路12306网站". www.12306.cn. Retrieved 2024-01-02.
  25. ^ "铁路客户服务中心--". www.12306.cn. Archived from the original on 2021-01-02. Retrieved 2024-01-01.

References

[edit]
  • Hill, John E. (2015) Through the Jade Gate to Rome - China to Rome. CreateSpace, Charleston, South Carolina. ISBN 978-1500696702.
[edit]
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