Wuzhong (simplified Chinese: 吴忠; traditional Chinese: 吳忠; pinyin: Wúzhōng; Xiao'erjing: وُجْو شِ) is a prefecture-level city in the Ningxia autonomous region of the People's Republic of China. It was known as Yinnan Prefecture (银南地区; 銀南地區; Yínnán Dìqū; Xiao'erjing: ءٍنًا دِٿِيُوِ) before it was upgraded to a prefecture-level city in 1998. In 2019, Wuzhong had a population of 1.4 million.[3] Wuzhong is located in the Northwest of China, with the Yellow River flowing through the center of the city.

Wuzhong
吴忠市 · وُجْو شِ
Wuchung
Wuzhong City
Wuzhong City
Location of Wuzhong City jurisdiction in Ningxia
Location of Wuzhong City jurisdiction in Ningxia
Wuzhong is located in Ningxia
Wuzhong
Wuzhong
Location of the city centre in Ningxia
Coordinates (Wuzhong municipal government): 37°59′52″N 106°11′55″E / 37.9978°N 106.1986°E / 37.9978; 106.1986
CountryPeople's Republic of China
Autonomous regionNingxia
Municipal seatLitong District
Population
1,415,400
 • Urban722,400
GDP[2]
 • Prefecture-level cityCN¥ 40.6 billion
US$ 6.5 billion
 • Per capitaCN¥ 29,756
US$ 4,778
Time zoneUTC+8 (China Standard)
ISO 3166 codeCN-NX-03
Websitewww.wuzhong.gov.cn

Administrative divisions

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Map
Name Hanzi Hanyu Pinyin Xiao'erjing Population(2010) Area (km2) Density (/km2)
Litong District 利通区 Lìtōng Qū لِ‌طْو ٿِيُوِ 379,346 1,415 268.0
Hongsibu District 红寺堡区 Hóngsìbù Qū خْوسِْ‌بَوْ ٿِيُوِ 165,016 3,523 46.8
Qingtongxia City 青铜峡市 Qīngtóngxiá Shì ٿٍْ‌طْوثِيَا شِ 264,717 2,337 113.3
Yanchi County 盐池县 Yánchí Xiàn يًاچِ ثِيًا 146,560 8,558 17.1
Tongxin County 同心县 Tóngxīn Xiàn طْوثٍ ثِيًا 318,153 8,184 38.9

History

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During the early and mid-19th century, the territory of today's Wuzhong—as well as much of the northern Ningxia—became a stronghold of the Jahriyya Sufi order (menhuan), which was headquartered in the town of Jinjipu (a few km south of today's Wuzhong's main urban area). Under the leadership of the order's fourth and fifth shaykhs, Ma Yide (the 1770s-1849) and Ma Hualong (d. 1871), it grew wealthy from the profits of caravan trade across Inner Mongolia, between Baotou, Huhhot and Beijing. Jinjipu became an important commercial and religious center.

Religion

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The entrance and minaret of the old Weizhou Grand Mosque during the 1930s

The region features many mosques with unique architecture and different styles everywhere. Wuzhong is one of the main settlements of Hui people in Ningxia. In 2019, there were 778,700 Hui people in the city, accounting for 54% of the total population of the city.[1] Mosques are the main places for Hui people to worship and public activities, and play an important role for the Muslim population.

Weizhou Grand Mosque was constructed during the Ming dynasty in a traditional Chinese palatial style. It was named by the American Episcopal missionary Charles L. Pickens, Jr., who traveled western China in the 1920-1930s and documented many places and people, as "one of the most beautiful in all China."[4] It was destroyed during the Cultural Revolution in the 1960s.[5][6][7]

During the Muslim Rebellion of 1862–1877, Jinjipu became the headquarters of the rebels in the Ningxia region. The town fell to Zuo Zongtang's troops in January 1871, and over a thousand rebels and residents were massacred; Ma Hualong with his family and Jahriyya officials were executed in March 1871.[8]

Geography

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Wuzhong city is located in the middle of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, south of Zhongwei, north of Yinchuan, east of the Dingbian County in the Shaanxi province, on the northeast and northwest Inner Mongolia's Otog Front Banner and Alxa League, on the southeast is Gansu's Qingyang.

Wuzhong city is long from east to west and narrow from north to south. The topography is high in the south and low in the north, with Yinchuan plain in the north and Qingtongxia plain and hilly land in the south. The river plains have an average elevation of 1100 meters, the southern area an elevation of 1300–1900 meters. The city's area consists of parts of the Loess Plateau, Ordos Plateau, Yellow River alluvial plains and mountains. The northern two counties are mostly alluvial plains, the east is located on the Ordos Plateau and includes part of the Maowusu Desert. The southern area is located partially on the Ordos Plateau and partially on the loess plateau.[9]

The Yellow River is the most important river in Wuzhong, it flows through the northern two counties of Qingtongxia and Litong. Since the Qin and Han dynasties irrigation channels have been built, having a history of 2000 years. Agricultural production consist mainly of wheat, rice, fruits and vegetables. Wuzhong is Ningxia's main grain production base.[9]

The Loess Plateau in the south, suitable for forestry and animal husbandry, is an important origin of Ningxia Tanyang and Shaimao goats. The main mountain ranges are Luoshan. and Niushoushan, among which Luoshan is one of the three natural forests in Ningxia.[9]

Wuzhong has oil, gas, coal and limestone reserves.[9]

Climate

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The urban area of Wuzhong has a cool arid climate (Köppen BWk) virtually identical to that of Yinchuan, but the more mountainous and higher southern part of the city, exemplified by Mahuangshanxiang, has either a cool semi-arid climate (BSk) or a monsoonal humid continental climate (Dwb). As is typical of northern China, summers are very warm to hot depending on altitude while winters are freezing to frigid but clear with very light snowfall due to the dominance of the Siberian High.

Climate data for Wuzhong, elevation 1,127 m (3,698 ft), (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1981–2017)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 12.6
(54.7)
22.0
(71.6)
27.4
(81.3)
35.4
(95.7)
36.8
(98.2)
37.7
(99.9)
41.0
(105.8)
37.4
(99.3)
35.8
(96.4)
29.2
(84.6)
23.4
(74.1)
16.3
(61.3)
41.0
(105.8)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 1.0
(33.8)
6.1
(43.0)
13.1
(55.6)
20.8
(69.4)
25.7
(78.3)
29.6
(85.3)
31.2
(88.2)
29.3
(84.7)
24.4
(75.9)
18.0
(64.4)
9.5
(49.1)
2.4
(36.3)
17.6
(63.7)
Daily mean °C (°F) −5.7
(21.7)
−1.2
(29.8)
5.7
(42.3)
13.2
(55.8)
18.5
(65.3)
22.9
(73.2)
24.7
(76.5)
22.8
(73.0)
17.5
(63.5)
10.6
(51.1)
3.0
(37.4)
−3.8
(25.2)
10.7
(51.2)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −10.7
(12.7)
−6.8
(19.8)
−0.2
(31.6)
6.5
(43.7)
11.9
(53.4)
16.8
(62.2)
19.2
(66.6)
17.6
(63.7)
12.3
(54.1)
5.2
(41.4)
−1.5
(29.3)
−8.2
(17.2)
5.2
(41.3)
Record low °C (°F) −23.5
(−10.3)
−22.0
(−7.6)
−16.0
(3.2)
−5.8
(21.6)
−2.6
(27.3)
7.2
(45.0)
10.5
(50.9)
9.4
(48.9)
−0.5
(31.1)
−8.3
(17.1)
−14.8
(5.4)
−22.4
(−8.3)
−23.5
(−10.3)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 1.3
(0.05)
2.1
(0.08)
5.1
(0.20)
9.2
(0.36)
19.6
(0.77)
26.5
(1.04)
38.4
(1.51)
41.4
(1.63)
30.0
(1.18)
12.7
(0.50)
4.5
(0.18)
0.7
(0.03)
191.5
(7.53)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) 1.5 1.1 2.1 3.3 4.7 5.7 7.4 7.4 6.7 4.1 1.9 0.8 46.7
Average snowy days 3.0 1.8 1.6 0.5 0 0 0 0 0 0.3 1.6 1.4 10.2
Average relative humidity (%) 48 42 39 36 42 49 56 62 62 56 54 50 50
Mean monthly sunshine hours 205.4 210.0 247.1 269.6 300.9 298.5 295.9 268.6 230.4 245.9 219.4 211.0 3,002.7
Percent possible sunshine 67 68 66 68 68 68 66 65 63 72 73 72 68
Source: China Meteorological Administration[10][11]
Climate data for Mahuangshanxiang, Wuzhong County, elevation 1,691 m (5,548 ft), (1991–2020 normals)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) −1.6
(29.1)
2.4
(36.3)
8.8
(47.8)
15.9
(60.6)
21.1
(70.0)
25.3
(77.5)
26.7
(80.1)
24.5
(76.1)
19.3
(66.7)
13.3
(55.9)
6.5
(43.7)
0.0
(32.0)
13.5
(56.3)
Daily mean °C (°F) −7.2
(19.0)
−3.6
(25.5)
2.5
(36.5)
9.5
(49.1)
14.7
(58.5)
19.2
(66.6)
20.8
(69.4)
19.0
(66.2)
14.0
(57.2)
7.7
(45.9)
0.8
(33.4)
−5.5
(22.1)
7.7
(45.8)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −11.3
(11.7)
−8.0
(17.6)
−2.3
(27.9)
3.8
(38.8)
8.9
(48.0)
13.6
(56.5)
15.8
(60.4)
14.6
(58.3)
9.9
(49.8)
3.5
(38.3)
−3.3
(26.1)
−9.6
(14.7)
3.0
(37.3)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 3.4
(0.13)
3.9
(0.15)
8.0
(0.31)
16.0
(0.63)
28.1
(1.11)
44.6
(1.76)
69.7
(2.74)
85.8
(3.38)
49.0
(1.93)
22.0
(0.87)
7.6
(0.30)
1.6
(0.06)
339.7
(13.37)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) 3.3 3.4 4.5 4.8 6.5 8.1 10.4 10.7 9.3 6.0 3.9 1.9 72.8
Average snowy days 4.9 4.9 4.2 1.3 0.2 0 0 0 0 1.5 3.9 3.2 24.1
Average relative humidity (%) 51 50 45 41 44 50 62 69 69 61 53 50 54
Mean monthly sunshine hours 226.1 214.5 249.3 265.6 285.3 280.6 268.5 245.1 203.2 218.5 216.2 225.3 2,898.2
Percent possible sunshine 73 70 67 67 65 64 61 59 55 64 72 76 66
Source: China Meteorological Administration[12][13]

Economic

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At present, Wuzhong has eight industries: Energy and Power Industry, New Material industry, Milk industry, Wine industry, Construction Materials industry, Paper industry, Fur and Plush industry, Grass and Livestock industry.

Energy and power industry: At present, the total installed capacity of the city's energy and power industry reaches 1.55 million KW, reaching 3.5 million KW in 2008.

New material industry (aluminum, magnesium, PVC, etc.): It has the production capacity of 280,000 tons of electrolytic aluminum, 25,000 tons of magnesium metal and 100,000 tons of PVC resin, which will increase threefold in 2008.

Dairy industry: There are 15 dairy products processing enterprises, accounting for more than half of Ningxia's production capacity. By 2008, the output value of the dairy industry has exceeded 6 billion yuan.

Wine industry: At present, the production of wine accounts for 50% of the region. By 2008, the output value of the wine industry has exceeded 2 billion yuan.

Building materials industry: At present, cement output in the building materials industry reaches 3.5 million tons, and the cement production capacity of the whole city reaches 6.6 million tons in 2008.

Paper industry: Wuzhong has formed Yuhua paper industry, Xiaguang paper industry, Wuzhong paper mill and other paper enterprises with a certain scale. By 2008, the papermaking capacity of the whole region can reach 280,000 tons, and the output value of the papermaking industry can reach 1.1 billion yuan.

Fur plush industry: At present, non-plush production accounts for 60% of the total volume of the district. By 2008, the annual production capacity of non-plush with Tongxin county as the focus has reached 3000 tons.

Grass and livestock industry: By 2008, the high-quality forage planting area of the sheep and livestock industry focusing on Yanchi, Tongxin and Hongsibao has reached 4 million mu, the sheep raising quantity has reached 6 million, 200,000 beef cattle, and the output value of the grass and livestock industry has reached 1 billion yuan.

Local products

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Notable residents

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  • Shi Tao, journalist, writer, and poet
  • Zhou Shengxian, the director of the State Forestry Administration, is from Wuzhong.

Transportation

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  • China National Highway 211
  • Taiyuan-Zhongwei Railway (Limited service in Hongsibu District and Yanchi county)
  • Baotou-Lanzhou Railway (Over 20 daily trains bounding for nationwide destinations, station in Qingtongxia City)
  • Dingbian-Yinchuan Railway (7 daily trains, station in Yanchi County)

References

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  1. ^ a b Wuzhong City Statistical Bulletin on National Economic and Social Development in 2019
  2. ^ 宁夏统计年鉴2016
  3. ^ "吴忠市区划人口_吴忠市人民政府". www.wuzhong.gov.cn. Retrieved 2021-04-20.
  4. ^ "Weichow, Ningsia. Entrance and minaret of mosque. | Historical Photographs of China".
  5. ^ "Hui mosque protest ends after official vows to consult community". 14 August 2018.
  6. ^ "Thousands of Muslims protest against the demolition of the Weizhou Grand Mosque".
  7. ^ "Chinese Hui Muslims continue protest at Weizhou Grand Mosque". 10 August 2018.
  8. ^ Michael Dillon (1999). China's Muslim Hui community: migration, settlement and sects. Routledge. pp. 124–126. ISBN 0-7007-1026-4.
  9. ^ a b c d "吴忠市自然地理_吴忠市人民政府". www.wuzhong.gov.cn. Retrieved 2021-04-20.
  10. ^ 中国气象数据网 – WeatherBk Data (in Simplified Chinese). China Meteorological Administration. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  11. ^ 中国气象数据网 (in Simplified Chinese). China Meteorological Administration. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  12. ^ 中国气象数据网 – WeatherBk Data (in Simplified Chinese). China Meteorological Administration. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  13. ^ 中国气象数据网 (in Simplified Chinese). China Meteorological Administration. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  14. ^ "Is the Xige Estate China's Penfolds?". The Drinks Business. 2019-04-25. Retrieved 2021-04-20.
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