Zhaotong (Chinese: 昭通) is a prefecture-level city located in the northeast corner of Yunnan province, China, bordering the provinces of Guizhou to the south and southeast and Sichuan to the northeast, north, and west.

Zhaotong
昭通市
Chaotung
Location of Zhaotong in Yunnan
Location of Zhaotong in Yunnan
Coordinates (Zhaotong municipal government): 27°20′17″N 103°43′01″E / 27.338°N 103.717°E / 27.338; 103.717
CountryPeople's Republic of China
ProvinceYunnan
GB/T 2260530600
Prefecture seatZhaoyang District
Area
 • Prefecture-level city23,192 km2 (8,954 sq mi)
Elevation
1,926 m (6,319 ft)
Population
 (2010 census)
 • Prefecture-level city5,213,533
 • Density220/km2 (580/sq mi)
 • Urban
352,831
GDP[1]
 • Prefecture-level cityCN¥ 154.1 billion
US$ 22.7 billion
 • Per capitaCN¥ 30,935
US$ 4,563
Time zoneUTC+8 (China Standard)
Postal code
657000
Area code0870
ISO 3166 codeCN-YN-06
License plate prefixes云C
Yunnan e-Portal
Zhaotong
Chinese昭通
PostalChaotung

History

edit

Zhaotong has historic and cultural links to the Shu (Sichuan basin) region. Yi people consider Zhaotong to be their homeland (called Zizipuwu). Zhaotong was part of Zhuti County (朱提縣) during Han to Tang dynasties. Zhaotong belonged to the Nanzhao then Dali Kingdom until the Mongols destroyed the latter in the 13th century. During the Yuan Dynasty, it became the Wumeng Commandery (乌蒙路), during which many Hui Muslims settled in the area. During the Qing dynasty, local tusi chieftains were removed, and the region was renamed Zhaotong Prefecture.

Climate

edit
Zhaotong (labeled as CHAO-T'UNG (EN-AN) 昭通 (恩安)) (1954)

Influenced by the low latitude and moderate elevation, Zhaotong has a temperate subtropical highland climate (Köppen Cwb), with cool, dry winters, and warm, humid summers. Temperatures frequently drop below freezing at night in winter, though the days warm up to around 10 °C (50 °F). Conversely, in summer, average highs rise to 25 °C (77 °F). A great majority of the year's rainfall occurs from May to September.

Climate data for Zhaotong (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1981–2010)
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Record high °C (°F)24.7
(76.5)
25.9
(78.6)
30.3
(86.5)
31.2
(88.2)
33.6
(92.5)
32.5
(90.5)
32.7
(90.9)
31.5
(88.7)
33.3
(91.9)
28.5
(83.3)
25.1
(77.2)
23.2
(73.8)
33.6
(92.5)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)10.1
(50.2)
13.1
(55.6)
17.5
(63.5)
21.1
(70.0)
23.1
(73.6)
24.0
(75.2)
25.5
(77.9)
25.3
(77.5)
22.4
(72.3)
17.7
(63.9)
15.3
(59.5)
10.5
(50.9)
18.8
(65.8)
Daily mean °C (°F)2.6
(36.7)
5.3
(41.5)
9.1
(48.4)
13.4
(56.1)
16.3
(61.3)
18.3
(64.9)
20.0
(68.0)
19.5
(67.1)
16.8
(62.2)
12.3
(54.1)
8.5
(47.3)
3.7
(38.7)
12.1
(53.9)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)−1.4
(29.5)
0.8
(33.4)
4.2
(39.6)
8.7
(47.7)
12.0
(53.6)
14.8
(58.6)
16.3
(61.3)
15.8
(60.4)
13.3
(55.9)
9.4
(48.9)
4.6
(40.3)
0.1
(32.2)
8.2
(46.8)
Record low °C (°F)−8.4
(16.9)
−8.7
(16.3)
−6.9
(19.6)
−2.7
(27.1)
−0.1
(31.8)
7.4
(45.3)
7.5
(45.5)
7.0
(44.6)
3.6
(38.5)
−0.8
(30.6)
−5.5
(22.1)
−10.4
(13.3)
−10.4
(13.3)
Average precipitation mm (inches)8.5
(0.33)
9.6
(0.38)
16.6
(0.65)
29.3
(1.15)
57.2
(2.25)
128.3
(5.05)
153.3
(6.04)
125.2
(4.93)
77.2
(3.04)
55.1
(2.17)
12.4
(0.49)
5.3
(0.21)
678
(26.69)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm)5.45.97.09.312.717.717.116.715.214.15.94.8131.8
Average snowy days9.16.52.60.20000001.45.325.1
Average relative humidity (%)73686766707777777981777674
Mean monthly sunshine hours140.6154.3193.3196.4178.2123.2151.5159.2129.0103.2143.4125.01,797.3
Percent possible sunshine43495251433036403529453941
Source 1: China Meteorological Administration[2][3]
Source 2: Weather China[4]

Population

edit

Demography

edit

The prefecture, almost exclusively agricultural, is one of the poorest in China, which led the authorities to encourage young people to migrate to eastern and southern parts of China to find work. For the year 2003, the number of emigrants was 650,000.

The government wanted the number to increase by 50,000 in 2004.

Religion

edit

It is the seat of the Latin Catholic Apostolic Prefecture of Zhaotong.

Economy

edit

The main industries in the prefecture are mining, tobacco and cement manufacturing

Zhaotong has some of the largest lignite sources in China. The 18,000-capacity Yuanbaoshan Stadium is also located in the city. It hosts many events, for example athletic events such as soccer matches.

Transport

edit

Zhaotong has several bridges over the Jinsha River, an upstream section of the Yangtze.

Administrative divisions

edit
Map
NameChineseHanyu PinyinPopulation (2010)Area (km2)Density (/km2)
Zhaoyang District昭阳区Zhāoyáng Qū787,8452,240352
Shuifu city水富市Shuǐfù Shì102,143319320
Ludian County鲁甸县Lǔdiàn Xiàn390,6541,519257
Qiaojia County巧家县Qiǎojiā Xiàn516,3493,245159
Yanjin County盐津县Yánjīn Xiàn369,8812,096176
Daguan County大关县Dàguān Xiàn263,2251,802146
Yongshan County永善县Yǒngshàn Xiàn394,2672,833139
Suijiang County绥江县Suíjiāng Xiàn153,091882174
Zhenxiong County镇雄县Zhènxióng Xiàn1,328,3753,785351
Yiliang County彝良县Yíliáng Xiàn521,8382,884181
Weixin County威信县Wēixìn Xiàn385,8651,416273

Ethnicity

edit

Among the resident population, the Han population is 4,683,478, accounting for 89.83% of the total population; the ethnic minorities population is 530,055, accounting for 10.17% of the total population.

Zhaotong Ethnic Composition (November 2010)[5]
HanHuiMiaoYiBaiZhuangBuyiSuiHaniDaiOthers
Population46834701809621726201615276467294323544614474121858
Proportion of total population (%)89.833.473.313.100.120.060.050.010.010.01
Proportion of minority population (%)---34.1432.5730.471.220.560.440.090.080.080.35

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ 云南省统计局、国家统计局云南调查总队 (December 2023). 《云南统计年鉴-2023》. 中国统计出版社. ISBN 978-7-5037-9653-1.
  2. ^ 中国气象数据网 – WeatherBk Data (in Simplified Chinese). China Meteorological Administration. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  3. ^ 中国气象数据网 (in Simplified Chinese). China Meteorological Administration. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  4. ^ 昭通 - 气象数据 -中国天气网 (in Chinese). Weather China. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
  5. ^ Yunnan Provincial Census Office, Yunnan Provincial Bureau of Statistics (September 2012). "Yunnan Provincial Census Data in 2010". China Statistics Press. ISBN 978-7-5037-6548-3.
edit