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Yichang

Coordinates: 30°41′31″N 111°17′13″E / 30.692°N 111.287°E / 30.692; 111.287
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"Yi Chang" redirects here. For the Hong Kong actor surnamed Chang, see Chang Yi (actor).
Yichang
宜昌市
Ichang
Prefecture-level city
Three Gorges Dam, Cool shrimp, Tribe of Three Gorges, Qingjiang Gallery, Sanyou Cave, Three Gorges Waterfall, Xiling Gorge.
Location of Yichang City jurisdiction in Hubei
Location of Yichang City jurisdiction in Hubei
Yichang is located in Hubei
Yichang
Yichang
Location of the city in Hubei
Yichang is located in China
Yichang
Yichang
Location of the city in China
Coordinates (Yichang municipal government): 30°41′31″N 111°17′13″E / 30.692°N 111.287°E / 30.692; 111.287
CountryPeople's Republic of China
ProvinceHubei
Municipal seatXiling District
Government
 • CPC Party SecretaryHuang Chuping
 • MayorMa Xuming
Area
[1]
 • Prefecture-level city21,338 km2 (8,239 sq mi)
 • Urban
4,234.3 km2 (1,634.9 sq mi)
 • Metro
4,192 km2 (1,619 sq mi)
Elevation
58 m (191 ft)
Highest elevation
2,427 m (7,963 ft)
Lowest elevation
35 m (115 ft)
Population
 (2020 census)[2]
 • Prefecture-level city4,017,607
 • Density190/km2 (490/sq mi)
 • Urban
1,604,740
 • Urban density380/km2 (980/sq mi)
 • Metro
1,536,012
 • Metro density370/km2 (950/sq mi)
GDP[3]
 • Prefecture-level cityCN¥ 338.2 billion
US$ 54.3 billion
 • Per capitaCN¥ 82,360
US$ 13,223
Time zoneUTC+8 (China Standard)
Postal codes
443000
Area code0717
ISO 3166 codeCN-HB-05
Licence plate prefixes鄂E
Websiteen.yichang.gov.cn
Yichang
"Yichang", as written in Chinese
Chinese宜昌
PostalIchang
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinYíchāng
Wade–GilesI2-ch'ang1
IPA[ǐ.ʈʂʰáŋ]

Yichang (Chinese: 宜昌), alternatively romanized as Ichang, is a prefecture-level city located in western Hubei province, China. Yichang had a population of 3.92 million people at the 2022 census,[4] making it the third most populous city in Hubei.[5] The city is famous for the Three Gorges, the Three Gorges Dam and the Gezhouba Dam, all three of which are located in Yiling District, one of the city's districts.[6][7]

History

[edit]

In ancient times Yichang was known as Yiling. In 278 BC, during the Warring States period, the Qin general Bai Qi set fire to Yiling.[8] In 222 AD, Yichang was also the site of the Battle of Yiling during the Three Kingdoms Period.[9]

Under the Qing Guangxu Emperor, Yichang was opened to foreign commerce as a trading port after the Qing and Great Britain agreed to the Chefoo Convention, which was signed by Sir Thomas Wade and Li Hongzhang in Chefoo on 21 August 1876.[10] The imperial government set up a navigation company there and began building facilities. Since 1949, more than 50 wharves, with a total combined length of over 15 kilometers (9.3 mi), have been constructed at the port.[citation needed]

During the Second Sino-Japanese War, Yichang was a primary supply depot for the defending Chinese army. In October 1938, as the Japanese moved up the Yangtze River towards the strategic city of Chongqing, it became clear that Yichang needed to be evacuated. In 40 days, under the direction of businessman Lu Zuofu, more than 100,000 tons of equipment and 30,000 personnel were transported upstream by steamship or by porters pulling smaller vessels through the Three Gorges rapids to Chongqing.[11][12]

In 1940, the Battle of Zaoyang-Yichang took place in the area.

Administrative divisions

[edit]

Administratively, it is a prefecture-level city; its municipal government has jurisdiction over five counties, five urban districts, and three satellite county-level cities (Yidu, Dangyang, Zhijiang).[1][13][14]

Administrative map

[edit]

The prefecture-level city of Yichang has direct jurisdiction over 14 divisions: 5 districts (区; qū), 3 county-level cities (县级市; xiànjí shì), 3 counties (县; xiàn), and 3 autonomous counties (自治县; zìzhì xiàn).:

Map
Name Hanzi Hanyu Pinyin Population
(2010 census) [15] 		Area
(/km2) [16] 		Density
(/km2)
Districts
Xiling District 西陵区 Xīlíng Qū 512,074 68.14 7,515.03
Wujiagang District 伍家岗区 Wǔjiāgǎng Qū 214,194 84.03 2549.02
Dianjun District 点军区 Diǎnjūn Qū 103,696 533.23 194.47
Xiaoting District 猇亭区 Xiāotíng Qū 61,230 130.40 469.55
Yiling District 夷陵区 Yílíng Qū 520,186 3,416.57 152.25
County-level cities
Yidu 宜都市 Yídū Shì 384,598 1,354.83 283.87
Dangyang 当阳市 Dāngyáng Shì 468,293 2,148.82 217.93
Zhijiang 枝江市 Zhījiāng Shì 644,835 2,010.00 321
Counties
Yuan'an County 远安县 Yuǎn'ān Xiàn 184,532 1,741.06 105.99
Xingshan County 兴山县 Xīngshān Xiàn 231,536 480.20 73.69
Zigui County 秭归县 Zǐguī Xiàn 367,107 2,273.80 161.45
Autonomous counties
Changyang Tujia
Autonomous County 		长阳土家族自治县 Chángyáng Tǔjiāzú
Zìzhìxiàn 		388,228 3418.82 113.56
Wufeng Tujia
Autonomous County 		五峰土家族自治县 Wǔfēng Tǔjiāzú
Zìzhìxiàn 		188,923 2,370.41 79.70
A sand table in Yichang Planning Exhibition Hall.

Geography

[edit]

Like most prefecture-level cities, Yichang includes both an urban area (which is labeled on less detailed maps as "Yichang") and the surrounding country area. It covers 21,084 square kilometers (8,141 sq mi) in Western Hubei Province, on both sides of the Yangtze River. The Xiling Gorge, the easternmost of the Three Gorges on the Yangtze, is located within the prefecture-level city.

Within the prefecture-level city of Yichang, the Yangtze is joined by a number of tributaries, including the Qing River (right), Xiang Xi and Huangbo Rivers (left).

The central urban area of Yichang is split between several districts. On the north bank of the Yangtze, there are Xiling District (the central part of the city), Yiling District, and Wujiagang District, and Xiaoting District. The urban area on the opposite (south) bank of the river is Dianjun District. All these districts, except the central Xiling District, also include a fair amount of suburban/rural area outside of the urban zone.

Climate

[edit]

Yichang has a four-season, monsoon-influenced, humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cwa), with cool, damp and generally overcast winters, and hot, humid summers. The monthly 24-hour average temperature ranges from 5.0 °C (41.0 °F) in January to 27.7 °C (81.9 °F) in July, while the annual mean is 17.08 °C (62.7 °F). Close to 70% of the annual precipitation of 1,160 mm (46 in) occurs from May to September. With monthly percent possible sunshine ranging from 24% in January to 49% in August, the city receives 1,568 hours of bright sunshine annually, and summer is the sunniest season.[citation needed]

Climate data for Yichang (1991–2013 normals, extremes 1981–2010)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 22.5
(72.5) 		27.6
(81.7) 		33.0
(91.4) 		36.7
(98.1) 		38.7
(101.7) 		39.9
(103.8) 		40.7
(105.3) 		41.4
(106.5) 		39.2
(102.6) 		35.7
(96.3) 		29.8
(85.6) 		24.6
(76.3) 		41.4
(106.5)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 8.8
(47.8) 		11.8
(53.2) 		16.6
(61.9) 		23.0
(73.4) 		27.3
(81.1) 		30.5
(86.9) 		32.7
(90.9) 		32.1
(89.8) 		28.2
(82.8) 		23.0
(73.4) 		17.2
(63.0) 		11.2
(52.2) 		21.9
(71.4)
Daily mean °C (°F) 5.0
(41.0) 		7.6
(45.7) 		11.7
(53.1) 		17.7
(63.9) 		22.2
(72.0) 		25.8
(78.4) 		28.1
(82.6) 		27.4
(81.3) 		23.6
(74.5) 		18.3
(64.9) 		12.7
(54.9) 		7.3
(45.1) 		17.3
(63.1)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 2.2
(36.0) 		4.6
(40.3) 		8.1
(46.6) 		13.6
(56.5) 		18.2
(64.8) 		22.1
(71.8) 		24.5
(76.1) 		23.9
(75.0) 		20.1
(68.2) 		14.9
(58.8) 		9.5
(49.1) 		4.4
(39.9) 		13.8
(56.9)
Record low °C (°F) −9.8
(14.4) 		−4.4
(24.1) 		−1.3
(29.7) 		0.4
(32.7) 		8.8
(47.8) 		14.7
(58.5) 		18.4
(65.1) 		17.2
(63.0) 		11.4
(52.5) 		3.7
(38.7) 		−0.9
(30.4) 		−5.4
(22.3) 		−9.8
(14.4)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 24.4
(0.96) 		38.7
(1.52) 		54.8
(2.16) 		92.3
(3.63) 		139.4
(5.49) 		141.8
(5.58) 		211.0
(8.31) 		191.3
(7.53) 		107.2
(4.22) 		73.8
(2.91) 		46.7
(1.84) 		18.7
(0.74) 		1,140.1
(44.89)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) 7.7 9.2 11.0 12.5 13.3 12.6 14.7 13.7 10.5 10.4 8.3 7.7 131.6
Average snowy days 4.3 3.0 1.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.2 1.4 10
Average relative humidity (%) 74 73 72 73 73 76 79 78 75 75 75 73 75
Mean monthly sunshine hours 65.9 71.9 103.1 125.8 132.8 134.1 157.2 168.4 126.8 118.6 103.8 81.1 1,389.5
Percent possible sunshine 20 23 28 32 31 32 37 41 35 34 33 26 31
Source: China Meteorological Administration[17][18]

Transport

[edit]

Air

[edit]

Yichang Sanxia Airport is located in the Xiaoting District of Yichang City, which is 26 km (16 mi) away from the city center and 55 km (34 mi) from the Three Gorges Dam site. The airport is conveniently located, which borders Yihuang Highway in the north, Long River Golden Waterway in the south and Jiaozhi Railway in the east.

Roads and bridges

[edit]
Yiling Bridge

Several provincial highways connect Yichang center city with most counties.

Several bridges span the Yangtze River within the prefecture-level city of Yichang, including (upstream to downstream):

There are several ferry crossings as well.

Waterways

[edit]
The Three Gorges Dam is located near Sandouping and Maoping within Yichang prefecture-level city (some 40 km (25 mi) from Yichang central city)

Yichang has long been a major transit port and distribution center of goods, and serves as the economic hub of western Hubei province and an intermediary between the major cities of Chongqing and Wuhan. Its primary industries are shipping and shipbuilding, taking advantage of its location on the Yangtze River. The Qing River in the southern part of the prefectures, with its cascade of dams, is an important waterway. Maoping Town (the county seat of Zigui County), has an active passenger wharf as well.

Railway

[edit]

Yichang is served by several railway lines.

Yichang Railway Station, located in downtown Yichang, opened in 1971, was the city's first railway station. In 2012 it closed for a renovation project.[19]

The Yichang East Railway Station, opened in the late 2010 in the eastern suburbs of Yichang,[20] is presently the city's main train station. It is the junction point of two segments of the Shanghai-Wuhan-Chengdu Passenger Dedicated Line, one of China's new east–west rail mainlines. To the east, the Hanyi Railway[21] (opened June 29, 2012) provides frequent service to Wuhan, with some trains continuing to Nanjing and Shanghai. To the west, the Yiwan Railway (Yichang-Wanzhou; opened December 2010) serves as the gateway to Hubei's southwestern panhandle (Enshi), with some service continuing to Chongqing and Chengdu.

The Jiaozuo–Liuzhou Railway, a north–south line, crosses the eastern part of the prefecture-level city. It crosses the Yangtze at Zhicheng in Yidu County-level City.

Demographics

[edit]
Huangling Temple, Sandouping

As of the 2020 census, its population was 4,017,607 inhabitants of whom 1,536,012 lived in the built-up (or metro) area consisting of Yiling, Xiling, Wujiagang and Dianjun urban districts. The Xiaoting District has not yet been urbanized. Yichang prefecture-level city, is home to many members of the Tujia ethnic group, who mostly live in several counties in the south-west of the prefecture.

Yichang also formed the border between the cultures of Ba in the west (an ancient state in the eastern part of what is now Sichuan Province) and the Chu State in the east (an ancient state in what is now Hubei Province and northern Hunan Province).

Education

[edit]

Since 2002, Yichang City has been home of the China Three Gorges University (the result of the merger of the University of Hydraulic & Electric Engineering, Yichang and of Hubei Sanxia University), the largest comprehensive university in Hubei Province outside Wuhan, with over 20,400 full-time students.

  • China Three Gorges University
  • Three Gorges Vocational College of Electric Power

There are 170 secondary schools in Yichang enrolling 150,700 students. 53,900 of the citizens in Yichang hold a secondary school degree. There are 282 elementary schools being located in Yichang enrolling 156,900. 27,600 of the citizens hold secondary school degrees. 383 kindergartens located in Yichang with 78,500 children.

Economy

[edit]

Yichang has developed rapidly in recent years. In 2023, Yichang's GDP reached 575.635 billion yuan,[22] with a per capita GDP of 146,800 yuan.[23] In 2023, the primary, secondary, and tertiary sectors in Yichang increased by 60.856 billion yuan, 228.034 billion yuan, and 286.745 billion yuan, respectively.[24] The main industries in Yichang include agriculture, fisheries, chemical manufacturing, food biomedicine, and tourism. Additionally, Yichang possesses abundant mineral resources including phosphorus, iron, coal, manganese, vanadium, gold, copper, lead, zinc, silicon, gypsum, graphite, quartz sand, limestone, marble, and barite.[25] Its main agricultural resources are citrus, tea, and aquatic products. Hydropower is the most important and renowned resource, as the world’s largest hydroelectric power station, Three Gorges Dam, generates 111.80 billion kWh per year.[26]

Agriculture

[edit]

Located at the transition zone from the western Hubei mountains to the Jianghan Plains, Yichang’s geography features a mild climate, distinct seasons, and abundant rainfall. The main agricultural products in the Yichang region are citrus and tea because of the geography and climate. Due to the increase in urbanization levels and average income levels, along with a more developed supply chain and export market, there has been an expansion of the customer base for these products. Consequently, demand for high-value products such as premium citrus and tea is rapidly growing. In addition, Southeast Asia, the United States, and the Middle East are the main overseas markets of Yichang’s citrus. In 2022, citrus was sold for 6,700 yuan ($960) per ton for exports.[27] The total output of tea in Yichang was 119,200 tons in 2023, and the agricultural production value reached 5.984 billion yuan.[28] From 2000 to 2022, the annual growth rate of citrus fruit production was 10.2%, and for tea was 12.8%.[29]

Tourism

[edit]

Yichang has rich tourism resources, which attract millions of visitors for its natural scenery located among mountains and rivers. In 2023, Yichang welcomed about 79 million visitors.[30] The most famous attractions include the Three Gorges Dam Tourist Area, Tribe of the Three Gorges, Qingjiang Gallery, Memorial Temple of Qu Yuan, Three Gorges Grand Waterfalls, and Xiling Gorge. The overall revenue from tourism was 110 billion yuan in 2023, which increased 44.5% from last year.[31]

Hydropower

[edit]

Yichang's prefectures have many major hydroelectricity projects. The best known are the two huge dams on the Yangtze River: the Gezhouba Dam (located just upstream of Yichang central city) and Three Gorges Dam, which is 40 kilometers (25 mi) upstream. The Geheyan Dam and Gaobazhou Dam on the Qing River are important as well. Besides those, a huge number of medium-sized and small power plants operate on smaller rivers and streams within some prefectures.

[edit]
Yichang skyline
  • Wenfo mountain
    Wenfo mountain
  • Yangtze River
    Yangtze River
  • Qing River
    Qing River
  • Guanzhuang Reservoir
    Guanzhuang Reservoir
  • Huangbo River
    Huangbo River
  • Tribe of Three Gorges
    Tribe of Three Gorges
  • Three Gorges Waterfall
    Three Gorges Waterfall
  • Boats on the Yangtze River, upstream from the Three Gorges
    Boats on the Yangtze River, upstream from the Three Gorges
  • Christianity in Yichang
    Christianity in Yichang
  • Roman Catholic Diocese of Yichang
    Roman Catholic Diocese of Yichang
  • Yichang Yangtze River Railway Bridge
    Yichang Yangtze River Railway Bridge
  • Zhenjiang Pavilion
    Zhenjiang Pavilion
  • Tianran Pagoda
    Tianran Pagoda
  • Statue of Quyuan
    Statue of Quyuan
  • Three Gorges University
    Three Gorges University
  • Yiling High School
    Yiling High School

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b 宜昌市历史沿革 [Yichang City Historical Development] (in Simplified Chinese). XZQH. 14 July 2014. Retrieved 5 October 2018. 1996年，宜昌市面积21338平方千米，{...}2010年第六次人口普查，宜昌市常住总人口4059686人，其中：西陵区512074人，伍家岗区214194人，点军区103696人，猇亭区61230人，夷陵区520186人，远安县184532人，兴山县170630人，秭归县367107人，长阳土家族自治县388228人，五峰土家族自治县188923人，宜都市384598人，当阳市468293人，枝江市495995人。
  2. ^ "China: Húbĕi (Prefectures, Cities, Districts and Counties) - Population Statistics, Charts and Map".
  3. ^ 湖北省统计局、国家统计局湖北调查总队 (August 2016). 《湖北统计年鉴－2016》. 中国统计出版社. ISBN 978-7-5037-7847-6. Archived from the original on 2017-03-01. Retrieved 2017-06-05.
  4. ^ "宜昌市2022年国民经济和社会发展统计公报 - 中国统计信息网". www.tjcn.org. Retrieved 2024-08-02.
  5. ^ "湖北省第七次全国人口普查公报（第二号）--湖北省统计局". tjj.hubei.gov.cn. Retrieved 2024-08-02.
  6. ^ "Yichang Top Things to do - Yichang travel activities". www.yangtzeriver.org. Retrieved 2024-08-02.
  7. ^ "Yichang Information". Archived from the original on 2009-02-26. Retrieved 2009-12-06.
  8. ^ "Gorgeous Yichang". www.gorgeousyichang.com. 26 September 2022. Archived from the original on 15 May 2024. Retrieved 2024-05-15.
  9. ^ "夷陵之战古战场遗迹 - 兵道网|山东孙子研究会|官网". www.sunzistudies.com. 13 April 2024. Archived from the original on 31 July 2024. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
  10. ^ Yichang Government. "History of Yichang". Yichang Government.
  11. ^ 'Yichang Evacuation Monument'; http://easternjourney.com/2009/10/yichang-evacuation-monument/ retvd 12 7 17
  12. ^ 抗战中的宜昌大撤退：保留中国抗战工业命脉的壮举. 15 April 2015.
  13. ^ 2017年统计用区划代码和城乡划分代码：宜昌市 [2017 Statistical Area Numbers and Rural-Urban Area Numbers: Yichang City]. National Bureau of Statistics of the People's Republic of China. 2017. Retrieved 5 October 2018. 统计用区划代码 名称 420501000000 市辖区 420502000000 西陵区 420503000000 伍家岗区 420504000000 点军区 420505000000 猇亭区 420506000000 夷陵区 420525000000 远安县 420526000000 兴山县 420527000000 秭归县 420528000000 长阳土家族自治县 420529000000 五峰土家族自治县 420581000000 宜都市 420582000000 当阳市 420583000000 枝江市
  14. ^ 吴月, ed. (21 May 2018). 宜昌概况 [Description of Yichang] (in Simplified Chinese). Yichang People's Government. Retrieved 5 October 2018. 【行政区划】2016年，宜昌市辖13个县市区，即远安县、兴山县、秭归县、长阳土家族自治县、五峰土家族自治县、宜都市、枝江市、当阳市、夷陵区、西陵区、伍家岗区、点军区、猇亭区，共设20个乡、67个镇、23个街道。2016年，全市行政区划及其名称未作调整。
  15. ^ 宜昌市2010年第六次全国人口普查主要数据公报 (in Simplified Chinese). Yichang Statistics Bureau. May 30, 2011. Retrieved 5 December 2013.
  16. ^ 宜昌市土地利用总体规划（2006－2020年） (in Simplified Chinese). Yichang Bureau of Land Resources. Nov 18, 2013. Retrieved 5 December 2013.
  17. ^ 中国气象数据网 – WeatherBk Data (in Simplified Chinese). China Meteorological Administration. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  18. ^ "Experience Template" 中国气象数据网 (in Simplified Chinese). China Meteorological Administration. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  19. ^ 3个月后宜昌火车站可进出动车 低站台改造成高站台. huochepiao.com. October 2012.
  20. ^ "Yichang". Discover China. Retrieved 2020-01-25.
  21. ^ Construction of Hanyi Railway to Kick off, Wuhan City Government web site, 2008-07-10
  22. ^ "GDP: Hubei: Yichang | Economic Indicators | CEIC". www.ceicdata.com.
  23. ^ "GDP: per Capita: Hubei: Yichang | Economic Indicators | CEIC". www.ceicdata.com.
  24. ^ "阔步迈向"典范城""世界级" 全市地区生产总值从1.51亿元增长到5756.35亿元 - 政务动态 - 宜昌市人民政府". www.yichang.gov.cn.
  25. ^ "矿产 - 宜昌简介 - 宜昌市人民政府". www.yichang.gov.cn.
  26. ^ "China's Three Gorges Dam sets world hydropower production record – China Daily". www.spglobal.com.
  27. ^ "Oranges grown in Yichang create harvest of wealth". www.huangpi.gov.cn.
  28. ^ "一片叶 一方业——宜昌茶产业加速驶入新赛道 - 政务专题 - 宜昌市人民政府". www.yichang.gov.cn.
  29. ^ "Hubei Yichang Rural Green Development Project: Report and Recommendation of the President". www.adb.org. Retrieved 2024-10-08.
  30. ^ "湖北宜昌市大旅游行业发展现状及市场策略分析_中研普华_中研网". www.chinairn.com.
  31. ^ "宜昌市2023年国民经济和社会发展统计公报-统计公报-宜昌市人民政府信息公开". xxgk.yichang.gov.cn.

Further reading

[edit]
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Yichang.
Look up Yichang, Ichang, or I-ch'ang in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Yichang.
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