Baoding
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Baoding (Chinese: 保定; pinyin: Bǎodìng) is a prefecture-level city in Hebei province, China.
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[edit] People and culture
The Baoding urban area has a population of around 635,000 (2002). The population of the Baoding administrative area is larger. The considerable majority are Han Chinese. The language of Baoding is Mandarin Chinese — specifically, the Baoding dialect of Ji-Lu Mandarin. Despite Baoding's proximity to Beijing, the Chinese spoken in Baoding is not particularly close to Beijing dialect — rather, it is more closely related to Tianjin dialect.
Hebei province, in which Baoding is located, is home to a high proportion of Chinese Catholics; Baoding likewise reflects this demographic trend. Several Catholic leaders from Baoding have faced arrest since the 1990s.
Perhaps the best known item to supposedly originate in Baoding are Baoding Balls.
Anxin County is home to the Quantou Village Music Association, a well known traditional music group performing on guan (oboes), sheng (mouth organs), and percussion. The village of Quantou is located on an island in Lake Baiyangdian.
[edit] History
Baoding is a city with a history dating back to the Western Han Dynasty. It was destroyed by the Mongols in the 13th century, but after the Mongols established the Yuan Dynasty, it was rebuilt. It acquired the name "Baoding" during the Yuan dynasty — the name is roughly interpreted as "protecting the capital", referring to the city's proximity to Beijing. Baoding served for many years as the capital of Zhili, and was a significant centre of culture in the Ming Dynasty and early Qing Dynasty. It continued to serve as provincial capital when Zhili was renamed Hebei. During World War II, the city was the site of a headquarters for Japanese occupation forces. In 1958, the role of provincial capital was assuemed by Tianjin, which had lost its status as a province-level municipality, but when Tianjin was elevated again in 1966, Baoding regained its position. In 1970, however, the rapidly growing city of Shijiazhuang became capital instead.
[edit] Economy
On of the largest employers in Baoding is China Lucky Film, the largest photosensitive materials and magnetic recording media manufacturer in China.
[edit] Features
Baoding is located around 140 kilometres south of Beijing. It is nearly halfway between Beijing and Shijiazhuang, the capital of Hebei province.
Baoding is situated on flat plains, to the east of the Taihang Mountains. It is surrounded by farmland. The city is roughly rectangular in shape, and is divided by the north-south Jingguang Railway. Baoding Railway Station marks the geographic centre of the city. The older part of Baoding is on the east side of the railway, and is administratively divided into the North City and South City. On the west side of the railway is the New City, an area of more recent development.
The city's streets follow a rough grid pattern, although this is less obvious in the older part of the city. The traditional main street of old Baoding is Yuhua Road, running from the city's centre to its eastern edge — most of Baoding's historic buildings are located in this area, along with some of its larger shopping centres. Other major streets include Dongfeng Road and Changyang Avenue. There is a ring road around the city.
Baoding is home to Hebei University, among others.
[edit] Historic Sites
Baoding contains a number of notable historic sites. In the city proper, there can be found a historic provincial governor's mansion and an ancient lotus garden. In the hills to the northwest of the city, near the suburb of Mancheng, there are the Mancheng Han Tombs, where prince Liu Sheng and his wife Dou Wan were buried.
The greater Baoding administrative area has 15 designated state-level cultural relics:
- Yan State Capital Relics (475BC-221BC, Yixian County)
- Great Wall at Zijinguan Pass (1368-1644, Yixian County and Laiyuan County)
- Lao Morality Classic Tablet (618-907, Yixian County)
- Western Qing Tombs (1730-1915, Yixian County)
- Geyuan Temple (916-1125, Laiyuan County)
- Ciyun Temple (1306, Dingxing County)
- Yicihui Stone Pillar (550-577, Dingxing County)
- Kaiyuan Temple (960-1127, Dingzhou County)
- Kaishansi Temple (618-907, Gaobeidian County)
- Dingzhou Porcelain Kiln Relic (960-1127, Quyang County)
- Northern Mount Temple (386-543, Quyang County)
- Jin-cha-ji Border Region Headquarter Ruins (1938, Fuping County)
- Ranzhuang Underground Tunnel (1937-1945, Qingyuan County)
- Mancheng Han Tombs (154BC-113BC, Mancheng County)
- Zhili Provincial Governor Office (1730-1911, Baoding)
[edit] Transport
Baoding has good connections to other cities, being located on one of the main routes in and out of Beijing. The Jingshi Expressway connects the two cities, and Baoding is also the western terminus of the Baojin Expressway linking Baoding with Tianjin. The Jingguang Railway provides frequent services to Beijing West Railway Station.
Baoding's internal public transport system consists of buses (costing one yuan for any trip within the urban area). Taxis are also common.
[edit] Climate
Baoding is located in the middle of Hebei Province, east of Mount Taihang. During the Monsoon season, the yearly average precipitation is 570 millimeters, the yearly average temperature is around 12.0 °C.
[edit] Administration
Baoding prefecture-level city consists of 4 municipal districts, 4 county-level cities, 18 counties:
- Xinshi District (新市区; pinyin: Xīnshì Qū)
- Beishi District (北市区; pinyin: Běishì Qū)
- Nanshi District (南市区; pinyin: Nánshì Qū)
- Gaokai District (高开区; pinyin: Gāokāi Qū)
- Dingzhou City (定州市; pinyin: Dìngzhōu Shì)
- Zhuozhou City (涿州市; pinyin: Zhuōzhōu Shì)
- Anguo City (安国市; pinyin: Ānguó Shì)
- Gaobeidian City (高碑店市; pinyin: Gāobēidiàn Shì)
- Mancheng County (满城县; pinyin: Mǎnchéng Xiàn)
- Qingyuan County (清苑县; pinyin: Qīngyuàn Xiàn)
- Yi County (易县; pinyin: Yì Xiàn)
- Xushui County (徐水县; pinyin: Xúshuǐ Xiàn)
- Laiyuan County (涞源县; pinyin: Láiyuán Xiàn)
- Dingxing County (定兴县; pinyin: Dìngxīng Xiàn)
- Shunping County (顺平县; pinyin: Shùnpíng Xiàn)
- Tang County (唐县; pinyin: Táng Xiàn)
- Wangdu County (望都县; pinyin: Wàngdū Xiàn)
- Laishui County (涞水县; pinyin: Láishuǐ Xiàn)
- Gaoyang County (高阳县; pinyin: Gāoyáng Xiàn)
- Anxin County (安新县; pinyin: Ānxīn Xiàn)
- Xiong County (雄县; pinyin: Xióng Xiàn)
- Rongcheng County (容城县; pinyin: Róngchéng Xiàn)
- Quyang County (曲阳县; pinyin: Qūyáng Xiàn)
- Fuping County (阜平县; pinyin: Fùpíng Xiàn)
- Boye County (博野县; pinyin: Bóyě Xiàn)
- Li County (蠡县; pinyin: Lǐ Xiàn not Lí Xiàn)
[edit] Twin Cities
Town twinning of Baoding:
[edit] Gallery
 Temple in the centre of old Baoding |
 Back street in old Baoding |
 Arch on Yuhua Road, old Baoding |
 An intersection in Yuhua Road's shopping district |
 A civic monument |
 A public park |
 A public park |
 Baoding Cathedral |
 Baoding Railway Station |
 Baoding city buses |
[edit] External links
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