Xuzhou

Xuzhou 徐州
Prefecture-level city
徐州市
The skyline of Xuzhou and Yunlong Lake (云龙湖)
Location of Xuzhou City jurisdiction in Jiangsu
Xuzhou Location in China
Coordinates: 34°16′N 117°10′E / 34.267°N 117.167°E / 34.267; 117.167Coordinates: 34°16′N 117°10′E / 34.267°N 117.167°E / 34.267; 117.167
Country	People's Republic of China
Province	Jiangsu
County-level divisions	11
Township-level divisions	157
Government
• Mayor	Zhang Jinghua (张敬华)
• CPC Committee Secretary	Cao Xinping (曹新平)
Area
• Prefecture-level city	11,258 km2 (4,347 sq mi)
• Urban	3,036 km2 (1,172 sq mi)
• Metro	2,346 km2 (906 sq mi)
Population (2010 census)
• Prefecture-level city	8,580,500
• Density	760/km2 (2,000/sq mi)
• Urban	2,828,834
• Urban density	930/km2 (2,400/sq mi)
• Metro	2,369,851
• Metro density	1,000/km2 (2,600/sq mi)
Time zone	China Standard (UTC+8)
Postal code	221000(Urban center), 221000, 221000, 221000(Other areas)
Area code(s)	0516
GDP	¥239 billion (2009)
GDP per capita	¥27,514 (2009)
Major Nationalities	Han
Licence plate prefixes	苏C
Website	xz.gov.cn

Xuzhou (Chinese: 徐州; pinyin: Xúzhōu), otherwise known as Pengcheng (Chinese: 彭城; pinyin: Péngchéng) in ancient times, is a major city in and the fourth largest prefecture-level city of Jiangsu province, People's Republic of China. It is known for its role as a transportation hub in northwestern Jiangsu, as it has expressways and railway links connecting directly to the provinces of Henan and Shandong, the neighboring port city of Lianyungang, as well as the economic hub Shanghai.

Before the adoption of Hanyu Pinyin, the city's name was typically Romanized as Suchow,^[1] Süchow,^[2] although also appearing as Siu Tcheou [Fou],^[3] Hsu-chou,^[4] Hsuchow,^{[citation needed]} and Hsüchow.^{[citation needed]}

History

During the Xia and Shang Dynasties (c. 2200−1600 BC), Xuzhou lay in an area inhabited by the Dongyi or Huaiyi peoples who were constantly at war with the Shang and Zhou Dynasties. The Xuzhou region was called Huaiyang during the Zhou Dynasty (1600 BC−256 BC) since the Huai River crosses the area. During the Spring and Autumn Period (771 BC−426 BC), Xuzhou was a collection of small farming/fishing villages and towns and formed part of the border region between the Zhou vassal States of Chu, Wu and Qu. Both the States of Pi and Peng lay within its borders. Xuzhou was at one time a capital of the State of Xu, a vassal state exterminated by the State of Wu in 512 BC. In turn, Wu was conquered by the State of Yue a few decades later. Chu gradually expanded its influence around Xuzhou after absorbing the nearby State of Cai in 447 BC followed by the conquest of the State of Yue in 334 BC. By the Warring States period, it was firmly in the cultural and administrative sphere of Chu. The State of Chu moved to this area in 278 BC after the Qin army captured its old capital, Ying, in modern Jingzhou, Hubei.

Liu Bang, first emperor of the Han Dynasty (206 BC−AD 220), was born in Pei County, Xuzhou. At the beginning of the Han Dynasty, Xuzhou became part of the Kingdom of Chu, a principality ruled by relatives of the royal Liu family. Initially, Liu Bang allowed his relatives to rule parts of the country since they were assumed to be the most trustworthy. However, the Kingdom of Chu under third generation ruler Liu Wu rebelled against the central authority during the Rebellion of the Seven Princes and was defeated. His tomb was recently excavated near Xuzhou. Historians maintain that in the ancient capital and trade center of Pengcheng (Xuzhou) one can find the "earliest reliable evidence of the presence of Buddhism in China."

After the Yellow River began to change course during the Song Dynasty (AD 960−1279), heavy silting at the Yellow River estuary forced the river to channel its flow into the lower Huai River tributary. The region became barren thereafter due to persistent flooding, nutrient depletion and salination of the once fertile soil.

The area was the site of the final critical battle in the Chinese Civil War, the Huaihai Campaign in 1948-49. The capitulation of Chiang Kai-shek to Chinese communist forces at Suchow^[5] eventually led to the fall of the Nationalist Chinese capital Nanking.

Administration

The prefecture-level city of Xuzhou administers ten county-level divisions, including five districts, two county-level cities and three counties. These are further divided into 157 township-level divisions.

Map	Subdivision	Hanzi	Pinyin	Population (2010)	Area (km2)	Density
1 2 3 Tongshan Jiawang Suining County Pei County Feng County Pizhou (city) Xinyi (city) 1. Yunlong 2. Gulou 3. Quanshan
	City Proper
	Yunlong District	云龙区	Yúnlóng Qū	3,053,778	393	7,770.42
	Gulou District	鼓楼区	Gúlóu Qū
	Quanshan District	泉山区	Quánshān Qū
	Suburban
	Tongshan District	铜山区	Tóngshān Qū	1,142,193	1,877	608.52
	Jiawang District	贾汪区	Jiǎwāng Qū	430,712	690	624.22
	Rural
	Suining County	睢宁县	Suíníng Xiàn	1,042,544	1,773	588.01
	Pei County	沛县	Pèi Xiàn	1,141,935	1,576	724.57
	Feng County	丰县	Fēng Xiàn	963,597	1,450	664.54
Satellite cities (County-level cities)
Pizhou	邳州市	Pīzhōu Shì	1,458,036	2,088	698.29
Xinyi	新沂市	Xīnyí Shì	920,610	1,586	580.46
Total			8,580,500	11,258	762.16

Geography and climate

Xuzhou is located in the southeast of the North China Plain. Xuzhou has a monsoon-influenced humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cwa), with cool, dry winters, warm springs, long, hot and humid summers, and crisp autumns. The monthly daily average temperature ranges from 0.4 °C (32.7 °F) in January to 27.1 °C (80.8 °F) in July; the annual mean is 14.48 °C (58.1 °F). Snow may occur during winter, though rarely heavily. Precipitation is light in winter, and a majority of the annual total of 832 millimetres (32.8 in) occurs from June thru August.

Economy

The most important industries in Xuzhou are machinery, energy and food production.

The construction machinery manufacturer XCMG is the largest company based in Xuzhou. It is the world's tenth-largest construction equipment maker measured by 2011 revenues, and the third-largest based in China (after Sany and Zoomlion).^[7]

Education

Universities and colleges

• China University of Mining and Technology (中国矿业大学)
• Jiangsu Normal University (江苏师范大学，原徐州师范大学)
• Xuzhou Medical College (徐州医学院)
• Xuzhou Institute of Technology (徐州工程学院)
• People's Liberation Army Corps Command College(中国人民解放军工程兵指挥学院)
• People's Liberation Army Air Force Academy in Xuzhou(中国人民解放军徐州空军学院)

Schools

• Xuzhou No.1 Middle School (徐州市第一中学)
• Xuzhou No.3 Middle School (徐州市第三中学)
• Xuzhou Senior High School (徐州市高级中学)
• Xuzhou No.5 Middle School (徐州市第五中学)
• Xuzhou No.36 Middle School (徐州市第三十六中学，原管道中学)

Cuisine

Xuzhou cuisine is closely related to Shandong cuisine's Jinan-style. Xuzhou's most well known foods include bǎzi ròu (pork belly, and other items stewed in a thick broth), sha tang (汤), and various dog meat dishes.

Horse and warrior figures from the Han Dynasty Guishan Tomb near Xuzhou

Another one of Xuzhou's famous dishes is di guo (地锅) style cooking which places ingredients with a spicy sauce in a deep black skillet and cooks little pieces of flatbread on the side or top. Common staples of di guo style cooking include: chicken, fish, lamb, pork rib and eggplant.

Fu Yang Festival (伏羊节) is a traditional festival celebrated in the city. It starts on Chufu (初伏) which is around mid-July and lasts for about one month. During the festival, people eat lamb meat and drink lamb soup. This festival is very popular among all the citizens.

Scenic spots

Tourist attractions in Xuzhou include Yunlong Mountain (Cloud Dragon Mountain) and the nearby Yunlong Lake, which set near the downtown region. There are also Xuzhou Museum and Han Dynasty Stone Carvings museum next to the Yunlong Mountain.

The most important places of interest in Xuzhou are the relics of Han Dynasty, including Terracotta Army of Han, Mausoleum of the Emperors of Han and the art of stone graving.

Culture

In 2011, a new state-of-the-art concert hall was opened. It is specifically designed to resemble a myrtle flower. The striking architecture and lakeside location have helped the theater gain landmark status locally. Among the top artists who have performed in Xuzhou concert hall are Dutch vocal ensemble 'Vocal Group Utrecht' and Canadian brass ensemble 'Brassroots'.

Transport

Xuzhou is a major railroad hub

Xuzhou Guanyin Airport serves the area with scheduled passenger flights to major airports in China including Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing, Hong Kong and many other cities.

The Xuzhou Railway Station is one of the largest Chinese railway stations. Xuzhou is one of the most important railway hubs in China. It is the interchange station of Jinghu Railway, Longhai Railway and Hasan Railway. There is also a hub of express railway in the eastern suburb of Xuzhou, which will be the hub of Jinghu Express Railway and Xulan Express Railway.

Military

Xuzhou is headquarters of the 12th Group Army of the People's Liberation Army, one of the three group armies that comprise the Nanjing Military Region responsible for the defense of China's eastern coast and possible military engagement with Taiwan. The People's Liberation Army Navy also has a Type 054A frigate that shares the name of the region.

Sister cities

• Saint-Etienne, France (March 27, 1984)
• Handa, Aichi, Japan (May 27, 1993)
• Newark, New Jersey, United States (April 21, 1993)
• Leoben, Austria (August 29, 1994)
• Bochum, Germany (September 16, 1994)
• Greater Dandenong, Australia (September 12, 1996)
• Osasco, Brazil
• Pouso Alegre, Brazil
• Trumbull, Connecticut, United States
• Kirovograd, Ukraine (August 31, 1996)
• Ryazan, Russia (May 3, 1998)
• Erfurt, Germany (November 26, 2005)
• Lanciano, Italy (August 27, 2006)
• Érd, Hungary (July 12, 2011)

See also

• Battle of Xuzhou
• List of cities in the People's Republic of China by population
• Xuzhou dialect

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Xuzhou.

• Government website of Xuzhou (in Simplified Chinese)
• Xuzhou city guide with open directory (Jiangsu.NET)

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