Xuanhua District

This article is about the city, now a district, previously in Republic of China's Chahar Province and now part of Hebei. For the contemporary Buddhist monk of the same name, see Hsuan Hua.

Xuanhua (Chinese: 宣化; pinyin: Xuānhuā) is a district in Zhangjiakou prefecture-level city in Hebei Province, China.

Xuanhua is 180 km (112 mi) North-West of Beijing. It has a population of 274,000 people. Xuanhua is a very old city with a rich military and agricultural history. In modern times it has also become an industrial area, and now contains a high-tech development zone where new developments are being promoted by the government of Hebei province.

History

Zhu Di, prior to becoming the Yongle Emperor, was the Prince of Yan, ruling in Xuanhua.

Xuanhua is home to a Liao Dynasty (960-1127) tomb with a colored star atlas painted with 268 stars including the sun, the moon and five planets—Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn.

Military

Historically, Xuanhua has been the "Gateway to Beijing," a city with a large garrison that was close enough to the capital to be strategically vital.

Xuanhua was also the garrison headquarters for the soldiers on the Xuanda-Shanxi Military Area, commanding Xuanfu Zhen, Datong Zhen and ShanxiZhen of the Great Wall, one of the three military governorships of the great wall in the Ming Dynasty.

Xuanhua has a set of city walls built in the Ming Dynasty which are still partly intact.

Agriculture

Known in ancient times as "The Grape Town," Xuanhua farmers grow a wide variety of grapes. Some grapes are used for wine production, but much of the crop is sold as fruit. In autumn, a large number of farmers sell grapes on streetsides out of hand-carts or trucks.

Industry

Xuanhua contains

and other mineral resources.

Its key industries are

and

Administrative Divisions[1]

Subdistricts:

The only town is Pangjiabao (庞家堡镇)

Townships:

See also

References

  1. ↑ 张家口市-行政区划网

Coordinates: 40°035′N 115°02′E / 40.583°N 115.033°E