Guizhou
Guizhou is an inland province in Southwestern China with its capital and largest city as Guiyang, located in the center of the province. Guizhou borders the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region to the south, Yunnan to the west, Sichuan to the northwest, the municipality of Chongqing to the north, and Hunan to the east. Guizhou has a humid subtropical climate. It covers a total area of 176,200 square kilometers and consists of six prefecture-level cities and three autonomous prefectures. The population of Guizhou stands at 38.5 million, ranking 18th among the provinces in China.
The Dian Kingdom, which inhabited the present-day area of Guizhou, was annexed by the Han dynasty in 106 BC. Guizhou was formally made a province in 1413 during the Ming dynasty. After the overthrow of the Qing in 1911 and following the Chinese Civil War, the Chinese Communist Party took refuge in Guizhou during the Long March between 1934 and 1935. After the establishment of the People's Republic of China, Mao Zedong promoted the relocation of heavy industry into inland provinces such as Guizhou, to better protect them from potential foreign attacks.
Located in the hinterland of the southwestern inland region, Guizhou is a transportation hub in the southwest area and an important part of the Yangtze River Economic Belt. It is the country's first national-level comprehensive pilot zone for big data, a mountain tourism destination and a major mountain tourism province, a national ecological civilization pilot zone, and an inland open economic pilot zone.
The representative historical culture is "Qian Gui culture". In addition, Guizhou is also one of the birthplaces of ancient Chinese humans and ancient Chinese culture, with ancient humans living on this land since about half a million years ago.
Guizhou is rich in natural, cultural and environmental resources. Its natural industry includes timber and forestry, and the energy and mining industries constitute an important part of its economy. Notwithstanding, Guizhou is considered a relatively undeveloped province, with the fourth-lowest GDP per capita in China as of 2020. However, it is also one of China's fastest-growing economies. The Chinese government is looking to develop Guizhou as a data hub.
Guizhou is a mountainous province, with its higher altitudes in the west and centre. It lies at the eastern end of the Yungui Plateau. Demographically, it is one of China's most diverse provinces. Minority groups account for more than 37% of the population, including sizable populations of the Miao, Bouyei, Dong, Tujia and Yi peoples, all of whom speak languages distinct from Chinese. The main language spoken in Guizhou is Southwestern Mandarin, a variety of Mandarin.
Name
The area was first organized as an administrative region of a Chinese empire under the Tang, when it was named Juzhou, pronounced Kjú-jyuw in the Middle Chinese of the period. During the Mongol-led Yuan dynasty, the character was changed to the more refined . The region formally became a province in 1413; the capital of the province was originally called "Guizhou", but it is currently known as Guiyang.History
Evidence of settlement by humans during the Middle Palaeolithic is indicated by stone artefacts, including Levallois pieces, found during archaeological excavations at Guanyindong Cave. These artefacts have been dated to approximately 170,000–80,000 years ago using optically stimulated luminescence methods.From around 1046 BC to the emergence of the State of Qin, northwest Guizhou was part of the State of Shu. During the Warring States period, the Chinese state of Chu conquered the area, and control later passed to the Dian Kingdom. During the Chinese Han dynasty, to which the Dian was tributary, Guizhou was home to the Yelang collection of tribes, which largely governed themselves before the Han consolidated control in the southwest and established the Lingnan province. During the Three Kingdoms period, parts of Guizhou were governed by the Shu Han state based in Sichuan, followed by Cao Wei and the Jin dynasty.
During the 8th and 9th centuries in the Tang dynasty, Chinese soldiers moved into Guizhou and married native women. Their descendants are known as Lǎohànrén, in contrast to new Chinese who populated Guizhou at later times. They still speak an archaic dialect. Many immigrants to Guizhou were descended from these soldiers in garrisons who married these pre-Chinese women.
Kublai Khan and Möngke Khan conquered the Chinese southwest in the process of defeating the Song during the Mongol invasion of China, and the newly established Yuan dynasty saw the importation of Chinese Muslim administrators and settlers from Bukhara in Central Asia.
File:海龙屯 新王宫遗址.jpg|thumb|In 1600, Hailongtun fortress in Zunyi saw the last battle of the 10-year-long Bozhou Rebellion.
It was during the following Ming dynasty, which was once again led by Han Chinese, that Guizhou was formally made a province in 1413. The Ming established many garrisons in Guizhou from which to pacify the Yao and Miao minorities during the Miao Rebellions. Chinese-style agriculture flourished with the expertise of farmers from Sichuan, Hunan and its surrounding provinces into Guizhou. Wu Sangui was responsible for the ousting the Ming in Guizhou and Yunnan during the Manchu conquest of China. During the governorship-general of the Qing dynasty's nobleman Ortai, the tusi system of indirect governance of the southwest was abolished, prompting rebellions from disenfranchised chieftains and the further centralization of government. After the Second Opium War, criminal triads set up shop in Guangxi and Guizhou to sell British opium. For a time, Taiping Rebels took control of Guizhou, but they were ultimately suppressed by the Qing. Concurrently, Han Chinese soldiers moved into the Taijiang region of Guizhou, married Miao women, and their children were brought up as Miao.
More unsuccessful Miao rebellions occurred during the Qing, in 1735, from 1795–1806 and from 1854–1873. After the overthrow of the Qing in 1911 and following Chinese Civil War, the Communists took refuge in Guizhou during the Long March. While the province was formally ruled by the warlord Wang Jialie, the Zunyi Conference in Guizhou established Mao Zedong as the leader of the Communist Party. As the Second Sino-Japanese War pushed China's Nationalist Government to its southwest base of Chongqing, transportation infrastructure improved as Guizhou was linked with the Burma Road. After the end of the War, a 1949 Revolution swept Mao into power, who promoted the relocation of heavy industry into inland provinces such as Guizhou, to better protect them from Soviet and American attacks. The 1957 influenza pandemic started in Guizhou and killed a million people around the world. After the reform and opening up began in 1978, geographical factors led Guizhou to become the poorest province in China, with a GDP growth average of 9 percent from 1978 to 1993.
District planning
Regional historyIn the 26th year of the Republic of China, Guizhou established six administrative supervision areas, each in charge of several counties. In the 30th year, Guiyang City was established. By the 37th year, Guizhou had one direct jurisdiction area, six administrative supervision areas, and 78 counties under its administration.
On November 15, 1949, the Second Field Army of the Chinese People's Liberation Army liberated Guiyang; on December 26, the People's Government of Guizhou Province was established. In the early period after liberation, the province had one directly managed city, eight special areas, and one special area city, totalling 79 counties.
In April 1956, the Guiyang, Zhenyuan, and Duyun special areas were abolished, and the Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture and the Qiannan Buyi and Miao Autonomous Prefecture were established, with their administrative centers in Kaili.
In 1956, two villages from Qijiang County, Sichuan Province, were transferred to Xishui County, Guizhou Province.
In 1960, the Langdai County in Anshun Special Area was abolished and Liuzhi City was established, which was later changed back to Liuzhi County.
In 1965, the city status of Duyun was restored, serving as the capital of the Qiannan Buyi and Miao Autonomous Prefecture.
In 1966, on the basis of Liuzhi County in the former Anshun Special Area, Shuicheng County in the Bijie Special Area, and Pan County in the Xingyi Special Area, Liuzhi Industrial and Mining Area, Shuicheng Industrial and Mining Area, and Pan County Industrial and Mining Area were established.
In 1970, the Wanshan Special District was established, under the jurisdiction of Tongren Special Area. The Liuzhi, Pan County, and Shuicheng industrial and mining areas and their original counties were merged into Liuzhi Special District, Pan County Special District, and Shuicheng Special District.
In December 1978, the Liupanshui Special Area was abolished and the prefecture-level city of Liupanshui was established, governing three special districts, with the municipal government located in Shuicheng Special District, becoming the second prefecture-level city in Guizhou Province.
In September 1981, the Xingyi Special Area was abolished and the Qiannan Buyi and Miao Autonomous Prefecture was established, with its administrative center in Xingyi.
In 1983, Kaili County in the Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture was abolished and the county-level Kaili City was established, serving as the capital of the autonomous prefecture.
In 1987, the Shuicheng Special District in Liupanshui City was abolished and Shuicheng County and Zhongshan District were established, with the Liupanshui municipal government moving to Zhongshan District; on August 21, Tongren County was abolished and Tongren City was established; on November 6, with the approval of the State Council, Xingyi County was abolished and Xingyi City was established.
In 1990, Chishui County in the Zunyi Special Area was abolished and the county-level Chishui City was established. Anshun City and Anshun County were merged to serve as the administrative center of Anshun Special Area.
In 1992, the Pan County Special District in Liupanshui City was abolished and Pan County was established. Qingzhen County in the Anshun Special Area was abolished and the county-level Qingzhen City was established, still under the jurisdiction of Anshun Special Area.
In 1994, Renhuai County in the Zunyi Special Area was abolished and the county-level Renhuai City was established. Bijie County in the Bijie Special Area was abolished and the county-level Bijie City was established, serving as the administrative center of Bijie Special Area.
In 1996, Qingzhen City, Xiuwen County, Kaiyang County, and Xifeng County, originally belonging to the Anshun Special Area, were transferred to the jurisdiction of Guiyang City.
In 1997, the Zunyi Special Area was abolished and the prefecture-level city of Zunyi was established, with the original county-level Zunyi City being changed to Honghuagang District.
In 2000, the Anshun Special Area was abolished and the prefecture-level city of Anshun was established, with the original county-level Anshun City being changed to Xixiu District.
In 2003, parts of the Honghuagang District in Zunyi City were divided to establish the Huichuan District of Zunyi City.
In 2011, the Tongren Special Area was abolished and the prefecture-level city of Tongren was established, with the original county-level Tongren City being changed to Bijiang District, and the original Wanshan Special District being changed to Wanshan District. Tongren City governs 2 districts and 8 counties. In the same year, the Bijie Special Area was abolished and the prefecture-level city of Bijie was established. The original county-level Bijie City was changed to Qixingguan District.
In 2013, a pilot model of provincial direct management of counties was implemented, with the county-level Renhuai City, originally belonging to Zunyi City, and Weining County, originally belonging to Bijie City, being designated as pilot counties for provincial direct management.
On January 6, 2014, the State Council agreed to establish the Guizhou Gui'an New District. In the same year, Pingba County in Anshun City was abolished and Pingba District of Anshun City was established.
In 2016, Zunyi County in Zunyi City was abolished and the district-level Bozhou District was established.
In April 2017, the Ministry of Civil Affairs agreed to abolish Pan County in Liupanshui City and establish the county-level Panzhou City, managed by Liupanshui City.
In August 2018, with the approval of the State Council, Xingren County in the Qiannan Buyi and Miao Autonomous Prefecture was abolished and the county-level Xingren City was established.
In July 2020, Shuicheng County in Liupanshui City was abolished and the district-level Shuicheng District was established.
In March 2021, with the approval of the State Council, the Ministry of Civil Affairs agreed to abolish Qianxi County and establish the county-level Qianxi City.