Zhongwei

Zhongwei (simplified Chinese: 中卫; traditional Chinese: 中衛; pinyin: Zhōngwèi; Wade–Giles: Chung-wei; lit. 'middle guard', Xiao'erjing: جْووِ شِ) is a prefecture-level city of Ningxia, People's Republic of China. It has an area of 16,986.1 km2 (6,558.4 sq mi) and a population of 1,174,600 in 2019.[3][4] The city is known for its wolfberry and Gobi watermelon cultivation.[2] One of the world's largest photovoltaic power station, Tengger Desert Solar Park, is located in Zhongwei.[5]

Zhongwei
中卫市 · جْووِ شِ‎
Prefecture-level city
Wolfberry fields in Zhongning County, Zhongwei City
Zhongwei in Ningxia
Zhongwei
Location of the city centre in Ningxia
Coordinates (Zhongwei municipal government): 37°30′01″N 105°11′48″E
CountryPeople's Republic of China
Autonomous regionNingxia
Municipal seatShapotou
Area
 • Prefecture-level city16,986.1 km2 (6,558.4 sq mi)
Elevation
[1]
1,225 m (4,019 ft)
Population
 (2019)[2]
 • Prefecture-level city1,174,600
 • Density69/km2 (180/sq mi)
 • Urban
[2]
526,500
Time zoneUTC+8 (China Standard)
Postal code
755000
Area code(s)0955
ISO 3166 codeCN-NX-05
Websitewww.nxzw.gov.cn

History

Under general Meng Tian, the Qin captured the area of Zhongwei and established the Beidi Commandery. In 205 BC a city was built at the current location of Zhongwei urban area, which would grow as irrigation systems were built to allow farming.[6]

In 1226 Genghis Khan captured Zhongwei. In 1403 the city was named Zhongwei, part of Shaanxi.[6]

In 1920 Zhongwei was struck by the Haiyuan earthquake. In 1926 the highway from Lanzhou to Zhongwei opened.[6]

Tourism

Zhongwei's main attraction is Gao Miao, a temple that has hosted Confucian, Buddhist, and Taoist ceremonies. A bomb shelter was also built beneath the temple during the Cultural Revolution. It has since been converted into a rendition of a Buddhist hell.[7] The prefecture is also the location of the beginning of the northern bend in the Yellow River that produces the Ordos Loop. A drum tower is located in the city center.[8]

Administrative divisions
Map
Name Hanzi Hanyu Pinyin Xiao'erjing Population
(2019)[2]		 Area (km2) Density
(/km2)
Shapotou District 沙坡头区 Shāpōtóu Qū شَاپُوَتِوْ ٿِيُوِ‎ 414,200 4,633 89
Zhongning County 中宁县 Zhōngníng Xiàn جْونِئٍ‌ ثِيًا‎ 351,700 2,841 124
Haiyuan County 海原县 Hǎiyuán Xiàn خَيْ‌يُوًا ثِيًا‎ 403,900 6,979 58

Geography

Zhongwei is located on the northern banks of the Yellow River and bordered directly by the Tengger Desert in the north.[8] The city has been battling desertification since the 1950s.[9] Using straw checkerboard patterns the advance of sand dunes is stopped.[10][11]

Climate
Climate data for Zhongwei (1981–2010 normals)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 1.1
(34.0)		 5.7
(42.3)		 12.3
(54.1)		 19.8
(67.6)		 24.3
(75.7)		 27.7
(81.9)		 29.4
(84.9)		 27.7
(81.9)		 23.6
(74.5)		 17.6
(63.7)		 9.3
(48.7)		 2.5
(36.5)		 16.8
(62.2)
Daily mean °C (°F) −7.2
(19.0)		 −2.6
(27.3)		 4.2
(39.6)		 11.8
(53.2)		 17.1
(62.8)		 20.9
(69.6)		 22.9
(73.2)		 21.0
(69.8)		 16.0
(60.8)		 9.5
(49.1)		 1.8
(35.2)		 −4.9
(23.2)		 9.2
(48.6)
Average low °C (°F) −13.5
(7.7)		 −9.0
(15.8)		 −2.3
(27.9)		 4.3
(39.7)		 9.9
(49.8)		 14.1
(57.4)		 16.6
(61.9)		 15.1
(59.2)		 10.0
(50.0)		 3.3
(37.9)		 −3.5
(25.7)		 −10.4
(13.3)		 2.9
(37.2)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 1.5
(0.06)		 1.4
(0.06)		 3.4
(0.13)		 10.8
(0.43)		 18.1
(0.71)		 26.8
(1.06)		 33.6
(1.32)		 44.0
(1.73)		 22.8
(0.90)		 12.0
(0.47)		 1.6
(0.06)		 0.5
(0.02)		 176.5
(6.95)
Average relative humidity (%) 52 47 45 41 49 57 63 68 68 60 59 56 55
Source: China Meteorological Administration[12]

Transportation
Zhongwei Railway Station in December 2015
  • Desert Lake
  • Desert Lake
  • Desert Lake
  • Shapotou scenic area
  • Camels in Shapotou
  • Zhongwei cultural centre

See also

References
  1. http://www.nxzw.gov.cn/zjzw/zwgk/zwjj/201804/t20180410_734359.html
  2. China Today. China Welfare Institute. 2008.
  3. (in Chinese) Profile of Zhongwei, visited on May 31, 2008.
  4. "2019年中卫市人口发展情况简析". www.nxzw.gov.cn. Retrieved 2021-03-03.
  5. "10 really cool Solar Power installations in (and above) the world". 29 January 2018. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  6. "历史沿革". www.nxzw.gov.cn. Retrieved 2021-03-03.
  7. Harper, Damian; Fallon, Steve; Gaskell, Katja; Grundvig, Julie; Heller, Carolyn; Huhta, Thomas; Mayhew, Bradley (2005). China (9th ed.). Lonely Planet. p. 980. ISBN 978-1-74059-687-9. OCLC 61143558.
  8. Guides, Rough (2017-06-01). The Rough Guide to China (Travel Guide eBook). Rough Guides UK. ISBN 978-0-241-31490-6.
  9. "Curbing Desertification in China". World Bank. Retrieved 2021-03-03.
  10. Heshmati, G. Ali; Squires, Victor R. (2013-07-01). Combating Desertification in Asia, Africa and the Middle East: Proven practices. Springer Science & Business Media. ISBN 978-94-007-6652-5.
  11. National Geographic. National Geographic Society. 1980.
  12. 中国气象数据网 - WeatherBk Data (in Chinese (China)). China Meteorological Administration. Retrieved 2020-04-16.
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