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Jingzhou

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Jingzhou is a prefecture-level city in southern Hubei province, China. It sits on the banks of the Yangtze River. The city is located within the Jianghan Plain. This region is characterized by a dense network of waterways and lakes.

Lotus root-Hubei style
Lotus root-Hubei style

The topography of the area rises from east to west. To the east lies Wuhan, the provincial capital. To the west are Yichang, the Three Gorges, and Chongqing. Jingmen City is located to the north. To the south are Yueyang and Changde in Hunan Province. The city's name comes from an ancient province. That province was named after the nearby Jing Mountains.

The climate in Jingzhou is classified as humid subtropical, known as Köppen Cfa. This means the area experiences hot, humid summers. The winters are damp and chilly, though they are also drier. The area receives between 1,800 and 2,000 hours of sunshine every year. There is also a frost-free period lasting between 242 and 263 days annually. About 12.42% of the city's total area is covered by forest. This environment supports a wide range of local activities and industries.

Jingzhou has a deep history spanning 5,000 to 6,000 years. The ancient Daxi culture once resided in this area. Later, the State of Chu was founded here. The ancient city of Ying served as the capital of the State of Chu for over 400 years. During the Han dynasty and Three Kingdoms era, the area was known as Nanjun. It was the seat of the Nanjun district. Under the Tang dynasty, it served as the southern capital and was called Nandu.

天星观二号楚墓编钟
天星观二号楚墓编钟

In the 1990s, the city underwent administrative changes. Shashi City and Jiangling County merged in 1994 to create Jingsha. This was renamed to Jingzhou in 1996.

Today, Jingzhou is a significant cultural and historical site. Visitors can explore the ruins of five Chu cities. There are 73 sites featuring Chu Culture and over 800 ancient tombs. These include the tombs of 18 Chu kings.

Lacquer bowls of cloud design, Warring States, Jiangling, Hubei, Jingzhou Museum
Lacquer bowls of cloud design, Warring States, Jiangling, Hubei, Jingzhou Museum

The Jingzhou Museum houses many artifacts. These include silk and lacquerware from the Warring States period.

Jingzhou Museum stairs
Jingzhou Museum stairs

The museum even displays a 2,000-year-old male corpse. The city also features well-maintained historical walls. These walls were rebuilt in 1646. The Chaozong Tower is a notable structure on the Gongji Gate, rebuilt in 1838.

The population of Jingzhou is quite large. According to the 2020 census, the total residential population was 5,231,180. Out of these people, 1,068,291 lived in the built-up metro area. This area includes two urban districts: Shashi and Jingzhou.

Kokudou 207(China)
Kokudou 207(China)

The 2010 census showed a population density of 405 inhabitants per km2. Education levels have also seen changes. The number of people with university education rose from 6,828 to 10,225 per 100,000 people between 2010 and recent years. The average years of schooling for those aged 15 and above increased from 8.81 to 9.29 years.

The economy of Jingzhou is diverse. In 2019, the city's GDP was ¥251.648 billion. This represented an annual growth rate of 7.5%. The economy is divided into three main sectors. The primary sector contributed 17.3% to the GDP. The secondary sector contributed 37.1%. The tertiary sector, which includes services, contributed 45.6%. Most growth comes from the secondary and tertiary sectors.

China Expwy G50 sign no name
China Expwy G50 sign no name

Agriculture is also a major part of the economy. In 2019, the sector totaled ¥76.645 billion. This includes grain, vegetables, and aquaculture. The city produced 4.5117 million tons of grain and 1.1195 million tons of aquaculture products.

Jingzhou is well-connected to other regions. It features the Jingzhou Railway Station on the Wuhan-Yichang Railway. This provides frequent passenger service. The city also has the Jingzhou Shashi Airport.

Kokudou 318(China)
Kokudou 318(China)

Major roads connect the city to the rest of China. These include the G50 Shanghai–Chongqing Expressway and the G55 Erenhot–Guangzhou Expressway.

China Expwy G55 sign no name
China Expwy G55 sign no name

Local culture is also found in its food. Residents enjoy unique breakfast items. These include a special style of guokui, which is a Chinese flatbread. They also have unique rice noodles and lotus root soup.

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🖼️ Images & Media (8)
File:Lacquer bowls of cloud design, Warring States, Jiangling, Hubei, Jingzhou Museum.jpg
Lacquer bowls of cloud design, Warring...
File:天星观二号楚墓编钟.jpg
天星观二号楚墓编钟.jpg
File:Jingzhou Museum stairs.jpg
Jingzhou Museum stairs.jpg
File:Lotus root-Hubei style.jpg
Lotus root-Hubei style.jpg
File:China Expwy G50 sign no name.svg
China Expwy G50 sign no name.svg
File:China Expwy G55 sign no name.svg
China Expwy G55 sign no name.svg
File:Kokudou 207(China).svg
Kokudou 207(China).svg
File:Kokudou 318(China).svg
Kokudou 318(China).svg
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