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Qujing

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Qujing is a prefecture-level city located in the eastern part of Yunnan province, China.

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Txu-oclc-10552568-ng48-10

It sits on the Yunnan–Guizhou Plateau, a large, high region. Because of its location, it borders Guizhou province to the north and east. To the south, it meets the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The city is situated just east of Kunming, which is the capital of Yunnan. Historically, its strategic position earned it special nicknames. People once called it the "Key between Yunnan and Guizhou." They also referred to it as the "Throat of Yunnan."

The climate in Qujing is described as a subtropical highland climate. This means the weather is tempered by its low latitude and moderate elevation. The city experiences short, mild, and dry winters. While frost may occur during these months, the daytime temperatures generally warm up. Summers are warm and bring frequent rainfall. Most of the annual precipitation occurs between the months of June and October. During the summer, a majority of the days feature some amount of rain. This cycle of weather helps define the life and environment of the plateau.

Qujing is divided into several administrative areas that manage the region. The government seat is located in the Qilin District. Other major urban areas include the Zhanyi and Malong districts. The metro area contains these three districts and held a population of 1,408,500 in 2015. Beyond the metro area, the city includes Xuanwei City and several counties. These include Fuyuan, Luoping, Shizong, Luliang, and Huize. Each of these divisions contributes to the total administrative population, which was estimated at 6,047,000 in 2015. By the end of 2024, the resident population was recorded at 5.634 million.

The people of Qujing represent a diverse mix of ethnic groups. The Han population makes up the largest group at 92.95 percent.

Ethnic townships in Yunnan Qujing
Ethnic townships in Yunnan Qujing

The remaining 7.1 percent of the population consists of ethnic minorities. Among these minorities, the Yi people are the largest group at 3.85 percent. The Hui people make up 1.17 percent of the total population. Other groups present in the region include the Hmong, Miao, Zhuang, and Buyei people. Smaller groups like the Shui, Bai, Yao, Mongol, and others also live in the area. This diversity is reflected in the various ethnic townships found throughout the city.

Transportation in Qujing is well developed and connects the city to many destinations. National Highway 320 links the city to Kunming, a drive that takes about three hours. The Kun Qu Freeway also provides access to almost every corner of the city. For those using public transit, buses depart from the Qujing Bus Station every half hour. These buses travel to Kunming, Dali, and Honghezhou. The city is also a hub for rail travel. Two train routes run through eight towns in Qujing every day. These routes connect Guizhou to Kunming and Nanning to Kunming.

High-speed rail has significantly changed travel times in the region. In December 2016, the Shanghai–Kunming high-speed railway was completed. From Qujing North High-speed Train Station, travelers can reach Kunming South in 45 minutes. It takes one hour to reach Guiyang North High-speed Train Station. There was also a plan for a speed train between Chengdu and Nanning. If completed, this would make the trip from Kunming to Qujing only 30 minutes. These connections make Qujing an important node in the regional transport system.

The economy of Qujing is driven by several major industrial sectors. Main industries include tobacco, automobiles, power generation, and chemical engineering. The Qujing Economic and Technological Development Zone (QETDZ) is a major part of this activity. Approved in August 1992, the QETDZ is located east of the urban area. It serves as an economic, political, and cultural center. The zone is responsible for building a new 40-square-kilometer city area. This development aims to support a population of 400,000 over the next decade. In 2016, the city's total GDP was 177.5 billion Yuan.

Visitors to the region can find several notable sites of interest. One such site is the Jiulong Waterfall, also known as Nine Dragons Waterfall, in Luoping County. Another significant location is the Tiansheng Cave. This cave was formerly known as Xianren Dong, which translates to Fairy Cave or Celestial Being Cave.

雄业218国际购物公园 - 2023-06-18
雄业218国际购物公园 - 2023-06-18

These natural landmarks provide a contrast to the busy urban and industrial parts of the city. Qujing continues to grow as part of the Central Yunnan Metropolitan Region plan, which is in effect through 2049.

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