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Shaoguan

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Shaoguan is a prefecture-level city located in northern Guangdong Province. It sits in South China at the southern end of the Nan Mountains. These mountains run primarily east to west across the region. The landscape features many valleys created by erosion. Shaoguan is the northernmost city in its province. It shares borders with several other areas. It touches Hunan to the northwest and Jiangxi to the northeast. To the east lies Heyuan, while Guangzhou and Huizhou sit to the south. Qingyuan is located to the west. The city's location is defined by specific coordinates between latitude 23° 53' and 25° 31' N. It also sits between longitude 112° 53' and 114° 45' E.

Water is a central part of the geography in Shaoguan. The Wu River flows in from the northwest. The Zhen River flows in from the northeast. These two rivers join to form the North River, also known as the Bei Jiang. This river flows south toward the city of Guangzhou. The downtown area of Shaoguan sits on a peninsula. This land is tucked between the Wu and Zhen Rivers. A dam located downstream keeps the water at a constant level. This helps maintain the river environment. The city also features tree-lined riverside esplanades. There are seven bridges that cross these three different rivers.

The climate in Shaoguan is classified as a monsoon-influenced humid subtropical climate. This is known by the technical term Köppen Cfa. The weather follows distinct seasonal patterns. Summers are long, hot, and very humid. Spring is the wettest and cloudiest season. During spring, the sun shines less than 30% of the time. Much of the annual rainfall occurs between April and June. Winters are short, mild, and damp. Because the city is far inland, winters are cooler than elsewhere in Guangdong. Freezing rain can occasionally occur in nearby mountain passes. The city receives about 1,617 hours of bright sunshine every year.

Shaoguan has a deep and varied history. In the past, the area was known as Shaozhou. It served as a prefecture during the Tang and Song dynasties. In 1589, Matteo Ricci established the first Jesuit mission in mainland China here. He moved his mission house to Shaoguan after a disagreement in Zhaoqing. He used the city's north-south travel routes to meet important people. This helped him travel to Nanchang, Nanjing, and Beijing. During World War II, the city was called Kukong. During this time, it served as the temporary capital of Guangdong Province.

The city is divided into several administrative parts. It has direct jurisdiction over three districts, two county-level cities, and five counties. The urban area includes the Zhenjiang, Wujiang, and Qujiang districts. As of the 2020 census, these three districts had 1,028,460 inhabitants. Other areas include Shixing County and Renhua County. Lechang and Nanxiong are the two county-level cities. The Ruyuan Yao Autonomous County is also part of the region. Each area has a different population density and land size. For example, Qujiang District has a density of 1,620.77 people per square kilometer.

There are many notable landmarks and cultural sites to explore. The Fengcai Tower stands in the center of the city. It was built during the Ming dynasty. Nearby, the Dajian Monastery was founded in the year 660. In Renhua County, you can find Danxia Mountain. The town of Pingshi is famous for white-water rafting. This takes place on a stretch called the Nine Torrents and Eighteen Shoals. Near Maba, there is a museum for the Maba Man. These are ancient human remains known as Chinese Neanderthals. Nanhua Temple is also nearby. This temple was founded by Huineng, the sixth Zen Buddhist patriarch.

Culture and language are also very important in Shaoguan. The main languages spoken are Hakka and Shaozhou Tuhua. Shaozhou Tuhua is related to Ping Chinese. In Shaozhou city, people speak Shaozhounese. In neighboring counties, people speak Hakka dialects like Yetpet and Seunan. This culture even traveled outside of mainland China. For instance, the Seochew community became an important part of Nam Định City. They helped build the city during the French protectorate. Today, Seochew candy remains a famous specialty in Nam Định. This shows how the traditions of Shaoguan have connected to other places.

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