Country Peoples Republic of China Area 4,978.36 km2 | ||
Xuchang (simplified Chinese: ; traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: ; Postal map spelling: Hsuchang) is a prefecture-level city in central Henan province in Central China. It borders the provincial capital of Zhengzhou to the northwest, Kaifeng to the northeast, Zhoukou to the east, Luohe to the southeast, and Pingdingshan to the southwest.
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Map of Xuchang
Its population was 4,307,488 inhabitants at the final 2010 census whom 1,952,666 live in the built-up (or metro) area made up of Weidu district, Xuchang county and Changge City largely being urbanized. In 2007, the city was named Chinas top ten livable cities by Chinese Cities Brand Value Report, which was released at 2007 Beijing Summit of China Cities Forum.
History
According to tradition, the city was named after Xu, an ancient state led by tribal leader Xuyou during the Spring and Autumn Period of the Zhou Dynasty. In ancient times, the city occupied a strategic location in central China.
Xuchang served as the warlord Cao Caos de facto capital during the late Eastern Han Dynasty. After finding the old capital Luoyang ravaged by war, Cao moved the imperial court and Emperor Xian to what is now Xuchang in 196.
In 220, Cao Caos son and successor Cao Pi officially declared the city as the capital of the newly established state of Cao Wei. The city was renamed "Xuchang", meaning "Xu Rising". The Wei emperors held court at Xuchang until the capital was moved to Luoyang in the 220s.
Geography and climate
Xuchang ranges in latitude from 33° 16 to 34° 24 N and in longitude from 113° 03 to 114° 190 E.
Xuchang has a monsoon-influenced humid subtropical climate (Koppen Cwa), with four distinct seasons. Winters are cool and dry, summers hot and humid, spring begins early and is warm, and autumn is mild and provides a reasonable transition. Rain mainly falls from May to September, as more than 70% of the annual precipitation occurs then. The city has an annual mean temperature of at 14.5 °C (58.1 °F), and its highest average monthly temperature is 27.1 °C (80.8 °F) in July and the lowest is 0.7 °C (33.3 °F) in January. Just over 700 millimetres (28 in) of precipitation falls each year, and there is on average 217 frost-free days and 2280 hours of sunshine per year.
Agriculture and industry
Xuchang is an important center of the Chinese tobacco industry. However, due to economic reasons many farmers have chosen not to plant tobacco anymore.
The city is also famous for its man-made human hair exports.
Tourism
Famous tourist attractions include Baling Bridge and Chunqiu Tower.