Tianshui 天水市 | |
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Coordinates(Tianshui municipal government): 34°34′53″N105°43′29″E / 34.5815°N 105.7248°E | |
Country | People's Republic of China |
Province | Gansu |
Municipal seat | Qinzhou District |
Area | |
• Prefecture-level city | 14,280 km2 (5,510 sq mi) |
• Urban | 5,866 km2 (2,265 sq mi) |
• Metro | 5,866 km2 (2,265 sq mi) |
Elevation | 1,171 m (3,842 ft) |
Population (2020 census) [1] | |
• Prefecture-level city | 2,984,659 |
• Density | 210/km2 (540/sq mi) |
• Urban | 1,212,791 |
• Urban density | 210/km2 (540/sq mi) |
• Metro | 1,212,791 |
• Metro density | 210/km2 (540/sq mi) |
GDP [2] | |
• Prefecture-level city | CN¥ 55.4 billion US$ 8.9 billion |
• Per capita | CN¥ 16,743 US$ 2,688 |
Time zone | UTC+8 (China Standard) |
Postal code | 741000 |
Area code | 0938 |
ISO 3166 code | CN-GS-05 |
Licence plate prefixes | 甘E |
Website | tianshui |
Tianshui | |||||||||
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Chinese | 天水市 | ||||||||
Literal meaning | City of Sky and Water | ||||||||
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Qinzhou | |||||||||
Chinese | 秦州 | ||||||||
Postal | Tsinchow | ||||||||
Literal meaning | Qin Province | ||||||||
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Tianshui Commandery | |||||||||
Chinese | 天水郡 | ||||||||
Literal meaning | Commandery of Heaven and Water | ||||||||
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Hanyang Commandery | |||||||||
Simplified Chinese | 汉阳郡 | ||||||||
Traditional Chinese | 漢陽郡 | ||||||||
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Hanyang County | |||||||||
Simplified Chinese | 汉阳县 | ||||||||
Traditional Chinese | 漢陽縣 | ||||||||
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Tianshui is a prefecture-level city in Gansu province,China,and is the province's second-largest city (behind the provincial capital Lanzhou). Located in the southeast of the province,the city strides along the upper reaches of the Wei River and at the boundary of the Loess Plateau and the Qinling Mountains. As of the 2020 census,its population was 2,984,659 inhabitants,of which 1,212,791 lived in the built-up (or metro) area made of the 2 urban districts of Qinzhou and Maiji. [1] The city and its surroundings have played an important role in the early history of China,as still visible in the form of historic sites such as the Maijishan Grottoes.
Qin,whose House of Ying were the ruling family of the founding dynasty of Imperial China,developed from Quanqiu (present-day Lixian) to the south. After the invasions of the Rong which unseated the Western Zhou,Qin recovered the territory of Tianshui from the nomads. It became an important region of their duchy and,later,kingdom. [3] Characteristically Qin tombs have been excavated at Fangmatan nearby,including one 2200-year-old map of Qin's Gui County. [4]
Under the Qin Empire,the area was part of Longxi Commandery but the Emperor Wu of the Han separated the region as the Tianshui Commandery in 114 BC as part of his expansion towards the Tarim Basin. [5] The general Li Guang came from the city. The Han conquests and explorations eventually resulted in the development of the Northern Silk Road:Tianshui formed its junction with the Wei River,after which it followed the road past Mount Long to Chang'an (present-day Xi'an). [6] Nearby are the Maijishan Grottoes,filled with thousands of Buddhist sculptures representing figures such as Buddha and the original male form of Guanyin,produced between the Wei and Song dynasties by monks travelling along the road and by local Buddhists. [7]
During the Northern Wei,the city was known as Hanyang and was the center of the Hanyang Commandery. During the Western Wei,this name was changed to Hanyang County. During the Tang and Five Dynasties,the city of Tianshui was known as Shanggui (上邽). It alternated with Chengji (present-day Qin'an) as the capital of the province of Qinzhou (秦州). [8] Li County was separated from Tianshui's jurisdiction during the ninth year of Chenghua (AD 1473) during the Ming dynasty.
According to a legend,the name Tianshui (天水) originates from a lake formed from heaven,which would remain the same size year round. [5]
Map | ||||||
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Name | Hanzi | Hanyu Pinyin | Population (2004 est.) | Area (km2) | Density (/km2) | |
Qinzhou District | 秦州区 | Qínzhōu Qū | 650,000 | 2,442 | 266 | |
Maiji District | 麦积区 | MàijīQū | 580,000 | 3,452 | 188 | |
Qingshui County | 清水县 | QīngshuǐXiàn | 310,000 | 2,003 | 155 | |
Qin'an County | 秦安县 | Qín'ān Xiàn | 600,000 | 1,601 | 375 | |
Gangu County | 甘谷县 | GāngǔXiàn | 600,000 | 1,572 | 382 | |
Wushan County | 武山县 | Wǔshān Xiàn | 440,000 | 2,011 | 219 | |
Zhangjiachuan Hui Autonomous County | 张家川回族自治县 | Zhāngjiāchuān HuízúZìzhìxiàn | 320,000 | 1,311 | 244 |
Tianshui is located in the valley of the Jie River,a major tributary of the Wei River,and on the boundary between the Loess Plateau and Qinling Mountains. [9] [5] The city has a monsoon-influenced,cool semi-arid (Köppen BSk)/humid continental (Dwa) climate,with four distinct seasons of comparatively equal length. Winters are cold but dry,with January 24-hour average temperature of −1.5 °C (29.3 °F),while summers are warm and somewhat humid,with July 24-hour average temperature of 23.2 °C (73.8 °F). Much of the annual rainfall occurs from June to September,and the annual mean temperature is 11.44 °C (52.6 °F). With monthly percent possible sunshine ranging from 34% in September to 50% in December,the city receives 1,911 hours of bright sunshine annually.
Climate data for Tianshui,elevation 1,150 m (3,770 ft),(1991–2020 normals,extremes 1971–2010) | |||||||||||||
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Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °C (°F) | 12.1 (53.8) | 20.2 (68.4) | 27.0 (80.6) | 31.8 (89.2) | 33.9 (93.0) | 37.2 (99.0) | 38.2 (100.8) | 36.1 (97.0) | 36.2 (97.2) | 28.5 (83.3) | 21.6 (70.9) | 14.7 (58.5) | 38.2 (100.8) |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 4.3 (39.7) | 8.3 (46.9) | 14.3 (57.7) | 20.8 (69.4) | 24.6 (76.3) | 28.1 (82.6) | 29.8 (85.6) | 28.5 (83.3) | 22.8 (73.0) | 17.1 (62.8) | 11.3 (52.3) | 5.6 (42.1) | 18.0 (64.3) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | −1.3 (29.7) | 2.4 (36.3) | 7.8 (46.0) | 13.7 (56.7) | 17.7 (63.9) | 21.5 (70.7) | 23.6 (74.5) | 22.5 (72.5) | 17.4 (63.3) | 11.5 (52.7) | 5.5 (41.9) | −0.2 (31.6) | 11.8 (53.3) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −5.2 (22.6) | −1.8 (28.8) | 2.9 (37.2) | 8.0 (46.4) | 12.0 (53.6) | 16.1 (61.0) | 18.6 (65.5) | 17.9 (64.2) | 13.7 (56.7) | 7.8 (46.0) | 1.6 (34.9) | −4.0 (24.8) | 7.3 (45.1) |
Record low °C (°F) | −19.2 (−2.6) | −16.6 (2.1) | −10.0 (14.0) | −6.4 (20.5) | 1.8 (35.2) | 5.5 (41.9) | 10.6 (51.1) | 8.4 (47.1) | 1.2 (34.2) | −5.1 (22.8) | −11.6 (11.1) | −17.4 (0.7) | −19.2 (−2.6) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 4.6 (0.18) | 6.8 (0.27) | 18.2 (0.72) | 35.2 (1.39) | 55.7 (2.19) | 63.3 (2.49) | 90.2 (3.55) | 84.0 (3.31) | 77.0 (3.03) | 43.9 (1.73) | 11.4 (0.45) | 3.3 (0.13) | 493.6 (19.44) |
Average precipitation days (≥0.1 mm) | 5.1 | 4.9 | 6.6 | 7.8 | 9.8 | 10.3 | 11.3 | 10.9 | 12.1 | 10.5 | 5.7 | 2.8 | 97.8 |
Average snowy days | 8.3 | 6.3 | 2.7 | 0.3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.1 | 2.1 | 5.0 | 24.8 |
Average relative humidity (%) | 61 | 60 | 57 | 55 | 59 | 63 | 67 | 70 | 75 | 76 | 71 | 64 | 65 |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 140.1 | 129.0 | 163.2 | 193.3 | 204.7 | 191.3 | 193.7 | 179.4 | 117.6 | 115.3 | 125.4 | 143.7 | 1,896.7 |
Percent possible sunshine | 44 | 41 | 44 | 49 | 47 | 44 | 44 | 44 | 32 | 33 | 41 | 47 | 43 |
Source:China Meteorological Administration [10] [11] [12] |
Due to the mild climate,Tianshui is a large producer of fruits,in particular apples. [13]
It is also a major industrial centre in Gansu province,especially regarding electronics. [13] Some major industries include:
Tianshui Maijishan Airport is located near the built up area.
Tianshui is currently serviced by Tianshui railway station on the Longhai Railway. The railway station is connected to downtown by the Tianshui Tram.
A new high-speed railway station,Tianshui South railway station,opened in 2017.
The Tianshui–Longnan railway is currently under construction and will add a north–south link to the county.
The Lianyungang–Khorgas Expressway connects Tianshui to Baoji/Xi'an in the east and Dingxi,Lanzhou towards the northwest and supersedes highway G310. G310 runs as a motorway within the urban centre.
Tianshui's signature dish is Guagua (呱呱),a sticky boiled buckwheat flour meal,seasoned with chili oil,sesame paste,mustard,oil,salt,vinegar and garlic paste. [17] The dish is normally eaten as a breakfast. [18] According to legends it was the imperial food during Han dynasty general Wei Xiao's rule. [19]
In early 2024 Tianshui malatang hot pot went viral online in China,attracting many tourists from all over the country to go and taste the dish. The numbing sensation of spiciness forms the "soul flavor" of Tianshui spicy hot pot. This "soul" comes from local specialty ingredients in Tianshui –Maiji peppercorns and Gangu chili peppers. [20] The viral phenomenon has been compared to the 2023 spring festival Zibo BBQ craze. [21]
Gansu is an inland province in Northwestern China. Its capital and largest city is Lanzhou,in the southeast part of the province.
Baiyin is a prefecture-level city in northeastern Gansu province,People's Republic of China. Established in the 1950s as a base for mining non-ferrous metals,its mines are becoming exhausted in recent decades,requiring the city to reinvent its economy. Located around 60 km (37 mi) from Gansu's capital Lanzhou,it is part of the Lanzhou-Baiyin Economic Belt.
Dingxi,also known as Longyou is a prefecture-level city in the southeast of Gansu province,People's Republic of China. As of the 2020 census,its population was 2,524,097 inhabitants,of which 422,383 lived in the built-up area made of Anding urban district.
Longnan is a prefecture-level city in the southeast of Gansu province in China. It borders Sichuan on its south and Shaanxi on its east. As of the 2020 Chinese census,the population of the prefecture-level city was 2,855,555.
Wuwei is a prefecture-level city in northwest central Gansu province. In the north it borders Inner Mongolia,in the southwest,Qinghai. Its central location between three western capitals,Lanzhou,Xining,and Yinchuan makes it an important business and transportation hub for the area. Because of its position along the Hexi Corridor,historically the only route from central China to western China and the rest of Central Asia,many major railroads and national highways pass through Wuwei.
Guyuan,formerly known as Xihaigu or Dayuan (大原),is a prefecture-level city in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China. It occupies the southernmost section of the region,bordering Gansu province to the east,south,and due west. This is also the site of Mount Sumeru Grottoes (须弥山),which is among the ten most famous grottoes in China. As of the end of 2018,the total resident population in Guyuan was 1,124,200.
Xifeng District is a district and the seat of the city of Qingyang in Gansu Province,China. It has an area of 996 km2 (385 sq mi) and a population of 376,800 in 2019.
Jingchuan County is a county under jurisdiction of the prefecture-level city of Pingliang,in the east of Gansu Province,China,bordering Shaanxi Province to the southeast. It has a land area of 1,486 square kilometers. The county is named after the Jing River. In 2020 it had a population of 356,200,over 300,000 of whom in the rural area.
Qin'an County is a county in the east of Gansu province,China. It is under the administration of the prefecture-level city of Tianshui. Its postal code is 741600,and in 1999 its population was 567,553 people. As of 2018,the population is 618,000 people. It is one of the poorest counties of Gansu,being appointed as one of 23 counties part of a provincial poverty alleviation project.
Gangu County is a county in the southeast of Gansu province,China. It is under the administration of Tianshui City and is the most populous county in Gansu. Its postal code is 741200,and in 1999 its population was 570,318 people.
Maiji District is a district of the prefecture-level city of Tianshui in the southeast of Gansu Province,China,bordering Shaanxi Province to the east. It is best known for,and named after,the Maijishan Grottoes. Before 2005 it was called Beidao District.
Jingyuan County is a county in the east of Gansu Province. It is under the administration of Baiyin City,and consists of two separate tracts of territory to the north and south of Pingchuan District. The northern tract borders Ningxia to the north. The southern area consists of an irrigated area around the Yellow River and the northern area is semi-arid highlands.
Ning County or Ningxian is a county in the east of Gansu province,China. It is under the administration of the prefecture-level city of Qingyang. Its postal code is 745200,and its population in 2018 was 561,240 people.
Weiyuan County is a county in Gansu province,China. It is under the administration of the prefecture-level city of Dingxi. Its postal code is 748200,and its population in 2018 was 345,000 people.
Li County or Lixian is an administrative division of the prefecture-level city of Longnan in southeastern Gansu,a northwestern province of China. The 2010 Chinese census found a population of 458,237,a decline of around 25,000 from the year 2000 but still placing it second in size within its prefecture.
Tianshui Maijishan Airport,or Tianshui Air Base,is a dual-use military and civil airport serving the city of Tianshui in Gansu Province,China. It is located in Maiji District of Tianshui,50 kilometres from the tourist destination of Maijishan after which it is named.
Dongcha railway station is a railway station on the Baoji–Lanzhou high-speed railway in Maiji District,Tianshui,Gansu. The station opened on 6 May 2019.
Tianshui Commandery,known as Hanyang Commandery during the Eastern Han dynasty,was a historical commandery of China in eastern Gansu. The modern city of Tianshui receives its name from the commandery.
Tianshui Tram is a light rail system consisting of one route in Qinzhou District and Maiji District,Tianshui,Gansu,China.
Weinan is a town of Maiji District,Tianshui,Gansu. It is located on the south bank of the Wei River around 20 km from Tianshui's urban area. The local residents descend from Shanxi's Locust tree of Hongtong immigrants.