Introduction to Huaihua City, Hunan
Basic Overview. Huaihua City is located in the southwest of Hunan Province, administering 10 counties, 1 city, 2 districts, one provincial development zone, and one provincial industrial park, with a total area of 27,600 square kilometers. In 2008, the total population was 5,046,300, with an urban population of 1,746,900 and an urbanization rate of 34.6%. The built-up area of the city center covers 50 square...
This article has been compiled from historical materials in the "Zhangjiajie Tour Guide Network" (33519.com · City Overview section). Some administrative divisions, population, socioeconomic data, and policy information may be outdated and are for reference only; for the latest situation, please refer to official releases by the local government and scenic areas.
Basic Overview
Huaihua City is located in the southwest of Hunan Province, administering 10 counties, 1 city, 2 districts, one provincial-level development zone and one provincial-level industrial park, with a total area of 27,600 square kilometers and a total population of 5,046,300 in 2008. The city's urban population is 1,746,900, with an urbanization level of 34.6%. Among this, the built-up area of the city center is 50 square kilometers with a population of 510,000. It is known as the 'Bridgehead of the Great Southwest, Primitive Ecological Botanical Garden, Museum of Ancient Architecture, Village of Multi-Ethnic Cultures, Birthplace of Hybrid Rice, and the Memorial Archway for the Victory of the War of Resistance.'
Huaihua has unique geographical conditions and obvious transportation advantages. Since ancient times, it has been known as the 'Gateway to Guizhou and Yunnan' and the 'Throat of All Chu,' serving as the bridgehead from the eastern and central regions to the great southwest and an important domestic transportation hub city. It has long been called the 'Gateway to Yunnan and Guizhou' and the 'Throat of All Chu.' On the map of the Republic, Huaihua is a young city that is rising. It did not have the special zone policies of the eastern coastal areas in the 1970s, nor the special preferential policies of the western development in the 1990s. It relied on the miracle created starting from the Hunan-Guizhou and Zhicheng-Liuzhou railways that run from east to west and north to south. Today, the Jiaozuo-Liuzhou, Hunan-Guizhou, and with the opening of the Chongqing-Huaihua Railway in recent years, the railways have formed a a 'big-character' shape converging in Huaihua, running through 11 counties (cities, districts) within the city; every day more than 50 pairs of passenger trains and 115 pairs of freight trains originate and pass through, sending 3.42 million passengers and 520,000 tons of cargo annually; the Huaihua railway marshalling station has a marshalling capacity of 7,300 train cars, making it one of China's nine major railway marshalling stations; trains can reach Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Wuhan, Chengdu, Kunming, Chongqing and other major cities directly; the highway network framework has basically taken shape, with 7,800 kilometers of roads open to traffic within the city. National Highways 320 and 209 converge in the urban area, and the three national highways 320, 209, and 319 pass through 12 counties (cities, districts). The Shanghai-Kunming and Changsha-Jishou expressways pass through the territory, and the Baotou-Maoming and Loudi-Huaihua expressways have successively begun construction; Zhijiang Airport has resumed flights, with routes to Changsha, Beijing, and Guangzhou already opened, and efforts will be made to build it into Hunan's second largest aviation port. The Yuanjiang water transport connects to the sea via rivers. With the upcoming construction of the Shanghai-Kunming Passenger Dedicated Line and the planned eastward extension of the Chongqing-Huaihua Railway (the Huaihua-Yongzhou-Chenzhou and Huaihua-Shaoyang-Hengyang railways), and the expansion of Zhijiang Airport, the four-in-one three-dimensional transportation network will become increasingly complete. In the near future, Huaihua's access to the west and east, and to the north and south will be even more convenient; two national-level communication optical cables, Fuzhou-Chengdu and Hohhot-Beihai, converge in the urban area. The superior location and convenient transportation have made Huaihua an important economic and cultural center for talent exchange, material flow, and information gathering in the surrounding areas of the five provinces (municipalities, autonomous regions) of Hunan, Hubei, Chongqing, Guizhou, and Guangxi.
Abundant natural resources and huge development potential. It is the main body of one of China's top ten hydropower bases, with theoretical hydropower reserves of 4.99 million kilowatts and exploitable capacity of 4.6 million kilowatts. Hydropower stations such as Wuqiangxi, Fengtan, and Hongjiang have been built, with a total installed capacity of 3.2 million kilowatts; it is one of the key forest regions in southern China, with a forest coverage rate of 65.3% and a standing timber volume of 55.1 million cubic meters, ranking first in Hunan Province. There are 1,909 species of medicinal plants, of which 175 are listed as national key Chinese medicinal material resources, and the output of tuckahoe and gastrodia elata ranks first in the country; the fruit planting area is 56,900 hectares, with an annual fruit output of 590,000 tons; preliminary exploration has identified 11 categories and 45 types of mineral deposits with certain reserves, with total reserves of 2.89 billion tons. Among them, the reserves of gold, copper, and phosphorus rank first, third, and fourth in Hunan Province respectively, and barite mineral reserves rank among the top in the country. The potential value of mineral resources within the city exceeds 500 billion yuan.
Long history, rich folk customs, and beautiful natural scenery. Historical records describe Huaihua as the land of the 'Five Streams.' Cultural relics and historic sites such as Hongjiang Gaomiao, Qiancheng Furong Tower, Hongjiang Ancient Commercial City, Yuanling Qianzhong Prefecture, Erqiu Cave, Longxing Temple, Tongdao Yutou Dong Village, Zhijiang Memorial Archway for the Victory of the War of Resistance, Tianhou Palace, Huitong Gaoyi Folk Houses, and Zhongfang Jingping Ancient Village, as well as natural landscapes such as the Chenjiatan 'Thousand Island Lake' formed by the impoundment of the Wuqiangxi Hydropower Station reservoir, the famous Danxia landform group—Tongdao Wanfo Mountain, and the karst cave wonder—Chenxi Yanzidong, are renowned far and wide. The 46 ethnic minorities including the Dong and Miao, with their uniquely artistic multi-ethnic culture and ethnic customs, attract countless people.
Industrial development has a certain foundation, and pillar industries are gradually growing. In 2006, Huaihua's GDP was 33.41 billion yuan, with the proportion of primary, secondary, and tertiary industries at 22.5:32.7:45.8. Advantageous agriculture such as high-quality rice, fruits, medicinal materials, oil crops, and livestock and aquaculture has initially taken shape. Pillar industries such as pharmaceuticals, forest products, food, electricity, and electrochemicals have begun to take scale and are constantly growing. The tertiary industry, mainly commerce and logistics, has developed rapidly. There are 360 various specialized wholesale markets of a certain scale in the city, 30 star-rated hotels, and 23 travel agencies. In 2006, the total retail sales of consumer goods reached 11.31 billion yuan, and 5.2 million tourists were received.
The central city has begun to take shape, and its radiating and driving capacity has gradually strengthened. Huaihua has put forward the strategic goal of "building a commercial and logistics center and constructing an ecologically livable city," and established the development strategy of "science and technology leading the way, transportation going first, invigorating industry and commerce, and enriching the people and strengthening the city." By 2010, the framework of Huaihua as a regional modern commercial and logistics center had basically taken shape, and the characteristics of an ecologically livable city had initially emerged; by 2015, its position as a regional modern commercial and logistics center had basically been established, the supporting functions of the central city had become more complete, and the characteristics of an ecologically livable city had become more prominent; by 2020, the regional modern commercial and logistics center had been fully completed, ecological livability had become a beautiful calling card for Huaihua, and its strategic position as a regional central city had basically been established. Closely focusing on the overall goal of "building a regional central city on the periphery of five provinces (municipalities and autonomous regions)," the pace of urban construction has been further strengthened, the urban economic circle has developed relatively rapidly, and the GDP of the urban area has exceeded 4 billion yuan. In particular, the rapid development of the tertiary industry, mainly focused on commerce and trade circulation, has expanded the economic reach of this central city to a vast area covering 44 counties around the borders of five provinces (municipalities and autonomous regions)—Hunan, Hubei, Chongqing, Guizhou, and Guangxi—spanning about 90,000 square kilometers and a population of 15 million. In the 2002 survey on "comprehensive urban strength" conducted by the National Urban Survey Team, Huaihua ranked 73rd among 265 prefecture-level cities nationwide and 4th among the 14 cities and prefectures in the province. In 2007, it was selected as one of China's top 200 cities with distinctive charm.
Entering the new century, Huaihua will, with a more open attitude, more preferential policies, and more quality services, expect and welcome domestic and overseas businessmen to invest and start businesses in Huaihua and seek common development!
License plate number: Xiang N Telephone area code: 0745 City abbreviation: Hecheng
Transportation Conditions
Huaihua is the gateway to southwestern Hunan and a transportation hub. Most tourists traveling to and from Zhangjiajie from Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan, Guangxi, Shanghai, and other places transit through here. Huaihua City is known as 'the city dragged here by trains.' The important national railway arteries, the Xiangqian Railway and the Jiaoliu Line, as well as the under-construction Yuhuai Railway, intersect in the urban area in the shape of the Chinese character 'da.' Currently, there are 10 pairs of passenger trains originating from and terminating at Huaihua every day, and 13 pairs of transit passenger trains. The Xiangqian and Zhiliu railways and National Highways 320 and 209 intersect in a cross shape at Huaihua City. The railways within the territory are 524 kilometers long, running through 12 counties and cities. National Highways 320 and 209 reach the entire territory. The city's total road mileage open to traffic is 6,136 kilometers, the longest total among all prefecture-level cities in Hunan Province. The year-round navigable mileage for water transport is 1,131 kilometers. Taking a train from Huaihua, you can go east directly to Hangzhou and Shanghai, north directly to Zhengzhou and Beijing, south directly to Zhanjiang and Guangzhou, and west directly to Chengdu and Kunming. The Yuhuai Railway, part of the national 'Ninth Five-Year Plan', will intersect at Huaihua City and is about to begin construction; Zhijiang Airport in the area has already resumed flights. Huaihua has become an important transportation hub in China connecting east and west and running through north and south.
Transportation to Various Scenic Spots within Huaihua
Huaihua—Qiancheng: Take a bus at Huaihua South Bus Station. The journey is about 40 kilometers, and the fare is 7 yuan.
Huaihua—Yuanling: Take a bus at Huaihua Bus Station. The journey is about 180 kilometers, and the fare is 32 yuan.
Huaihua—Xupu: Take a bus at the Huaihua Central Bus Station; the journey is 140 kilometers.
Huaihua—Tongdao: At 10:00 a.m., take Train No. 8403 from Huaihua Railway Station (a 4-hour ride) to Xianxi Town; the ticket price is 11 yuan, then transfer to a bus to Tongdao; the ticket price is 7 yuan.
Railway Information Inquiry Line: 2585
Civil Aviation Information Inquiry Line: 2580
Administrative Divisions
Huaihua borders Guangxi (Guilin, Liuzhou) to the south and Guizhou (Tongren, Qiandongnan) to the west, and adjoins the Hunan cities of Shaoyang, Loudi, Yiyang, Changde, and Zhangjiajie as well as the Xiangxi Miao and Tujia Autonomous Prefecture.
Huaihua Shi
0745
431200
418000
Hecheng District
As of December 31, 2005, Huaihua City administered 1 municipal district, 5 counties, and 5 autonomous counties, and oversaw 1 county-level city on its behalf.
Hecheng District
Area: 729 square kilometers; population: 510,000. Postal code: 418000. The district people's government is located on Jinhai Avenue.
Hongjiang City
Area: 2,279 square kilometers; population: 500,000. Postal code: 418200. The city people's government is located in Qiancheng Town.
Yuanling County
Area: 5,825 square kilometers; population: 630,000. Postal code: 419600. The county people's government is located in Yuanling Town.
Chenxi County
Area: 1,977 square kilometers; population: 500,000. Postal code: 419500. The county people's government is located in Chenyang Town.
Xupu County
Area: 3,438 square kilometers; population: 850,000. Postal code: 419300. The county people's government is located in Lufeng Town.
Zhongfang County
Area: 1,467 square kilometers; population: 260,000. Postal code: 418005. The county people's government is located in Zhongfang Town.
Huitong County
Area: 2,245 square kilometers; population: 340,000. Postal code: 418300. The county people's government is located in Lincheng Town.
Mayang Miao Autonomous County
Area: 1,561 square kilometers; population: 360,000. Postal code: 419400. The autonomous county people's government is located in Gaocun Town.
Xinhuang Dong Autonomous County
Area: 1,511 square kilometers; population: 250,000. Postal code: 419200. The autonomous county people's government is located in Xinhuang Town.
Zhijiang Dong Autonomous County
Area: 2,096 square kilometers; population: 360,000. Postal code: 419100. The autonomous county people's government is located in Zhijiang Town.
Jingzhou Miao and Dong Autonomous County
Area: 2,211 square kilometers; population: 260,000. Postal code: 418400. The autonomous county people's government is located in Quyang Town.
Tongdao Dong Autonomous County
Area: 2,225 square kilometers; population: 220,000. Postal code: 418500. The autonomous county people's government is located in Shuangjiang Town.
Physical Geography
Geographically, Huaihua borders Guangxi (Guilin, Liuzhou) to the south and Guizhou (Tongren, Qiandongnan) to the west, and adjoins the Hunan cities of Shaoyang, Loudi, Yiyang, Changde, and Zhangjiajie as well as the Xiangxi Miao and Tujia Autonomous Prefecture. It has long been known as the "Gateway to Guizhou and Yunnan" and the "Throat of All Chu," and today enjoys the reputation of being Hunan's "West Gate."
Huaihua lies between the Wuling Mountains and the Xuefeng Mountains, with the Yuan River running through its entire territory from south to north. Huaihua's terrain is complex, with mountains and waters interspersed, and scenery everywhere—one might say the view changes with every step. Huaihua's forest coverage rate is as high as 65.3%, far above the national average (less than 20%), making it one of the country's nine major ecologically sound regions.
Huaihua is a sea of mountains. The Xuefeng Mountains and the Wuling Mountains wind their way along, with a momentum like a rainbow in flight; towering peaks and ridges are lush with trees, and the hills and fields are fragrant with melons and fruits. Forests are the pillar of the ecosystem, and what supports the forests are the mountain ranges. The city's 29.21 million mu of mountainous land, stretching across 70% of its territory, is in fact a green treasure house and a beautiful landscape. At present, the city's standing timber volume is 53.57 million cubic meters, the highest in the province; its forested land area reaches 23.6 million mu, the largest in the province; and its forest coverage rate reaches 64.1%, far above the provincial, national, and even global averages, making it a key forest region in southern China. The border mountain region of Hunan, Guizhou, Sichuan, and Hubei, with Huaihua as its main body, has been listed by the National Outline for Ecological and Environmental Protection as one of nine ecologically sound regions.
Xuefeng Mountains
Starting from north of Foding Mountain in Yuecheng Ridge, it runs northward through the counties and cities of Chengbu, Hongjiang, Xupu, and Anhua, extending more than 200 kilometers. It takes an arc shape. The main ridge of the mountain body lies at an elevation of 1,000–1,500 meters, and the highest peak, Subaoding Mountain, is located within Hongjiang City at an elevation of 1,934 meters. The western slope of the Xuefeng Mountains is gentler, while the eastern slope is steeper, making it a natural dividing line between the eastern and western halves of Hunan, as well as the watershed between the Zishui and Yuan Rivers.
Wuling Mountains
The Wuling Mountains are the eastern extension of the Yunwu Mountain branch of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau. They run from north to east and are distributed across northwestern Hunan. Their elevation is mostly 800–1,200 meters. Among them are more than 200 peaks above 1,000 meters in elevation, and the highest peak, Huping Mountain, is 2,098.7 meters above sea level, with a tall and majestic mountain form. The northern branch of the range, distributed along the Hunan-Sichuan-Hubei border, includes Bamian Mountain, Badagong Mountain, Qinglong Mountain, Dongshan Peak, and Huping Mountain; the central branch, along the north of the main course of the Lishui River, includes Tianxing Mountain, Hongxing Mountain, Chaotianguan, Zhangjiajie, and Baiyun Mountain; and the southern branch, extending from within Guizhou Province into the province, includes La'er Mountain, Yangfeng Mountain, Tianmen Mountain, Dalong Mountain, and Liutai Mountain. The above three branches all disappear into the Dongting Lake Plain.
Water energy resources are abundant. Streams and rivers are densely distributed throughout the city, with more than 800 in total, and most have fast flow and large drops. One third of the basin area of the Yuan River, Hunan's longest river, lies within the city. The city's theoretical water energy reserves are 3.465 million kilowatts, accounting for one quarter of the province's total, and it belongs to the main body of one of the country's 10 major hydropower bases.
Yuan River
The Yuan River, also known as the Yuan Shui, is the second-largest river in Hunan, a province in central-south China. It has two sources: the southern source, the Longtou River, rises in the Yunwu Mountains of Duyun, Guizhou Province; the northern source, the Chong'an River, originates in the great mountains of Pingyuejian in Majiang County, Guizhou Province. After the two sources merge, the river is called the Qingshui River. It enters Zhijiang County, Hunan Province at Luanshan, flows east to the confluence with the Wushui River at Qiancheng in Hongjiang City, where it becomes known as the Yuan River. It then flows through the counties and cities of Huitong, Hongjiang, Zhongfang, Xupu, Chenxi, Luxi, Yuanling, Taoyuan, and Changde, before emptying into Dongting Lake at Deshan in Changde. The main stream has a total length of 1,033 kilometers (568 kilometers in Hunan), with a drainage area of 89,163 square kilometers, of which 51,066 square kilometers lie in Hunan Province. Its multi-year average runoff is 39.33 billion cubic meters.
Huaihua, with its abundant resources and convenient transportation, holds enormous advantages for economic development. It is rich in mountain resources, with a total mountain area of 33.14 million mu, accounting for 79.8% of its total land area. The city's timber volume accounts for more than a quarter of the province's total, making it an important forest region and timber production base in southern China. It has a great variety of tree species, with over 740 species of trees, shrubs, and woody vines, of which 39 are under national key protection. There are 72 varieties of fruit, with fragrant fruit available in all four seasons, and an annual output of over 7 million dan. The city has more than 1,700 species of medicinal plants, among which the output of fuling (Poria) and tianma (Gastrodia) ranks first in the province, and the export volume of fuling accounts for more than 60% of the national total.
It is rich in mineral resources. The city has proven deposits of 45 types of minerals in 11 categories, including gold, copper, coal, phosphorus, antimony, and manganese, accounting for 41.6% of the mineral types discovered in the province. Among these, barite reserves account for more than 80% of the province's total, and gold reserves account for 20% of the province's total, ranking first in the province; phosphate rock reserves exceed 400 million tons, ranking third in the province; and mullite deposits are rare nationwide. It is rich in hydropower resources. The city is densely covered with streams and rivers, with more than 800 in total, most of which have fast flows and large drops. The Yuan River, the longest river in Hunan, has one-third of its drainage area within the city. The city's theoretical hydropower reserves total 3.465 million kilowatts, accounting for a quarter of the province's total, and it lies in the main zone of one of China's 10 major hydropower bases. It is rich in tourism resources. Huaihua City borders Wulingyuan to the north, Guilin to the south, Taohuayuan to the east, and the Fanjing Mountain scenic area to the west, making it one of the province's 16 tourism zones.
Historical Evolution
In the Song Dynasty, Huaihua Fort was established with the meaning of "pacifying and winning over" (huairou guihua). In 1942, it was established as a county. On November 29, 1998, the State Council approved the abolition of Huaihua Prefecture and Huaihua County-level City, and the establishment of prefecture-level Huaihua City.
Huaihua City (referring to prefecture-level Huaihua City, the same below) has a long history. As far back as the Neolithic Age, ancestors lived and multiplied here, with sites found throughout all counties of the city, and the cultural relics unearthed from these sites are extremely rich. In ancient times, it was part of Jingzhou in the Nine Provinces of Yu Gong. However, it was not until the late Spring and Autumn period, when the State of Chu developed the Hunan region southward and began to conquer the area of present-day Guizhou, that rule was established. During the Warring States period, Chu established Qianzhong Commandery, and the territory of Huaihua City basically belonged to Chu's Qianzhong Commandery.
In the 27th year of King Zhaoxiang of Qin (208 BCE), Sima Cuo was dispatched to send troops against Chu, capturing the territory of Chu's Qianzhong Commandery. In the 30th year, Qianzhong Commandery was reestablished, with its seat of government at present-day Yuanling County. Today, at Yaotou Village south of Yuanling County seat, there are ruins of the ancient city of Qin's Qianzhong Commandery. However, the situation of county establishment at that time can no longer be verified.
After the fall of Qin, the Western Han regime was established, and the territory of Huaihua City belonged to Wuling Commandery under the jurisdiction of Jingzhou Inspector. However, the commandery seat was moved to Yiling, which is present-day south of Xupu County seat. The counties established mainly included: Yuanling (present-day Yuanling, Luxi, and Mayang county areas), Tancheng (present-day Hecheng District, Zhongfang County, and Hongjiang City, as well as the areas of Jingzhou, Huitong, Tongdao, and Suining counties, extending into Guizhou Province), Wuyang (present-day Zhijiang, Xinhuang counties, and Hecheng District, also extending into Guizhou Province), Chenyang (present-day Chenxi, Mayang, Huayuan, Fenghuang counties, and Hecheng District, also extending into Guizhou Province), and Yiling (present-day Xupu County area). In the Eastern Han Dynasty, Wuling Commandery's seat was moved to Linyuan (present-day Changde urban area). In the 6th year of Jianwu (30 CE), Wuyang and Yiling counties were abolished and merged into Chenyang County.
During the Three Kingdoms period, it belonged to Sun Wu and remained part of Wuling Commandery. Thereafter, there were many changes. In the Eastern Jin Dynasty, Tancheng County was abolished and merged into Wuyang County. In the Southern Qi Dynasty, Wuyang County was renamed Wuyang County (with a different character). In the Southern Liang Dynasty, Chenyang County was renamed Jianchang County, and Wuyang County was renamed Longbiao County. Nanyang Commandery was established, with its seat at Jianchang; Yuanling County was split off to establish Yelang Commandery. In the Southern Chen Dynasty, Jianchang County was restored to the name Chenyang County, and Wuling Commandery was split to establish Yuanling Commandery.
After the Sui Dynasty unified the country, the territory of Huaihua City belonged to Wuling Commandery and Yuanling Commandery.
In the Tang Dynasty, prefectures and commanderies were both used. To strengthen supervision and management of prefectures and commanderies, Emperor Taizong in the 10th year of Zhenguan (636) divided the realm into 10 circuits based on mountains and rivers, and during Emperor Xuanzong's reign this was increased to 15 circuits. The territory of Huaihua City belonged to Qianzhong Circuit, with its seat at present-day Pengshui County, Chongqing. The prefectures and commanderies established in the territory of Huaihua City included: Chenzhou Luxi Commandery, with its seat at Yuanling; Jinzhou Luyang Commandery, with its seat at Luyang (present-day Mayang County area); Xuzhou Tanyang Commandery, with its seat at Longbiao (present-day Hongjiang City area); Jiangzhou Longxi Commandery, with its seat at Eshan (present-day Xinhuang County area); and Huangzhou, a loosely governed prefecture (jimi zhou), with its seat at present-day Liangsan in Xinhuang County. In addition to the existing Yuanling and Longbiao (renamed from Longbiao), newly established counties included Xupu (present-day county area), Mayang (present-day Mayang and Fenghuang county areas), Luyang (present-day southwest Mayang County), Zhaoyu (present-day northeast Mayang County and Fenghuang County area), Langxi (present-day Hongjiang City and Jingzhou, Huitong, and Tongdao county areas), Tanyang (present-day Zhijiang County and Hecheng District and Zhongfang County areas), Eshan (present-day Xinhuang County area), and Weixi (present-day Xinhuang and Zhijiang county areas).
During the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, Ma Yin founded the State of Chu within Hunan, and the territory of Huaihua City was divided among Chenzhou, Jinzhou, Xuzhou, and other prefectures.
In the Song Dynasty, the territory of Huaihua City belonged to Jinghu North Circuit, with its seat at Ezhou (present-day Wuchang). It was basically divided among the three prefectures of Chen, Yuan, and Jing. The counties established mainly included Yuanling, Xupu, Chenxi, Mayang, Luyang (reestablished from Tanyang County territory; present-day Zhijiang, Xinhuang, and Hecheng District areas), Qianyang (first established at Qianjiang City, later reestablished as Qianyang County), Yongping (first changed from Yuanzhou Guanbao Fort to Quyang County, later renamed; in the 8th year of Shaoxing it was merged into Jingzhou as the prefectural seat; present-day Jing County), and Huitong (renamed from Sanjiang County; present-day county area).
In the Yuan Dynasty, the territory of Huaihua City belonged to the Jiangnan Hubei Circuit of the Huguang Branch Secretariat, divided among Chenzhou Route (Song Dynasty's Chenzhou), Yuanzhou Route (Song Dynasty's Yuanzhou), and Jingzhou Route (Song Dynasty's Jingzhou).
In the Ming Dynasty, it belonged to the Huguang Provincial Administration Commission (seat at Wuchang). Below the province, routes were changed to prefectures, and prefectures governed sub-prefectures and counties, with some sub-prefectures directly under the provincial administration commission and also governing counties. The territory of Huaihua City belonged to Chenzhou Prefecture (seat at Yuanling) and Jingzhou (a directly administered sub-prefecture).
In the 3rd year of Kangxi in the Qing Dynasty, Hunan was established as a province, and the territory of Huaihua City was assigned to Hunan Province, under the Chen-Yuan-Yong-Jing Circuit. Chenzhou Prefecture was established, with its seat at Yuanling, governing Yuanling County, Chenxi County, Luxi County, and Xupu County; Yuanzhou Prefecture, with its seat at Zhijiang County (the county assistant stationed at Yushuwan), governing Zhijiang County, Qianyang County, and Mayang County; Jingzhou Directly Administered Sub-prefecture, with its own jurisdiction, governing Huitong County, Tongdao County, and Suining County; in the 21st year of Jiaqing (1816), Huangzhou Fort of Zhijiang County was split off to establish Huangzhou Directly Administered Sub-prefecture.
After the establishment of the Republic of China, prefectures were abolished and counties retained, with the "circuit" level preserved. The Qing Dynasty's Chen-Yuan-Yong-Jing Circuit was changed to Chen-Yuan Circuit, Jingzhou Directly Administered Sub-prefecture was changed to Jing County, and Huangzhou Directly Administered Sub-prefecture was changed to Huang County. In the 11th year of the Republic (1922), the circuit system was abolished, leaving only the province and county levels. In the 24th year of the Republic (1935), the Xiangxi Pacification Zone was established at Yuanling, and the 19 designated counties within the pacification scope were divided into 5 administrative inspection districts: Cishi-Yong, Yuan-Lu-Chen-Xu, Yong-Bao-Long-Sang, Zhi-Qian-Ma-Huang, and Qian-Feng-Gu-Sui. In the 25th year of the Republic (1936), commissioner offices were formally established. Six counties—Lixian, Linli, Jingxian, Huitong, Suining, and Tongdao—were incorporated, forming 4 administrative inspection commissioner offices together with the original 19 counties, with commissioner offices respectively located at Yuanling, Cili, Qiancheng, and Qianyang. The administrative inspection commissioner offices were agencies dispatched by the provincial government, exercising provincial government authority on its behalf.
In December of the 26th year of the Republic (1937), administrative inspection commissioner offices were universally established throughout the province, with commissioners concurrently serving as county magistrates of their station locations. Among these, the Third District governed 7 counties—Yuanling, Dayong, Sangzhi, Xupu, Yongshun, Luxi, and Chenxi—with the commissioner stationed at Yuanling; the Seventh District governed 7 counties—Qianyang, Suining, Huitong, Zhijiang, Jingxian, Tongdao, and Huangxian—with the commissioner stationed at Qianyang; Mayang County belonged to the Fourth District. In April of the 29th year of the Republic (1940), the province was again redivided into ten administrative inspection districts. Among these, the Ninth Administrative Inspection District, with its seat at Yuanling, governed Yuanling County, Xupu County, Chenxi County, Fenghuang County, Qiancheng County, Yongshui County, Luxi County, and Mayang County; the Tenth Administrative Inspection District, with its seat at Hongjiang City in Huitong County, governed Huitong County, Zhijiang County, Suining County, Qianyang County, Huangxian County, Jingxian County, Tongdao County, and Huaihua County (established as a county in 1942).
After the peaceful liberation of Hunan in 1949, the original administrative inspection districts were changed to "administrative commissioner administrative office districts," abbreviated as "prefectures." The original Ninth and Tenth Districts were changed to Yuanling Prefecture and Huitong Prefecture. The Xiangxi Administrative Region was also established, governing Yongshun, Yuanling, and Huitong prefectures. At the same time, the seat of Huaihua County was moved from Huaihua Post Station (Luyang Town) to Yushuwan, and the seat of Qianyang County was moved from Qiancheng Town to Anjiang Town.
In March 1950, the seat of Huitong County was moved from Hongjiang Town to the present-day Chengguan Town; in October, Hongjiang City was established with the administrative area of Hongjiang Town in Huitong County.
In September 1952, the Xiangxi Administrative Region and its three subordinate prefectures were abolished, and the Xiangxi Miao Autonomous Region and Zhijiang Prefecture were established. Zhijiang Prefecture governed Hongjiang City and 12 counties: Zhijiang, Qianyang, Xupu, Suining, Tongdao, Jingxian, Huitong, Huangxian, Huaihua, Mayang, Chenxi, and Yuanling. In November of the same year, Zhijiang Prefecture was renamed Qianyang Prefecture, and the administrative office seat was moved from Zhijiang to Anjiang Town in Qianyang County. The administrative area of present-day Huaihua City had basically taken shape.
In June 1953, Hongjiang City was abolished and merged into Qianyang County, and the seat of Qianyang County was moved from Anjiang Town to Hongjiang Town. In September of the same year, Hongjiang City was reestablished.
In May 1954, Tongdao County was abolished and Tongdao Dong Autonomous County was established.
In June 1956, Huangxian County was abolished and Xinhuang Dong Autonomous County was established, with Huangxian County and part of Zhijiang County as its administrative area.
In June 1958, Suining County of Qianyang Prefecture was transferred to Shaoyang Prefecture.
In March 1959, Jingxian County was abolished and merged into Tongdao Dong Autonomous County.
In July 1961, Anjiang City was established, with Anjiang Town of Qianyang County and some surrounding areas as its administrative area. It was abolished in October 1962. At the same time, Jingxian County was reestablished.
In May 1963, Hongjiang City was abolished and merged into Qianyang County.
From the late 1960s to the early 1970s, administrative commissioner offices were changed to regional administrative offices, abbreviated as "regions."
On December 30, 1978, the seat of Qianyang Prefecture was moved from Qianyang County to Yushuwan Town in Huaihua County, and renamed Huaihua Town.
On April 4, 1979, Huaihua City was established, with Huaihua Town and Yingke Commune of Huaihua County as its administrative area. On September 1 of the same year, Hongjiang City was reestablished.
On June 30, 1981, Qianyang Prefecture was renamed Huaihua Prefecture.
On December 24, 1982, Huaihua County was abolished and merged into Huaihua City.
On September 22, 1986, Zhijiang County was abolished and Zhijiang Dong Autonomous County was established.
On February 19, 1987, Jingxian County was abolished and Jingzhou Miao and Dong Autonomous County was established.
On October 31, 1988, Mayang County was abolished and Mayang Miao Autonomous County was established.
On November 29, 1997, Huaihua Prefecture was abolished and prefecture-level Huaihua City was established. Huaihua City governs Yuanling County, Chenxi County, Xupu County, Huitong County, Mayang Miao Autonomous County, Xinhuang Dong Autonomous County, Zhijiang Dong Autonomous County, Jingzhou Miao and Dong Autonomous County, Tongdao Dong Autonomous County, and the newly established Zhongfang County and Hecheng District from the original Huaihua Prefecture. The original Qianyang County and Hongjiang City were merged, and the newly established Hongjiang City has its seat at Qiancheng Town, directly under the province, with Huaihua City exercising administrative authority on its behalf.
In 1999, a mass incident occurred in Xiongxi Town (formerly Hongjiang City) of Hongjiang City. To quell the situation, the administrative area of the former Hongjiang City (excluding the former Qiancheng Township) was separated from the new Hongjiang City, and the Huaihua City Hongjiang Management District was established as a dispatched agency of the Huaihua Municipal Government.
Local Customs and Traditions
Supporting-Cup Wine: Supporting-cup wine is a lively and moving scene at a Dong banquet. It embodies the spirit of mutual help between host and guest — the host helps the host's side, the guest helps the guest's side, and the guest helps the host. When toasting, whether the host toasts any guest or a guest toasts any of the host's relatives, both sides — whether one or two people, or ten or eight — in short, any number — will come to help their own side toast the other. Those who help are called 'supporters,' and the act is called 'supporting.' When a supporting situation forms, the initiators on both sides must first drink the other side's 'supporting cup' before drinking the toast. The 'supporting cup' cannot be refused — refusal is disrespect to the supporter. For those who cannot hold their liquor, if ten or eight people come to support, even taking just a tiny sip from each supporting cup shows respect to the supporters; otherwise, one will be drunk under the table.
Zhuanlong Wine: Zhuanlong Wine is also called Changing the Dragon Head. It is another lively scene at a Dong family banquet. Zhuanlong Wine is proposed by a representative of either the host or the main guests, and the proposer is called the 'Dragon Head'. When the 'Dragon Head' proposes that everyone drink Zhuanlong Wine, the entire table stands up, raises their cups, and the 'Dragon Head' leads the drinking first, then it goes from left to right or right to left. When passing to the right, the person to the left of the 'Dragon Head' is the 'Dragon Tail'; when passing to the left, the person to the right of the 'Dragon Head' is the 'Dragon Tail'. After the 'Dragon Head' drinks it dry, one by one they drink in sequence. If any person in the 'Dragon Body' does not drink it dry, they must be punished. When drinking Zhuanlong Wine, because it can rotate left and right, the 'Dragon Head' can become the 'Dragon Tail', and the 'Dragon Tail' can become the 'Dragon Head'. Anyone at the entire table can be the 'Dragon Head' or the 'Dragon Tail'. In this way, it goes back and forth, with endless variations.
Reunion Wine: The Dong people's reunion wine is quite unique. Unlike ordinary reunion wine, where the host proposes toasts and everyone raises their glasses and drinks it all at once, here the host proposes, and everyone at the table picks up their cup, passing it from the right to the next person's lips: the second person drinks from the first person's cup, the third drinks from the second's, the fourth from the third's, and so on. At this time, the host leads the call: 'Everyone, come on!' and the whole table responds in unison, 'Drink! Wuhu!' In this way, the whole table drinks together, draining their cups in one go. The banquet then disperses.
Helong Wine: Helong Wine is the highest-standard banquet for the Dong villages or clans to collectively receive distinguished guests. It is generally held only during grand celebratory events in a village or clan, when senior guests and neighboring visitors are invited. When held by a village, the Helong banquet is usually set up in the drum tower of the village; when held by a clan, it is generally conducted in the corridor of a relatively spacious farmhouse. The arrangement of the banquet is called 'stretching the long table.' Eight or ten square tables are connected in a long line, and some use wide wooden planks laid end to end. The wine, rice, and dishes for the Helong banquet are contributed by each household in the village or clan, bringing their best rice wine or bitter wine, best glutinous rice or ciba, best cured meat, cured fish, pickled vegetables, or stir-fries, carried in bamboo baskets or wicker baskets, and pooled together for a common feast. It can be said to be wine from a hundred families, rice from a hundred families, and dishes from a hundred families, each showing its own excellence. The scale of the Helong banquet is determined by the number of guests, generally requiring a one-to-one ratio of hosts to guests. The hosting side also arranges a group of young women to stand by, responsible for pouring wine, toasting, and singing toast songs to the guests. Large-scale ones have one or two hundred people, while small ones have dozens.
Before the Helong banquet begins, the host must organize a welcome ceremony outside the village gate. The first item is firing 'salute cannons (iron cannons)' and playing 'sheng songs'; the second item is setting up 'gate-blocking wine' at the village gate or house door; the third item is offering a bowl of Dong oil tea. After these procedures are completed, they formally take their seats. The seating arrangement for the Helong banquet is generally alternating one guest and one host, or guests and hosts facing each other. Once seated, the banquet begins. First, the representative of the headmen from the host village or clan gives a toast speech, then leads the shout 'Drink all together!' and the guests and hosts respond in unison, 'Drink, drink!' The whole table raises their cups and drains them in one go. Then, hosts and guests formally eat and drink. They toast each other, chat and exchange thoughts, and make friends.
During the banquet, they toast each other according to the six procedures of Dong toasting, back and forth, drinking until fully satisfied. The toast girls, in pairs or groups of three, hold wine cups and toast the guests one by one, singing toast (persuasion) songs as they do. The Dong girls' lyrics, blending emotion and scenery, and their smooth voices make the guests feel as if floating in ecstasy, 'not drunk by wine but drunk by the people.' After the Helong banquet ends, the host lines up at the drum tower entrance to see off the guests with firecrackers. For distinguished guests, they 'sift' them—that is, send seven or eight young men and women to lift the guests up one by one, toss them in the air a few times, or some grab hands and some grab feet, lifting the guests to swing like on a swing, and then send them on their way. That scene truly makes one intoxicated and reluctant to leave.
In addition, Zhijiang duck, Xinhuang beef, Mayang ponkan, Jingzhou bayberry, Yuanling dengzhanwo, kiwi, gailan, shatian pomelo, potstickers, and so on are all famous Huaihua specialties known inside and outside Hunan Province.
Tourism Resources
Huaihua City is rich in tourism resources. The symbol of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the national 4A-level tourist attraction—Zhijiang Surrender Memorial Archway; the only well-preserved ancient commercial town from the Ming and Qing dynasties in China, hailed as 'China's First Ancient Commercial Town, the living fossil of the budding period of Chinese capitalism'—Hongjiang Ancient Commercial Town; and also the cultural tourism of Dong villages, Zhongfang's Jingping Ancient Town, Xinhuang's Yelang Valley, and Yuanling's Longxing Lecture Temple, and so on.
The Zhijiang Surrender Memorial Archway is located beside Moxikou at Qili Bridge, near the airfield in Zhijiang County, Hunan Province. The original archway was built in February 1947, two years after Japan's surrender, and was completely destroyed during the Cultural Revolution. In 1985, the people's government rebuilt it on the original site, following the original design. The entire archway is a concrete structure with four pillars and three archways, standing 8.5 meters high and 10.64 meters wide. Its structure is magnificent and its presence imposing. The Memorial Archway of the Japanese Surrender: Built in February 1946, it stands as a symbol of the Chinese people's victory in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, a great and immortal historical monument of the Chinese nation, an important historical witness to the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War, and one of the world's six triumphal arches (Rome, Berlin, Milan, Paris, Zhijiang, and Pyongyang). The Surrender Site: Built in 1938, it consists of three two-story wooden bungalows with fish-scale board siding: the Surrender Conference Hall, the Chinese Army General Headquarters, and He Yingqin's Office. From August 21 to September 8, 1945, He Yingqin held the surrender ceremony of Japan here that astonished the world, issued 24 memoranda containing detailed provisions and orders for the surrender, and directed the surrender arrangements for 102 disarmament points across 16 surrender-receiving zones nationwide. He received and handled more than 40 telegrams and letters exchanged with Chiang Kai-shek, Okamura Yasuji, Leng Xin, and others; he finalized the specific terms of Japan's surrender and the time and place for the surrender signing, completing all substantive work for accepting the Japanese army's surrender. The tables, chairs, sofas, and other furnishings displayed in the room are all original items.
Hongjiang Ancient Commercial Town is located in Hongjiang District, Huaihua City, Hunan Province. It is a nationally key cultural relic protection unit and one of the 'Top Ten Ancient Towns in China.' It originated in the Spring and Autumn period, was first built in the Tang Dynasty, and flourished in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. It is the only well-preserved ancient commercial town from the Ming and Qing Dynasties in China, and can be called 'China's No. 1 Ancient Commercial Town' and a 'living fossil of the budding period of Chinese capitalism.' The ancient building complex preserved in Hongjiang Ancient Commercial Town can be called a classic of ancient residential architecture in Jiangnan, China, and a living version of 'Along the River During the Qingming Festival,' which is rare nationwide. If developed as a key cultural landscape in Hunan, it will become another brand of Hunan's tourism industry. In the overall layout of the ancient commercial town's 'seven chongs, eight lanes, and nine streets,' nearly 100,000 square meters and more than 380 Ming and Qing ancient yinzi houses are arranged in a 'well'-shaped layout. Ten major guild halls, 18 newspaper offices, 23 money houses, 34 schools, 48 and a half stages, more than 50 brothels, more than 60 opium dens, hundreds of shops, and nearly a thousand workshops are scattered among them. Its scale is grand, its momentum majestic, its architecture extraordinary, and its preservation excellent—rare in China. To build a Chinese ancient city tourism brand and promote the development of China's ancient city tourism, at the initiative of Hongjiang Ancient Commercial City, on the afternoon of October 17, 2008, at the Second China Ancient City, Ancient Town, and Ancient Village Forum held in Huaihua, Hunan, four ancient cities signed an agreement and formally became sister ancient cities.
On the morning of October 17, 2008, the opening ceremony and artistic performance of the Second China Ancient City, Ancient Town, and Ancient Village Forum were held at the Dong Culture City in Huaihua City. More than 400 experts and scholars from around the world attended the opening ceremony. At the ceremony, Huaihua City received the plaque of 'China's First Ancient City, Ancient Town, and Ancient Village Cluster' from Chen Chengzhong, deputy inspector of the Planning and Finance Department of the National Tourism Administration. Huaihua officially became 'China's First Ancient City, Ancient Town, and Ancient Village Cluster'. According to experts, Huaihua has preserved the largest, most complete, and most richly combined ancient city, ancient town, and ancient village cluster in China.
With the full opening of the Shanghai-Kunming and Changji expressways within Huaihua's territory, the expansion of Zhijiang Airport, and the start of construction of the Baomao and Louhuai expressways and the Shanghai-Kunming passenger dedicated line, the government and developers are investing more and more, various service facilities in scenic areas are gradually improving, and provincial and municipal leaders are paying more attention to Huaihua tourism, causing the number of tourists and self-driving cars coming to Huaihua to gradually increase. Huaihua's rich and diverse tourism resources will attract more and more domestic and foreign tourists to visit Huaihua as the hardware develops rapidly.
Economic Overview
In 2008, the city's gross domestic product exceeded 50 billion yuan, reaching 50.369 billion yuan, an increase of 13%, 0.4 percentage points faster than the previous year, 0.2 percentage points higher than the provincial average, and the highest growth rate since 1988. Among these, the added value of the primary industry was 10.838 billion yuan, up 5.6%; the added value of the secondary industry was 18.542 billion yuan, up 17.4%; and the added value of the tertiary industry was 20.989 billion yuan, up 13.1%. Calculated by permanent resident population, the city's per capita GDP was 10,950 yuan, up 11.8%. The ratio of the three industries was adjusted to 21.5:36.8:41.7.
The city's industrial added value was 16.726 billion yuan, up 19.5%; the added value of industrial enterprises above designated size was 15.175 billion yuan, up 22.0%.
The city's total completed investment in fixed assets was 19.115 billion yuan (excluding cross-regional projects), up 30.3% year on year.
The city's total retail sales of consumer goods were 16.605 billion yuan, up 24.5%, 6.6 percentage points higher than the previous year.
The city's contracted foreign investment was 115 million US dollars, up 15.0%; actual utilized foreign investment was 40.85 million US dollars, up 54%.
The city's total foreign trade import and export value was 30.06 million US dollars, down 3.0%. Among these, total exports were 28.01 million US dollars, up 7%; total imports were 2.05 million US dollars, down 55%.
The city received a total of 8.1 million tourist visits, achieving total tourism revenue of 3.5 billion yuan, increases of 26.9% and 28.2% respectively.
The city's total fiscal revenue was 3.405 billion yuan, an increase of 28.8%, 0.5 percentage points higher than the previous year. General budget revenue was 2.237 billion yuan, an increase of 30%, 2.8 percentage points higher than the previous year.
Based on population sample survey data, the city's registered year-end population was 5.0463 million, an increase of 23,100 over the previous year, or 4.6 per mille; the permanent resident population was 4.6414 million, an increase of 83,400, or 1.8%. Among the registered population, urban population was 1.7469 million, an increase of 83,500, and rural population was 3.2994 million, a decrease of 60,400; male population was 2.5933 million and female population was 2.4529 million, with a male-to-female ratio of 105.7:100. The city's birth rate was 14.74 per mille, death rate 6.78 per mille, natural growth rate 7.96 per mille, and family planning rate 91.3%.
The per capita disposable income of urban residents in the city was 10,025 yuan, an increase of 9.7%, 0.5 percentage points higher than the previous year; the per capita net income of rural residents was 2,677 yuan, an increase of 8.0%, 0.3 percentage points higher than the previous year.