Baoji (simplified Chinese: 宝鸡; traditional Chinese: 寶雞; pinyin: Bǎojī; Mandarin pronunciation: [pàʊ.tɕí] ) is a prefecture-level city in western Shaanxi province, People's Republic of China. Since the early 1990s, Baoji has been the second largest city in Shaanxi.[4]

Baoji
宝鸡市
Pao-chi, Paochi, Paoki
Baoji
Baoji
Location of Baoji Prefecture within Shaanxi
Location of Baoji Prefecture within Shaanxi
Coordinates (Baoji government): 34°21′47″N 107°14′17″E / 34.363°N 107.238°E / 34.363; 107.238
CountryPeople's Republic of China
ProvinceShaanxi
Founded2000 BC
Municipal seatJintai District
Area
18,159 km2 (7,011 sq mi)
 • Urban
3,670.3 km2 (1,417.1 sq mi)
 • Metro
3,670.3 km2 (1,417.1 sq mi)
Elevation
570 m (1,870 ft)
Population
 (2020 census)[1]
3,321,853
 • Density180/km2 (470/sq mi)
 • Urban
1,862,118
 • Urban density510/km2 (1,300/sq mi)
 • Metro
1,475,962
 • Metro density400/km2 (1,000/sq mi)
GDP[2]
 • Prefecture-level cityCN¥ 179 billion
US$ 28.7 billion
 • Per capitaCN¥ 47,565
US$7,637
Time zoneUTC+8 (China Standard)
Postal code
721000
Area code0917
ISO 3166 codeCN-SN-03
License Plate Prefix陕C
Websitewww.baoji.gov.cn
Symbols
FlowerAsiatic apple (Malus spectabilis)[3]
TreeLacebark pine (Pinus bungeana)[3]

Geography

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The prefecture-level city of Baoji had a population of 3,321,853 according to the 2020 Chinese census, inhabiting an area of 18,159 km2 (7,011 sq mi). The built-up (or metro) area made of 3 urban districts had a population of 1,475,962 inhabitants as of the 2020 Chinese census, Fengxiang District not being conurbated yet. Surrounded on three sides by hills, Baoji is in a valley opening out to the east. Its location is strategic, controlling a pass on the Qin Mountains between the Wei River valley and the Jialing River.

History

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Thriving early in the Tang dynasty, it has roots to 2000 BC.[5] Today it is a large industrial center. Railways first reached Baoji in 1937 and have been key to its modern growth.

 
The Silk Road in its entirety.

Passing through Baoji is the ancient Northern Silk Road, the northernmost route of about 2,600 kilometres (1,616 miles) in length, which connected the ancient Chinese capital of Chang'an to the West over the Wushao Ling Mountain to Wuwei and emerging in Kashgar before linking to ancient Parthia.[6]

Baoji is considered the gateway between western and eastern China since most trains from Beijing, Shanghai and Xi'an pass through here on their way to Gansu, Sichuan, Xinjiang and Tibet (Lhasa). Famen temple, home to one of Buddha's finger bones, is in Baoji County. The Baoji area was home to the legendary Yandi, one of the Han Chinese forefathers. His tomb is in the southern part of the city and his temple is in the north.

People who are interested in the Three Kingdoms of ancient China can visit Zhuge Liang's Memorial Temple, about 20 km (12 mi) from Baoji.

Ancient trackways

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Mount Taibai still has some remaining traces of roadways built during the Three Kingdoms period (220−280 CE) which are all generally unusable due to decay. They remain a popular attraction because they were built by making wood plank bridges along the side of the mountain.

To the south of Baoji lies the beginning of the plank road into the Qin Mountains. There are also several natural sites such as the Jialing Jiang Fountainhead with its small waterfalls and forests. To the north is Bei Puo, a giant hill made of loess with a panoramic view of the city and a landscape dotted with small farming villages that offer local cuisine.

A number of Longshan archaeological sites have been found north of the Wei River near the North Silk Road.[7]

Baoji Bronze Museum

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Baoji is home to the Baoji Bronze Museum which holds more than 120,000 pieces of cultural relics, primarily of Zhou dynasty descent.[8]

Administrative divisions

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Map including Baoji (labeled as PAO-CHI (PAOKI) (walled) 寳雞) (AMS, 1955)
Map
Name Hanzi Hanyu Pinyin Population (2010) Area (km2) Density (/km2)
Weibin District 渭滨区 Wèibīn Qū 448,189 728 616
Jintai District 金台区 Jīntái Qū 394,538 332 1,188
Chencang District 陈仓区 Chéncāng Qū 595,075 2,517 236
Fengxiang District 凤翔区 Fèngxiáng Qū 483,471 1,179 410
Qishan County 岐山县 Qíshān Xiàn 459,064 855 537
Fufeng County 扶风县 Fúfēng Xiàn 416,398 751 554
Mei County 眉县 Méi Xiàn 299,988 863 348
Long County 陇县 Lǒng Xiàn 248,901 2,418 103
Qianyang County 千阳县 Qiānyáng Xiàn 123,959 959 129
Linyou County 麟游县 Línyóu Xiàn 90,728 1,806 50
Feng County 凤县 Fèng Xiàn 105,492 3,187 33
Taibai County 太白县 Tàibái Xiàn 50,928 2,780 18

Climate

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Climate data for Baoji, elevation 612 m (2,008 ft), (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1971–2010)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 20.7
(69.3)
27.0
(80.6)
31.4
(88.5)
36.2
(97.2)
38.4
(101.1)
41.7
(107.1)
40.9
(105.6)
41.6
(106.9)
40.0
(104.0)
33.0
(91.4)
26.2
(79.2)
23.2
(73.8)
41.7
(107.1)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 5.6
(42.1)
9.5
(49.1)
15.2
(59.4)
21.9
(71.4)
26.4
(79.5)
30.8
(87.4)
31.9
(89.4)
29.6
(85.3)
24.3
(75.7)
18.8
(65.8)
12.7
(54.9)
7.0
(44.6)
19.5
(67.1)
Daily mean °C (°F) 0.6
(33.1)
4.1
(39.4)
9.5
(49.1)
15.6
(60.1)
20.1
(68.2)
24.4
(75.9)
26.3
(79.3)
24.6
(76.3)
19.5
(67.1)
13.7
(56.7)
7.4
(45.3)
1.9
(35.4)
14.0
(57.2)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −2.8
(27.0)
0.3
(32.5)
5.1
(41.2)
10.5
(50.9)
14.9
(58.8)
19.3
(66.7)
22.0
(71.6)
20.9
(69.6)
16.2
(61.2)
10.3
(50.5)
3.8
(38.8)
−1.5
(29.3)
9.9
(49.8)
Record low °C (°F) −13.9
(7.0)
−11.4
(11.5)
−5.3
(22.5)
−1.7
(28.9)
4.8
(40.6)
10.0
(50.0)
12.9
(55.2)
13.2
(55.8)
6.0
(42.8)
−2.0
(28.4)
−8.0
(17.6)
−16.1
(3.0)
−16.1
(3.0)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 7.1
(0.28)
10.3
(0.41)
24.4
(0.96)
40.9
(1.61)
62.8
(2.47)
80.1
(3.15)
104.0
(4.09)
111.4
(4.39)
117.5
(4.63)
56.7
(2.23)
18.2
(0.72)
4.6
(0.18)
638
(25.12)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) 4.2 4.6 7.1 7.2 10.2 9.9 10.6 11.1 12.6 10.6 6.0 3.3 97.4
Average snowy days 5.2 3.8 1.4 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.2 2.9 14.6
Average relative humidity (%) 58 59 58 58 59 60 66 72 76 74 69 61 64
Mean monthly sunshine hours 116.2 114.2 147.4 177.2 190.7 187.3 187.5 155.8 118.6 123.2 122.9 123.3 1,764.3
Percent possible sunshine 37 37 39 45 44 43 43 38 32 36 40 40 40
Source 1: China Meteorological Administration[9][10]
Source 2: Weather China[11]

Economy

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Panoramic view the Jintai district of Baoji viewed from the top of the Stone Drum Museum, across the Weihe river, in winter.

Industrial Zone

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Established in 1992, Baoji Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone was approved as a national hi-tech zone by State Council. It has a long-term planned area of 40 square kilometres (15 sq mi). The transportation system around the zone includes Xi'an Xianyang International Airport and National Highway 310. Its encouraged industries are auto parts, electronics, IT, pharmaceutical and bioengineering industry and new materials.[12]

Military

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Baoji is the headquarters of the 21st Group Army of the People's Liberation Army, one of the two group armies that comprise the Lanzhou Military Region responsible for defending China's northwest borders.

Transportation

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The G85 Yinchuan-Kunming Expressway, China National Highway 310, and G30 Lianyungang-Khorgas Expressway are major highways that run through Baoji.

The city is serviced by the Baoji South on the Xi'an-Baoji and Baoji-Lanzhou sections of the Xuzhou-Xinjiang high speed railway. The Longhai, Baocheng and Baozhong railways also call at Baoji railway station.[13]

A metro system is in the planning stages.

Education

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College

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  • Baoji University of Arts and Sciences
  • Baoji Vocational & Technical school

High school

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  • Baoji middle school

Sister city

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Japan

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Other countries

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "China: Shaanxi (Prefectures, Cities, Districts and Counties) - Population Statistics, Charts and Map".
  2. ^ 陕西省统计局、国家统计局陕西调查总队 (August 2016). 《陕西统计年鉴-2016》. 中国统计出版社. ISBN 978-7-5037-7918-3. Archived from the original on 2017-05-29.
  3. ^ a b 张红平 (2009-04-26). "海棠花成为宝鸡市市花" [Asiatic apple flower becomes city flower of Baoji] (in Chinese). Sina Corporation. Retrieved 2023-01-30.
  4. ^ Wang, Ya Ping; Hague, Cliff (1995-10-01). "Baoji". Cities. 12 (5): 361–368. doi:10.1016/0264-2751(95)00052-N. ISSN 0264-2751.
  5. ^ Baoji on line profile, retrieved Dec 9, 2007 Archived January 13, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ Hogan, C. M. "Silk Road, North China". the Megalithic Portal. ed. A. Burnham.
  7. ^ Li Liu (2004). The Chinese Neolithic: Trajectories to Early States. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-81184-8.
  8. ^ "Baoji Bronze Ware Museum - 2018 What to Know Before You Go (with Photos)". TripAdvisor. Retrieved 2018-12-06.
  9. ^ 中国气象数据网 – WeatherBk Data (in Simplified Chinese). China Meteorological Administration. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  10. ^ 中国气象数据网 (in Simplified Chinese). China Meteorological Administration. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  11. ^ 宝鸡 - 气象数据 -中国天气网 (in Chinese). Weather China. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
  12. ^ RightSite.asia | Baoji Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone
  13. ^ 西安铁路局宝鸡火车站 (in Chinese). 2008-06-05. Archived from the original on 2014-04-27.
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