Shizuishan, formerly Shizuizi, is a prefecture-level city in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China. It is the northernmost prefecture in Ningxia and the second most populous, after the regional capital Yinchuan, bordered by Inner Mongolia to all directions except the south. Shizuishan sits on the western bank of the Yellow River on the western side of the Ordos Loop. It was formerly a center for caravans traveling the northern routes to and from Beijing across the Ordos Desert.

Shizuishan
石嘴山市 · شِ‌ظُوِشًا شِ
Shihtsuishan
The territory of Shizuishan prefecture-level city (yellow) within the Ningxia AR
The territory of Shizuishan prefecture-level city (yellow) within the Ningxia AR
Shizuishan is located in Ningxia
Shizuishan
Shizuishan
Location of the city center in Ningxia
Coordinates (Shizuishan municipal government): 38°59′05″N 106°22′58″E / 38.9846°N 106.3828°E / 38.9846; 106.3828
CountryPeople's Republic of China
Autonomous regionNingxia
Municipal seatDawukou District
Area
5,208.13 km2 (2,010.87 sq mi)
 • Urban
 (2018)[1]
233 km2 (90 sq mi)
Population
 (2007)
730,400
 • Density140/km2 (360/sq mi)
 • Urban
 (2018)[2]
720,000
 • Urban density3,100/km2 (8,000/sq mi)
GDP[3]
 • Prefecture-level cityCN¥ 48.3 billion
US$ 7.7 billion
 • Per capitaCN¥ 61,844
US$ 9,929
Time zoneUTC+8 (China Standard)
ISO 3166 codeCN-NX-02
Websitewww.nxszs.gov.cn
Shizuishan
Chinese石嘴山
PostalShetsuishan
Literal meaningStony Beak Mountain
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinShízuǐshān
Wade–GilesShih-tsui-shan

Name

edit

Shizuishan was formerly romanized as Shetsuishan[4] and Shihchu Shan.[5]

It was also formerly known as "Shizuizi", which was romanized Shihtsuitzu[5][6] and Chetsouidze.[7]

History

edit

Shizuishan used to be a center of local trade and eventually became a mining town.[8] In 1934, Shizuishan was occupied by the army of warlord Sun Dianying during his attempt to conquer Ningxia from the Ma clique. Sun set up a rival provincial government in the town,[9] but he was eventually defeated by Ningxia's official governor Ma Hongkui. Shizuishan was consequently returned to Ma's control.[10]

Administrative divisions

edit
Map
Name Hanzi Hanyu Pinyin Xiao'erjing Population
(2003 est.)
Area (km²) Density (/km²)
Dawukou District 大武口区 Dàwǔkǒu Qū دَاوُکِو ٿِيُوِ 230,000 1,007 228
Huinong District 惠农区 Hùinóng Qū خُوِنْو ٿِيُوِ 200,000 1,088 184
Pingluo County 平罗县 Píngluó Xiàn پِئٍ‌لُوَ ثِيًا 290,000 2,608 111

Geography and climate

edit

Shizuishan is located on the western bank of the Yellow River between latitudes 38° 21′ and 39° 25′ N and longitudes 105° 58′ and 106° 39′ E, spanning 88.8 km (55.2 mi) from east to west and 119.5 km (74.3 mi) from south to north.

Shizuishan experiences a cool arid climate (Köppen BWk) with freezing and very dry winters, alongside very warm to hot and somewhat wetter summers.

Climate data for Shizuishan, elevation 1,127 m (3,698 ft), (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1981–2010)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 10.3
(50.5)
17.7
(63.9)
27.9
(82.2)
35.3
(95.5)
35.7
(96.3)
39.0
(102.2)
39.5
(103.1)
36.8
(98.2)
36.5
(97.7)
27.7
(81.9)
20.8
(69.4)
16.6
(61.9)
39.5
(103.1)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) −0.1
(31.8)
5.1
(41.2)
12.3
(54.1)
20.2
(68.4)
25.7
(78.3)
30.1
(86.2)
31.8
(89.2)
29.7
(85.5)
24.4
(75.9)
17.7
(63.9)
8.7
(47.7)
1.2
(34.2)
17.2
(63.0)
Daily mean °C (°F) −7.4
(18.7)
−2.6
(27.3)
4.9
(40.8)
12.9
(55.2)
18.7
(65.7)
23.4
(74.1)
25.1
(77.2)
23.0
(73.4)
17.1
(62.8)
9.7
(49.5)
1.7
(35.1)
−5.7
(21.7)
10.1
(50.1)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −13.5
(7.7)
−8.9
(16.0)
−1.7
(28.9)
5.4
(41.7)
10.9
(51.6)
15.9
(60.6)
18.6
(65.5)
17.0
(62.6)
11.2
(52.2)
3.4
(38.1)
−3.8
(25.2)
−11.2
(11.8)
3.6
(38.5)
Record low °C (°F) −26.6
(−15.9)
−26.8
(−16.2)
−16.2
(2.8)
−9.5
(14.9)
−0.3
(31.5)
6.8
(44.2)
11.6
(52.9)
7.1
(44.8)
0.0
(32.0)
−8.5
(16.7)
−17.4
(0.7)
−25.6
(−14.1)
−26.8
(−16.2)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 1.5
(0.06)
1.9
(0.07)
4.0
(0.16)
4.8
(0.19)
13.6
(0.54)
27.0
(1.06)
51.1
(2.01)
31.8
(1.25)
25.9
(1.02)
8.1
(0.32)
2.9
(0.11)
0.7
(0.03)
173.3
(6.82)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) 1.8 1.1 2.1 2.3 4.2 6.0 8.0 7.6 6.7 3.2 1.3 1.1 45.4
Average snowy days 2.8 2.0 1.4 0.4 0 0 0 0 0 0.4 1.7 2.2 10.9
Average relative humidity (%) 51 42 36 31 36 43 53 58 61 53 54 53 48
Mean monthly sunshine hours 192.2 202.9 246.5 261.0 288.7 281.0 265.7 248.0 218.9 229.2 195.1 183.3 2,812.5
Percent possible sunshine 63 66 66 65 65 63 59 59 59 67 66 63 63
Source: China Meteorological Administration[11][12]

Environmental issues

edit

Shizuishan was once described[by whom?] as the best place to make a film about the end of the world.[citation needed] In 2005, the Chinese government blacklisted the city for its pollution problem and told local leaders to shut down the worst polluting industrial plants.[citation needed] Recently, the city has attempted to reinvent itself by initiating eco-friendly programs to reduce pollution, improving medical services, increasing tourism, and improve certain industries but pollution is still taking its toll on the people.[8]

Economy

edit

The economy of Shizuishan is mainly based on coal mining, coking, and metallurgy. Agriculture, tourism, and viticulture also contribute to Shizuishan's economy.[8]

Education

edit

References

edit

Citations

edit
  1. ^ Cox, W (2018). Demographia World Urban Areas. 14th Annual Edition (PDF). St. Louis: Demographia. p. 22.
  2. ^ Cox, W (2018). Demographia World Urban Areas. 14th Annual Edition (PDF). St. Louis: Demographia. p. 22.
  3. ^ 宁夏统计年鉴2016
  4. ^ Stanford (1917), p. 12 & xi.
  5. ^ a b Teichman (1921), p. 179.
  6. ^ Pereira (1911), p. 261.
  7. ^ Huc (2001), Carte.
  8. ^ a b c Jingli, Song (14 March 2013). "Shizuishan, a coal city to transform". China Daily. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  9. ^ Jowett (2017), p. 217.
  10. ^ Jowett (2017), pp. 217, 218.
  11. ^ 中国气象数据网 – WeatherBk Data (in Simplified Chinese). China Meteorological Administration. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  12. ^ 中国气象数据网 (in Simplified Chinese). China Meteorological Administration. Retrieved 26 August 2023.

Bibliography

edit
edit