Qingyuan, formerly romanized as Tsingyun,[a] is a prefecture-level city in northern Guangdong province, China, on the banks of the Bei or North River. During the 2020 census, its total population was 3,969,473, out of whom 1,738,424 lived in the built-up (or metro) area made of urbanized Qingcheng and Qingxin districts.[7] The primary spoken language is Cantonese. Covering 19,015 km2 (7,342 sq mi), Qingyuan is Guangdong's largest prefecture-level division by land area, and it borders Guangzhou and Foshan to the south, Shaoguan to the east and northeast, Zhaoqing to the south and southwest, and Hunan province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region to the north.[1] The urban core is surrounded by mountainous areas but is directly connected with Guangzhou and the Pearl River Delta by Highway 107.

Qingyuan
清远市
Qingcheng District
Map
Location of Qingyuan in Guangdong
Location of Qingyuan in Guangdong
Qingyuan is located in China
Qingyuan
Qingyuan
Location in China
Coordinates (Qingyuan municipal government): 23°40′55″N 113°03′22″E / 23.682°N 113.056°E / 23.682; 113.056
CountryPeople's Republic of China
ProvinceGuangdong
County-level divisions9
Township-level divisions53
City seatQingcheng District
Area
 • Prefecture-level city19,152.9 km2 (7,395.0 sq mi)
 • Urban
3,652.3 km2 (1,410.2 sq mi)
 • Metro
3,652.3 km2 (1,410.2 sq mi)
Dimensions
 • Length190 km (120 mi)
 • Width230 km (140 mi)
Elevation
14 m (45 ft)
Population
 (2020 Census[2])
 • Prefecture-level city3,969,473
 • Density210/km2 (540/sq mi)
 • Urban
1,738,424
 • Urban density480/km2 (1,200/sq mi)
 • Metro
1,738,424
 • Metro density480/km2 (1,200/sq mi)
GDP[3]
 • Prefecture-level cityCN¥ 200.7 billion
US$ 31.1 billion
 • Per capitaCN¥ 50,459
US$ 7,821
Time zoneUTC+8 (China Standard)
Area code0763
ISO 3166 codeCN-GD-18
Licence plate prefixes粤R
Major NationalitiesHan, Zhuang and Yao
Websitewww.gdqy.gov.cn
Qingyuan
"Qingyuan" in Traditional (top) and Simplified (bottom) Chinese characters
Simplified Chinese清远
Traditional Chinese清遠
Hanyu PinyinQīngyuǎn
Cantonese YaleChīngyúhn
PostalTsingyun
Literal meaningClear-&-Distant
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinQīngyuǎn
Gwoyeu RomatzyhChingyeuan
Wade–GilesChʻing1-yüan3
IPA[tɕʰíŋ.ɥɛ̀n]
Hakka
RomanizationChhîn-yén
Yue: Cantonese
Yale RomanizationChīngyúhn
JyutpingCing1jyun5
IPA[tsʰɪŋ˥.jyn˩˧]
Southern Min
Hokkien POJChheng-oán
Tâi-lôTshing-uán

History

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Qingyuan was a prefecture during Northern and Southern dynasties. However, the administration status of Qingyuan was downgraded to a county in the tenth year of the Kaihuang Era of the Sui dynasty (A.D. 590). Since then, until the formation of the Republic of China in 1911, Qingyuan was governed by Guangzhou prefecture (廣州府).

Under the Qing, the area was known as Qingyuan County.[6] It was later promoted to prefecture-level city status.

Geography

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Qingyuan's administrative area ranges in latitude from 23° 26' 56" to 25° 11' 40" N, and in longitude from 111° 55' 17" to 113° 55' 34" E;[1] its urban area is located just north of the Tropic of Cancer, about 60 km (37 mi) from the urban area of Guangzhou and 200 km (120 mi) from both Hong Kong and Macau. Its area of over 19,000 km2 (7,300 sq mi) accounts for 10.6% of the total provincial area.[1] Qingyuan contains part of the southern Nan Ling, and more than half of the area is mountainous, and elevations increase from southeast to northwest. Bordering prefectures are Guangzhou and Foshan to the southeast, Zhaoqing to the southwest, Shaoguan to the north and northeast, Hezhou (Guangxi) to the west, and Yongzhou and Chenzhou (Hunan) to the north.[1]

Qingyuan has a monsoon-influenced humid subtropical climate, with an average annual temperature of 20.7 °C (69.3 °F), 1,900 mm (75 in) of rainfall, 1662.2 hours of sunshine, and a frost-free period of 314.4 days.[8]

Economy

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Qingyuan is a major economic and transportation hub. The Beijing–Guangzhou Railway, National Highways 106 and 107, and the Bei or North River cross through the city. The maritime infrastructure in Qingyuan plays a vital role in transporting goods to other regional centers in Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao. The major ports are Qingyuan Port, Yingde Port, Lianzhou Port, and Yangshan Port.

Demographics

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According to the 2010 Census, Qingyuan has a population of 3,698,394 inhabitants,[9] 550,715 more than in 2000 (an annual growth rate of 1.63%). Han Chinese comprise over 95% of the entire population, while there are some areas inhabited by the Zhuang and Yao minorities.

Notable people

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Attractions

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Qingyuan's attractions include Niuyuzui, Feilai Temple, Feixia Scenic Spots, Baojing Palace of Yingde, Taihe Ancient Cave of Qingxin, Sankeng Hot Spring in Qingxin County, Huanghua Lake in Fogang, Little Biejiang of Lianyang, Peak Shikengkong in Yangshan County, Underground River of Lianzhou, Huangteng Gorge, Three Gorges of Huangchuan and Yinzhan Hot Springs.

Administration

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The provincial and municipal administration is located in Qingcheng District. It oversees one other district, two county-level cities, four counties, and one economic development district.

Map
Name Simplified Chinese Hanyu Pinyin Population
(2010 census)
Area
(km2)
Density
(/km2)
Qingcheng District 清城区 Qīngchéng Qū 811,233 927.22 875
Qingxin District 清新区 Qīngxīn Qū 698,811 2,725.07 256
Fogang County 佛冈县 Fógāng Xiàn 302,906 1,292.92 234
Yangshan County 阳山县 Yángshān Xiàn 356,095 3,418.37 104
Lianshan Zhuang and
Yao Autonomous County
连山壮族
瑶族自治县
Liánshān Zhuàngzú
Yáozú Zìzhìxiàn
90,515 1,164.84 78
Liannan Yao
Autonomous County
连南瑶族
自治县
Liánnán Yáozú
Zìzhìxiàn
129,258 1,239.38 100
Yingde 英德市 Yīngdé Shì 941,952 5,671.02 166
Lianzhou 连州市 Liánzhōu Shì 367,642 2,664.09 138

Climate

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Climate data for Qingyuan (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1981–2010)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 28.6
(83.5)
30.0
(86.0)
33.4
(92.1)
33.5
(92.3)
35.0
(95.0)
38.1
(100.6)
39.0
(102.2)
38.7
(101.7)
38.2
(100.8)
36.4
(97.5)
33.2
(91.8)
28.7
(83.7)
39.0
(102.2)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 17.5
(63.5)
18.9
(66.0)
21.0
(69.8)
25.7
(78.3)
29.7
(85.5)
31.9
(89.4)
33.4
(92.1)
33.4
(92.1)
32.0
(89.6)
29.0
(84.2)
24.7
(76.5)
19.8
(67.6)
26.4
(79.6)
Daily mean °C (°F) 13.1
(55.6)
14.9
(58.8)
17.5
(63.5)
22.1
(71.8)
25.7
(78.3)
27.8
(82.0)
28.9
(84.0)
28.8
(83.8)
27.4
(81.3)
24.3
(75.7)
19.8
(67.6)
15.0
(59.0)
22.1
(71.8)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 10.2
(50.4)
12.1
(53.8)
14.9
(58.8)
19.4
(66.9)
22.8
(73.0)
24.9
(76.8)
25.7
(78.3)
25.6
(78.1)
24.2
(75.6)
20.9
(69.6)
16.3
(61.3)
11.7
(53.1)
19.1
(66.3)
Record low °C (°F) 1.5
(34.7)
2.1
(35.8)
2.8
(37.0)
8.7
(47.7)
13.9
(57.0)
18.8
(65.8)
21.9
(71.4)
21.8
(71.2)
15.5
(59.9)
10.2
(50.4)
4.6
(40.3)
1.1
(34.0)
1.1
(34.0)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 59.0
(2.32)
61.3
(2.41)
144.6
(5.69)
227.1
(8.94)
348.9
(13.74)
397.0
(15.63)
259.8
(10.23)
238.7
(9.40)
146.5
(5.77)
59.1
(2.33)
50.9
(2.00)
43.7
(1.72)
2,036.6
(80.18)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) 9.2 11.6 18.5 18.0 19.9 20.3 18.0 16.5 11.6 5.3 6.8 6.2 161.9
Average relative humidity (%) 70 75 81 82 82 84 81 80 76 67 67 64 76
Mean monthly sunshine hours 105.6 76.6 60.0 69.9 109.1 133.1 193.3 196.6 198.7 201.9 167.2 152.3 1,664.3
Percent possible sunshine 31 24 16 18 26 33 47 49 54 57 51 46 38
Source: China Meteorological Administration[10][11]

Transportation

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Qingyuan is served by Qingyuan railway station, opened in 2009 on the Wuhan–Guangzhou high-speed railway. It is located some distance east of the city.

Qingyuan Maglev is expected to open in December 2020.

Notes

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  1. ^ Qingyuan has also sometimes been romanized as Tsing-yuan or Tsing-yuen,[4] Ts'ing-yuen,[5] and Tsing-yuen-heën.[6]

References

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Citations

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  1. ^ a b c d e 清远概况 (in Simplified Chinese). Qingyuan People's Government. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  2. ^ "China: Guăngdōng (Prefectures, Cities, Districts and Counties) - Population Statistics, Charts and Map".
  3. ^ 广东省统计局、国家统计局广东调查总队 (August 2016). 《广东统计年鉴-2016》. 中国统计出版社. ISBN 978-7-5037-7837-7. Archived from the original on 2017-12-22.
  4. ^ Baynes, T. S., ed. (1878), "China" , Encyclopædia Britannica, vol. 5 (9th ed.), New York: Charles Scribner's Sons
  5. ^ Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Kwang-Tung" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. XV (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
  6. ^ a b Gutzlaff (1838), p. 564.
  7. ^ "China: Guăngdōng (Prefectures, Cities, Districts and Counties) - Population Statistics, Charts and Map".
  8. ^ 清远 - 气象数据 -中国天气网 (in Simplified Chinese). Weather China. Retrieved 2012-07-18.
  9. ^ (in Chinese) Compilation by LianXin website. Data from the Sixth National Population Census of the People's Republic of China Archived April 6, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  10. ^ 中国气象数据网 – WeatherBk Data (in Simplified Chinese). China Meteorological Administration. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  11. ^ "Experience Template" 中国气象数据网 (in Simplified Chinese). China Meteorological Administration. Retrieved 28 May 2023.

Bibliography

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