Town in Shaanxi, China
Liqu (simplified Chinese: 李渠镇; traditional Chinese: 李渠鎮; pinyin: Lǐqú Zhèn) is a town in Baota District, Yan'an, Shaanxi, China.[1] Liqu is located in the northeast of central Baota District, bordered by Fengzhuang Township [zh] to its north, Chuankou [zh] to its south, Yaodian [zh] to its east, and Qiaogou Subdistrict to its west.[2] The town spans an area of 136 square kilometres (53 sq mi),[2] and has a population of 21,167 according to the 2010 Chinese census.[3]
History
After Liu Bobo established the Great Xia dynasty in 407 CE, he built the ancient city of Fenglin (simplified Chinese: 丰林; traditional Chinese: 豐林; pinyin: Fēnglín), which was located in present-day Zhoujiawan Village (Chinese: 周家湾村) in Liqu.[4]: 7 Fenglin's location, on a mountainous terrace north of the Yan River, made the city easy to defend.[4]: 535 Fenglin was a Walled City, and the city's walls were approximately 9 metres (30 ft) high and anywhere between 3 centimetres (1.2 in) to 30 centimetres (12 in) thick.[4]: 616 Song dynasty scientist Shen Kuo called the city as dense as a stone, and noted how difficult it would be to attack the city.[4]: 616 The city was colloquially known as Helian City (simplified Chinese: 赫连城; traditional Chinese: 赫連城; pinyin: Hèlián chéng), after Liu Bobo's alternative name Helian Bobo.[4]: 7 In 577 CE, Fenglin County (simplified Chinese: 丰林县; traditional Chinese: 豐林縣; pinyin: Fēnglín Xiàn) was established, and was seated in the city of Fenglin.[4]: 46 Song dynasty general Di Qing once renovated it.[4]: 616 The county existed intermittently until 1072, when it was abolished by Emperor Shenzong of Song and demoted to a town.[4]: 46 Today, the site of Fenglin is used as farmland.[4]: 616
In 1972 the people's communes of Liqu and Nianzhuang (Chinese: 碾庄) were established.[2] In 1984, the people's communes were abolished, and Liqu was re-established as a town, and Nianzhuang was re-established as a township.[2]
By 1996, Liqu spanned an area of 82 square kilometres (32 sq mi), and had a population of approximately 16,000.[2] That same year, Nianzhuang Township had a total area of 54 square kilometres (21 sq mi), and a population of about 5,000.[2]
In 2001, Nianzhuang Township was merged into Liqu.[2]
Geography
Liqu is located in the northeast of central Baota District, bordered by Fengzhuang Township [zh] to its north, Chuankou [zh] to its south, Yaodian [zh] to its east, and Qiaogou Subdistrict to its west.[2]
The Yan River flows through the town.[4]: 62
From the mid-1980s throughout the 2010s, there was an increase in forested land throughout much of rural Liqu,[5]: 7 largely driven by a decrease in cropland,[5]: 7 which itself is a product of a decrease in the area's rural working-age population.[5]: 8
Administrative divisions
Liqu administers 2 residential communities and 24 administrative villages.[6]
Residential communities
The town's 2 residential communities are as follows:[6]
- Jingqu Community (Chinese: 井渠社区)
- Yangshan Community (Chinese: 阳山社区)
Administrative villages
The town's 24 administrative villages are as follows:[6]
- Dongcun Village (Chinese: 东村村; lit. 'east village')
- Xicun Village (Chinese: 西村村; lit. 'west village')
- Zhoujiawan Village (Chinese: 周家湾村)
- Chaiya Village (Chinese: 柴崖村)
- Miaogou Village (Chinese: 庙沟村)
- Gaomaowan Village (Chinese: 高峁湾村)
- Zhujiagou Village (Chinese: 朱家沟村)
- Yaliping Village (Chinese: 崖里坪村)
- Goumen Village (Chinese: 沟门村)
- Yangshan Village (Chinese: 阳山村)
- Zhangzhuang Village (Chinese: 张庄村)
- Zhongzhuang Village (Chinese: 中庄村)
- Lijiagou Village (Chinese: 李家沟村)
- Wangzhuang Village (Chinese: 王庄村)
- Caojiagou Village (Chinese: 曹家沟村)
- Hujiapo Village (Chinese: 呼家坡村)
- Lijiagou Village (Chinese: 刘家沟村)
- Shagelao Village (Chinese: 沙圪崂村)
- Nianzhuang Village (Chinese: 碾庄村)
- Yangxingzhuang Village (Chinese: 杨兴庄村)
- Liuzhuang Village (Chinese: 刘庄村)
- Wangjiabian Village (Chinese: 王家砭村)
- Shuangtian Village (Chinese: 双田村)
- Zhangxingzhuang Village (Chinese: 张兴庄村)
Demographics
According to the 2010 Chinese census, Liqu has a population of 21,167.[3]
A 2008 survey put the town's population at about 28,000 residents living in 5,360 households.[2] Of this, 16,863 people lived in 4,110 agricultural households, 6,158 people lived in 1,328 non-agricultural households, and 4,979 or so people were found to be temporary residents.[2]
The 2000 Chinese census recorded a population of 17,343 in the town.[3]
A 1996 estimate put Liqu's population at approximately 16,000.[2] Nianzhuang Township (Chinese: 碾庄乡), which would be merged into Liqu in 2001, had a population of about 5,000 in 1996, giving the combined area a total population of about 21,000.[2]
Economy
Through the 1990s into the 21st century, as China's economy grew rapidly, an increasing amount of Liqu's residents migrated elsewhere for work, particularly younger working-age people.[7]: 5–6 Income for those who work in Liqu is generally lower than for those who migrate elsewhere.[7]: 6
Beginning in the late 20th century, local agriculture began to shift from primarily Vegetables, and towards increased maize growing.[7]: 5–6
Transportation
The Shenmu–Yan'an railway passes through Liqu.[2] Yan'an North railway station [zh] is located in the town.[2]
National Highway 210 also passes through Liqu.[2]
The town was located 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi) away from the now-defunct Yan'an Ershilipu Airport.[2] The region is now served by Yan'an Nanniwan Airport.[2]
See also
References
