Qingyang is the easternmost prefecture-level division of Gansu and is thus sometimes referred to as "Longdong" (Chinese: 陇东; pinyin: Lǒng dōng). It forms an administrative peninsula, as it is surrounded, on all sides but the south, by Shaanxi and Ningxia. It is in the lower middle part of the Yellow River on the loess plateau and is within the eastern Gansu basin. Elevation ranges from 885 to 2082 meters above sea-level. There are 5 major rivers in Qingyang including the Malian (马莲河pinyin: Mǎliánhé)
, Pu (蒲河pinyin: Púhé), Hong (洪河pinyin: Hóng hé), Xilang (四郎河pinyin: Sìláng hé), and Hulu or "Gourd" (葫芦河pinyin: Húlu hé). Their combined annual flow is more than 800million cubic meters. Bordering prefecture-level cities are:
Qingyang has a humid continental climate (KöppenDwb) with monsoonal influences. The normal monthly mean temperature ranges from −4.2 °C (24.4 °F) in January to 21.4 °C (70.5 °F) in July, with the annual mean standing at 9.20 °C (48.6 °F). The normal annual precipitation is 528 mm (20.8 in), with a two/thirds of it occurring from June to September, and winter seeing minimal precipitation.
Average temperatures for most of Qingyang's administrative area range between 7 and 10 °C. Annual precipitation is 480 to 660 mm and there are between 140~180 frost free days.[citation needed]
The area is 27,119 km2 (10,471 sq mi) with 200 km2 (77 sq mi) of forest and 530 km2 (200 sq mi) of grassland.[citation needed]
Climate data for Qingyang (Xifeng District), elevation 1,421 m (4,662 ft), (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1981–2010)
Qingyang was part of the area where the earliest cultures along the Yellow River developed and was part of the heartland of the Qin state that would eventually unite China. It was also an important place in the Chinese Communist Revolution, as a part of the Shaan–Gan–Ning Border Region.
In March or April 1490 AD a presumed meteor shower occurred in the Qingyang district.[5][6] If a meteor shower did occur, it may have been the result of the breakup of an asteroid. At least three surviving Chinese historical records describe a shower during which "stones fell like rain", killing more than 10,000 people.[5][7] Due to the paucity of detailed information and the lack of surviving meteorites or other physical evidence, researchers have also been unable to definitively state the exact nature of the dramatic event.[8]
Administration
Qingyang has 1 urban district, 7 counties, and 146 towns with a total population of 2,158,400, of which 949,200 live in urban areas.[1]
In 2022 Qingyang's GDP was 102.226billionRMB, 4.4% growth over the previous year. 12.2% of GDP was generated by the primary sector, 54.0% by the secondary sector and 33.8% by the tertiary sector. The per capita income was 22,878RMB, for urban residents 37,585RMB and for rural residents 12,276RMB.[1]
Petroleum and natural gas are the backbone of Qingyang's economy. Agricultural products include grains, donkeys, Huan County sheep, cattle, dates, milk, apples, apricots and other fruits, vegetables, and berries. 69 different kinds of Chinese medicinal plants and herbs are collected or grown here, 25 of which are exported.
Xi'an-Pingliang railway (limited service, station at Ning County)
Culture
Qingyang is famous for its rich folk culture. Traditional Chinese art forms such as shadow puppet theater, paper cuts (such as the Qingyang sachet), folk music, and songs are still part of Qingyang's culture.
The local newspaper is called Longdong Daily (Chinese: 陇东报; pinyin: Lǒng dōng bào).[1]
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