Huaping County

Huaping County is a county of Lijiang City, in the north of Yunnan province, China, bordering Sichuan province to the east. Located at the northwestern of Yunnan, it covers an area of 2200 km2 and had a population of 159,695 in 2020 statistics. Huaping County has four towns and four ethnic townships under its jurisdiction, its administrative centre is at the town of Zhongxin.

History
The earliest evidence of human settlement in Huaping County dates back to the Neolithic Age and is related to the Huilongwan archaeological relics.

The first dynasty to rule Huaping County was the Han dynasty (202 BC–220 AD), beginning in 130 BC, after Emperor Wu sent Sima Xiangru to appease the tribes in southwest China. In 111 BC, it known as Shifu County and was under the jurisdiction of Yuesui Commandery.

In the Three Kingdoms period (220–280), Zhuge Liang went on a punitive expedition to the southern tribes, after Meng Huo surrendered, it came under the jurisdiction of Yunnan Commandery.

In the Tang dynasty (618–907), in 624, it came under the jurisdiction of Yao Zhou (Yunnan). After the An Lushan Rebellion, the Tang Empire fell into recession, soon after the establishment of the Nanzhao Kingdom at the end of the 8th century, it became part of the kingdom and came under the jurisdiction of Shanju Commandery.

In the Song dynasty (960–1279), the region including the current Yunnan province became under the rule of Dali Kingdom.

In the Yuan dynasty (1271–1368), it came under Mongolian sovereign and came under the jurisdiction of Beisheng Zhou.

In the late Qing dynasty (1644–1911), after the bureaucratization of native officers, it was under the jurisdiction of Yongbei Zhili Department. In 1909, Huaping County was officially established. Since then, Huaping has officially become an administrative organ at the county level.

Huaping County was controlled by the People's Liberation Army in 1950. It was under jurisdiction of Lijiang in 1980.

Administrative division
According to the result on adjustment of township-level administrative divisions of Huaping county in 2015, Huaping County has four towns and four ethnic townships under its jurisdiction.

Geography
Huaping County lies at the northwestern of Yunnan, bordering Lijiang to the west, Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture to the south, Ninglang Yi Autonomous County to the north, and Panzhihua to the east. The county has a total area of 2200 km2.

The average altitude of the county is 1160 m. The highest point in Huaping County is Pidi Liangzi which stands 3198 m above sea level. The lowest point is Tangba Estuary, which, at 1015 m above sea level.

Rivers
The Xinzhuang River and Wumu River, tributaries of the Jinsha River, winds through Huaping County.

Climate
Huaping County experiences a subtropical low heat valley climate, with an average annual temperature of 19.8 C, total annual rainfall of 870 mm, and a frost-free period of 303.2 days.

Economy
In 2020, the regional GDP of Huaping County reached 7.42 billion yuan, an increase of 16.5%, ranking the first in Yunnan. Among them, the added value of the primary industry was 1.01 billion yuan, an increase of 4%; the added value of the secondary industry was 3.62 billion yuan, an increase of 18.5%, the seventh fastest growth rate in Yunnan; the added value of the tertiary industry was 2.79 billion yuan, an increase of 18%, the fastest growth rate in Yunnan.

Huaping County's economy is based on agriculture, animal husbandry, tourism, and mineral resources. The main crops are rice, wheat, corn, potato and vegetable. Mango, walnut, pomegranate, citrus, Zanthoxylum, bamboo, peach, and pear are the economic plants of the county.

Mineral resources
Huaping County has an abundance of coal, iron, copper, granite, gypsum, kaolinite, bauxite, baryte, and feldspar.

Population
As of 2020, the National Bureau of Statistics of the People's Republic of China estimates the county's population now to be 159,695. There are 26 nationalities live in the county, including Han, Lisu, Yi, Dai, Hui and Miao.

Language
Mandarin is the official language. The local people speak both Southwestern Mandarin and native language.

Religion
Most people in Huaping County believe in Theravada Buddhism, and a few believe in Taoism, Islam, Catholicism and Protestantism. Catholicism spread into the country as early as the Republic of China. French missionaries built four churches in the county.

Education
As of 2015, Huaping County has three high schools (including one private school), one vocational high school, one teacher training school, three middle schools, 62 primary schools and 36 kindergartens (including 34 private schools).

Tourism
Huaping County is famous for its beautiful natural scenery, including Dragon Palace Cave, Fairy Cave , Carp River Water Conservancy Scenic Spot , and Fruit Mountain Scenic Spot. Two public parks are located in the county: Zhongxin Martyrs Memorial Park and Yongxing Martyrs Memorial Park.

Transportation
The G4216 Expressway, also known as "Rong–Li Expressway", connects the county to Yongsheng County to the west, and Panzhihua to the east.

The China National Highway 353 is a major east-southwest highway that runs through the central county and intersects with the G4216 Expressway in the town of Rongjiang.