Huitong County

Huitong County is a county of Hunan Province, China, it is under the administration of Huaihua Prefecturel-level City.

Huitong County covers 2,258.76 km2, as of 2015, It had a registered population of 365,800 and a resident population of 330,500. Huitong County has eight towns and 10 townships under its jurisdiction, the government seat is Lincheng (林城镇).

History
The earliest evidence of human settlement in the territory of Huitong County dates back to the Neolithic Age.

During the Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties (2070 BC–256 BC), it was a part of Jingzhou.

During the Spring and Autumn period and Warring States period (770 BC–221 BC), it was under the jurisdiction of Chu State (1115 BC–223 BC).

After conquering all the states, Emperor Qin Shi Huang implemented the system of prefectures and counties in 221 BC. Huitong County belonged to Qianzhongjun and Xiangjun.

In the Western Han dynasty (206 BC–8 AD), Huitong County was under the jurisdiction of Wulingjun.

In the Three Kingdoms period (220–280), Huitong County was under the rule of Wu State (222–280).

In the Southern dynasties (420–589), it came under the jurisdiction of Tancheng County of Wuyang County.

In 581, Emperor Wen of Sui established the Sui Empire, it was under the jurisdiction of Longbiao County of Yuanlingjun.

In 634, in the 8th year of Zhenguan period of the Tang dynasty (618–907), Langxi County split from Huitong County.

In 1102, Sanjiang County was set up and renamed "Huitong County"  in the following year.

In 1914, Jingzhou was revoked and it came under the jurisdiction of Chenyuandao. From 1936 to 1949, it successively belonged to the 4th Administrative Inspection Area, 7th Administrative Inspection Area, and 10th Administrative Inspection Area.

On 4 October 1949, the People's Liberation Army took control of the county and renamed Huitong Special District. The county became a part of Zhijiang Special District in August 1952, Qianyang Special District  in December 1952, Qianyang Prefecture  in 1970, Huaihua Prefecture  in 1981, and Huaihua City  in November 1997.

Administrative division
As of 2023, Huitong County has 6 ethnic townships, 4 townships and 8 towns under its jurisdiction. The county seat is the town of Lincheng.

Geography
Located on the west central margin of the province, Huitong County lies to the east of the border of Guizhou. It is bordered to the north by Zhijiang County and Hongjiang City, to the east and southeast by Suining County, to the south by Jingzhou County, to the west by Tianzhu County of Guizhou.

Rivers
There are 725 rivers and streams in the county. The Qushui River and Wu River, both are tributaries of the Yuan River, flow through Huitong County south to north.

Mountains
The highest point in the county is Xuefengjie Mountain which stands 1477.4 m above sea level. The Golden Dragon Mountain is the second highest peak within the county, with a height of 1080.5 m.

Climate
Huitong County is in the central subtropical monsoon humid climate zone, with an average annual temperature of 16 C, total annual rainfall of 1289.4 mm, a frost-free period of 303 days and annual average sunshine hours in 1405.7 hours.

Demographics
As of 2021, the National Bureau of Statistics of China estimates the county's population now to be 365,200, including 193,000 males and 172,200 females, with a sex ratio of 112:100. The birth population is 2,501, with a birth rate of 6.5‰, a death rate of 2,186, a mortality rate of 5.7‰, and a natural population growth rate of 0.8‰.

Language
Mandarin is the official language. The local people speak Kam language and Hmongic languages.

Religion
The Dong and Miao people believe in animism and worship ancestors. Buddhism and Taoism are the two major religions in Huitong County.

Highway
The G65 Baotou–Maoming Expressway, also popularly known as Baomao Expressway, is a north-south highway passing through the east of the county limits.

The China National Highway 209 runs north to south through the west of the county.

The Provincial Highway S342 is a north-south highway passing through the county's downtown, commercial, and industrial districts.

Railway
The Jiaozuo–Liuzhou railway runs north-south through the downtown county and the Huitong Railway Station serves the county.