Liqu

Liqu is a town in Baota District, Yan'an, Shaanxi, China. Liqu is located in the northeast of central Baota District, bordered by to its north,  to its south,  to its east, and Qiaogou Subdistrict to its west. The town spans an area of 136 km2, and has a population of 21,167 according to the 2010 Chinese census.

History
After Liu Bobo established the Great Xia dynasty in 407 CE, he built the ancient city of Fenglin, which was located in present-day Zhoujiawan Village in Liqu. Fenglin's location, on a mountainous terrace north of the Yan River, made the city easy to defend. Fenglin was a Walled City, and the city's walls were approximately 9 m high and anywhere between 3 cm to 30 cm thick. Song dynasty scientist Shen Kuo called the city as dense as a stone, and noted how difficult it would be to attack the city. The city was colloquially known as Helian City, after Liu Bobo's alternative name Helian Bobo. In 577 CE, Fenglin County was established, and was seated in the city of Fenglin. Song dynasty general Di Qing once renovated it. The county existed intermittently until 1072, when it was abolished by Emperor Shenzong of Song and demoted to a town. Today, the site of Fenglin is used as farmland.

In 1972 the people's communes of Liqu and Nianzhuang were established. In 1984, the people's communes were abolished, and Liqu was re-established as a town, and Nianzhuang was re-established as a township.

By 1996, Liqu spanned an area of 82 km2, and had a population of approximately 16,000. That same year, Nianzhuang Township had a total area of 54 km2, and a population of about 5,000.

In 2001, Nianzhuang Township was merged into Liqu.

Geography
Liqu is located in the northeast of central Baota District, bordered by to its north,  to its south,  to its east, and Qiaogou Subdistrict to its west.

The Yan River flows through the town.

From the mid-1980s throughout the 2010s, there was an increase in forested land throughout much of rural Liqu, largely driven by a decrease in cropland,  which itself is a product of a decrease in the area's rural working-age population.

Administrative divisions
Liqu administers 2 residential communities and 24 administrative villages.

Residential communities
The town's 2 residential communities are as follows:


 * Jingqu Community
 * Yangshan Community

Administrative villages
The town's 24 administrative villages are as follows:


 * Dongcun Village
 * Xicun Village
 * Zhoujiawan Village
 * Chaiya Village
 * Miaogou Village
 * Gaomaowan Village
 * Zhujiagou Village
 * Yaliping Village
 * Goumen Village
 * Yangshan Village
 * Zhangzhuang Village
 * Zhongzhuang Village
 * Lijiagou Village
 * Wangzhuang Village
 * Caojiagou Village
 * Hujiapo Village
 * Lijiagou Village
 * Shagelao Village
 * Nianzhuang Village
 * Yangxingzhuang Village
 * Liuzhuang Village
 * Wangjiabian Village
 * Shuangtian Village
 * Zhangxingzhuang Village

Demographics
According to the 2010 Chinese census, Liqu has a population of 21,167.

A 2008 survey put the town's population at about 28,000 residents living in 5,360 households. 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.

The 2000 Chinese census recorded a population of 17,343 in the town.

A 1996 estimate put Liqu's population at approximately 16,000. Nianzhuang Township, 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.

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. Income for those who work in Liqu is generally lower than for those who migrate elsewhere.

Beginning in the late 20th century, local agriculture began to shift from primarily Vegetables, and towards increased maize growing.

Transportation
The Shenmu–Yan'an railway passes through Liqu. is located in the town.

National Highway 210 also passes through Liqu.

The town was located 1.5 km away from the now-defunct Yan'an Ershilipu Airport. The region is now served by Yan'an Nanniwan Airport.