Pingquan

Pingquan is a county-level city of northeastern Hebei province, China, bordering Liaoning province to the east. It has a population of 470,000 residing in an area of 3297 km2. It is a centre of trade and business, and gold and silver are mined nearby.

History
Pingguan was formerly called Bakou (Pakow). It absorbed Chinese colonies in the neighboring Mongol land: a large portion of the Kharachin Right Wing Banner and a large part of the Kharachin Middle Banner. Both banners belonged to the Josutu League. During the Jindandao Incident of 1891, Pingquan was assaulted by Chinese religious sects. Catholic church were burnt and Chinese converts were massacred.

Administrative divisions
There are 10 towns, 4 townships, and 5 ethnic townships under the county's administration.

Education
Institutions of higher education include:
 * Pingquan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Chengde
 * Pingquan Normal College

Economy
Major local companies include:
 * Pingquan Edible Fungus Company
 * Pingquan Seeds Co., Ltd
 * Pingquan Lihua Cement Co., Ltd
 * Hebei Pingquan Changcheng Chemical Co., Ltd (the largest hydrogen fluoride manufacturer in North China)
 * Pingquan Yadong The Plastics Co., Ltd
 * Pingquan Grain & Oil Group Co., Ltd
 * Chengde Jibei Yanshan Activated Carbon Co., Ltd